McCREADIE REBOUNDS FOR THRILLING LAST LAP VOLUSIA VICTORY

BARBERVILLE,FL...DIRT Motorsports' all-time big-block win leader Bob McCreadie returned to form in dramatic fashion as he made the storybook move out of the final turn to capture the 30-lap Modified feature race Wednesday at Volusia Speedway Park.

"I never realized how good the outside lane was once the tires heated up," said McCreadie, 48, following his 275th DIRT big-block victory. The bespectacled Watertown, New York veteran pocketed $2,000 after his first dirt triumph in the Sunshine State.

"It was a tough deal for Chuck(Hebing) to lead so long and not get the win. But I can't say enough about everybody that put our car in position to come out on top tonight," McCreadie added.

A last-place finish the previous night actually put McCreadie in the best spot to contend for his 470th career open-wheel victory. Overheating problems forced his familiar no. 9 Kinney Drugs-Syracuse Frame Service-F.X. Caprara Car Co. entry pitside after only a handful of laps on Tuesday and the handicapping system started him up front enroute to victory in the second heat race. Following his qualifying run crash on Tuesday, Hebing returned to claim the first heat despite all day efforts failing to fully repair a bent frame. The 'heads up' format allowed him to share front row starting assignments with McCreadie for the 15-mile main.

Hebing jumped out early while "Barefoot Bob" was drop-kicked to third on the initial start. But after sliding under Rich Polenz on the fifth circuit he never stopped running down the leader.

A pair of cautions at the midway mark knocked out favorites Danny Johnson, Brett Hearn and Doug Hoffman to reduce the original 28-car starting grid.

Opening night winner Jimmy Horton and Tim McCreadie tangled on lap 15 to force McCreadie pitside while apparent motor trouble brought Johnson's open-wheel mount to a stop under the same yellow. A turn four scramble on the ensuing restart quickly ended the night for Florida Tour '98 top point earners Hearn and Hoffman.

Back under green flag conditions McCreadie was relentless in his bid to overtake Hebing. Aboard his proven Troyer mount with new rear suspension, on this night powered by a Pat Morrison-prepared 358 c.i. motor boasting DART heads, McCreadie shadowed the leader before sweeping around at the line for the thrilling photo-finish. Hebing, caught low in the sandy soily after admittedly running too conservatively during the late race stages, settled for runner-up laurels. Delaware's Jamie Mills copped third followed by Middletown, New Yorker Jerry Higbie,Jr. and Lebanon Valley(NY) Speedway standout Kenny Tremont, now with two top-five tallies. Pennsylvanian Jeff Strunk rallied from 20th to place sixth ahead of Horton, Keith Hoffman, J.R. Heffner and Ray Swinehart.

Through two of the four series races scheduled at Volusia, Horton(104) tops the current Florida Tour standings followed by Tremont(100), Mills(96), Keith Hoffman(88), Strunk(84) and Mike Perrotte and McCreadie, both with 80 points.

Open-wheel action continues Thursday at Volusia Speedway Park with a 30-lap DIRT Modified feature race highlighting the 28th Winternationals program.

FLORIDA TOUR '99 RACE RESULTS @ Volusia Speedway Park - Thr., Feb. 11

DIRT Modified Feature (30L)

FIN

CAR#

DRIVER

TEAM (Sponsor / Chassis / Engine)

1

3

Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ

Budweiser Racing-WLR Construction-Pennzoil/TEO/Feil

2

3p

Rich Polenz/Flemington,NJ

Art's Radiator & Welding/TEO/Morrison

3

27j

Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY

Sweeteners Plus/Troyer/C.C.

4

9

Bob McCreadie/Watertown,NY

Kinney Drugs-Syracuse Frame/Troyer/Morrison

5

5k

Keith Hoffman/Whitehall,PA

Bashore Trucking-Week's Auction/Troyer/Morrison

6

2

Craig Mullins/Bridgeville,DE

Gene's Auto Sales/Troyer/Feil

7

m1

Jimmy Horton/Whitehouse Station,NJ

B&F General Machine/Olsen/Enders

8

33

Ray Swinehart/Bechtelsville,PA

J.L. Speed Supplies/Bicknell/CMS Racing Engines

9

w9

Jeff Strunk/Bechtelsville,PA

Kenworth Truck Equip-Cummins Power Sys/Olsen/Enders

10

30

Jamie Mills/Milford,DE

Mills Bros. Markets/Troyer/Myers

11

35

Mike Perrotte/Morrisonville,NY

Adirondack Auto/Troyer/Enders

12

fx1

Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY

F.X. Caprara Car Co.-Auto Value/Troyer/Morrison

13

115

Kenny Tremont/West Sand Lake,NY

Fane Concrete-S&S Asphalt-Emerick Asc/Troyer/Tremont

14

74

J.R. Heffner/Averill Park,NY

A.Colarusso & Son/TEO/Raspuzzi

15

Z

Butch Tittle/Saylorsburg,PA

R.B. Chapman/Troyer/Fiehls

16

5

Doug Hoffman/Allentown,PA

Lincoln Auto Body/Troyer/Morrison

17

45

Chuck Hebing/Ontario,NY

Cobra Racing-Crown Electric-Webster Auto/Troyer/Stevens

18

32c

Vic Coffey/Leicester,NY

Sweeteners Plus/Troyer/C.C.

19

4

Mike Hughes/Riegelsville,PA

Hughes Racing/Troyer/Coffey

20

47

Jerry Higbie,Jr./Middletown,NY

Misner Ins. Agency-Superior Bldg. Supply/TEO/Precision

21

00

Bobby Varin/Sharon Springs,NY

Dover Brakes/Troyer/Enders

22

57

Donnie Corellis/Averill Park,NY

Rifenburg Construction/TEO/Feil

23

1

Frankie Caprara/Watertown,NY

F.X. Caprara Car Co.-Auto Value/Olsen/Morrison

24

5h

Don Hallowell/Kennett Square,PA

NuCar Chevrolet/Troyer/Meyers-Hallowell

25

19

Tim Fuller/Edwards,NY

Harriman Trailer Sales/Olsen/Morrison

26

296

Deron Rust/Georgetown,DE

Bodie's Dairy Markets-Delmarva-Dirt-Blasters/TEO/B&G

DNQ

m1x

Bart Hartman/Zanesville,OH

B&F General Machine/Olsen/Enders

DNQ

9t

Tom Moore/Westchester,PA

ACE Hardware-Quaker State/Tobias/Bock

DNQ

49

Danny Perrett/Oil City,PA

Five Forks Restaurant/Tobias/Bock

EVENT SUMMARY:

LAP LEADERS: Mullins (1-16), Polenz (17-29), Hearn (30).

CAUTIONS: 2.

HEAT WINNERS: Mullins, Rust, Hughes.

CONSI WINNER: Corellis.

TOTAL PURSE: $10,250.

CARS ENTERED: 29.