One of the most significant honors any Big Block driver can earn is a spot in the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame.
When Watertown, NY’s Tim McCreadie got the call that he would be one of the next to be inducted, it was a surprise and honor in more ways than one.
The current World of Outlaws Late Models presented by DIRTVision star joined his dad, Bob McCreadie, in the Hall of Fame Thursday night, becoming the first father-son duo to be inducted.
“I don’t think it’s something I was looking to have happen,” McCreadie said. “You just get into racing and do the best you can. Obviously, a lot of people thought we did really well and won enough races to do something like this. It’s truly amazing. It makes me thankful that people are paying attention to what we’re doing out here.
“I’m just one person that was trying to have some fun at the beginning of his career, and as it’s winding the other way, it’s neat to know people like how we did it.”
While McCreadie is known across the country for his three National Late Model championships, fans in the Northeast watched his Big Block career begin in the late 90s. But even before that, “T-Mac” was at the track with his dad and even worked in the present-day DIRTcar Northeast office.
Even with his distinguished career, McCreadie said he’ll never forget how much the Northeast has meant to him.
“This is where I grew up,” McCreadie said. “Sitting in the DIRT office with Glenn Donnelly on a Sunday during the day, answering phones and hanging out. Then the Hall of Fame got bigger and bigger. It just feels like home. Obviously, I went a bit different of a path, but at the end of the day it’s pretty cool that they think I was accomplished enough to get in such a club like this.”
While McCreadie continues to rack up accomplishments, he acknowledged he couldn’t do it alone. He said he’s thankful for all the help he’s gotten throughout his career, whether it’s kids in his neighborhood or his peers giving him a place to stay on the weekends.
“When I first started, I was with a bunch of kids who lived on my street,” McCreadie said. “I was the youngest, and we’d fool around with go-karts, and when I went racing, they went with me. Once I started traveling down here more, they couldn’t all go, but I had other people help. Then the Haers family, I’d stay at their house all weekend for I don’t know how many years. That led to Vic Coffey and Carl Meyers, who took my career to where it is.
“This whole area, this is where I grew up. [Weedsport] was my Sunday night home since I could walk until I started traveling a bit more. It’s a dream come true.”
With the World of Outlaws Late Models off this weekend, McCreadie will return to his roots when the Super DIRTcar Series opens SummerFAST at Weedsport Speedway on Sunday, Aug. 16. He’ll compete in a Vinny Vitale-owned No. 9 car, lettered like one of his dad’s old cars in the Hall of Fame 100.
Despite being excited to get back into a Big Block, he said he knows the competition he’s up against, battling the Super DIRTcar Series stars.
“Vinny Vitale called me this winter asking me if I wanted to run a little bit,” McCreadie said. “And we talked, and it was based on whether we think we can be competitive. It’s hard to go out there and just jump into these things with no practice. We did run a few laps, and we felt like it was worth doing, and he already had it lettered up beautiful for this race. So, that’s what we’re going to focus on, and going to Brewerton [Friday] was decided at the last minute.
“I’m not going anywhere just to ride around in last, but I also know what we’re up against, and these guys are amazing at what they do.”
Sunday’s race won’t be the first time he’s honored his dad with a paint scheme. He already races the No. 9 with the World of Outlaws Late Models, a number he’s won with on eight occasions. Running a Big Block car that’s a tribute to his dad, though, is an honor for McCreadie, something he said he hopes he does justice.
“It’s good and bad,” McCreadie said. “Most of these people who saw this thing saw it in Victory Lane, and I don’t know if we can do that.
“To be able to honor my dad, my mother, brother, and sister, our whole family has lived all of this our whole lives… It’s an honor and a privilege. Hopefully I do it justice.”
McCreadie will join the Super DIRTcar Series when it kicks off the fifth annual SummerFAST on Sunday, Aug. 16, at Weedsport Speedway in the Hall of Fame 100.
Where can you watch the Super DIRTcar Series? Live on DIRTVision.
