Race 2 -  5/22/04
Thompson International Speedway

Pepsi Racing 150
Eddie’s Seventh Place Finish Was Hard Earned

by Dick Casey - HRM Motorsports

Eddie MacDonald was satisfied with his hard earned seventh place finish in the Busch North Series Pepsi 150 at Thompson International Speedway. The Rowley, Mass. driver fought a loose handling racecar in both practices but the HRM Motorsports team was able to get it much better for qualifying.         

“ We kept adjusting the car all through practice and we finally got it decent and had a great qualifying run”, said Eddie after posting the fifth fastest time.

Eddie thought he had a chance at the pole but a little slip cost him. “ I really had it going good and knew the car was fast enough for the pole but I slid up the track coming out of four and it slowed us up.” Eddie and the team were still pleased with the effort as they continue to realize one of their pre season goals to qualify up front each week. Eddie’s fast times have resulted in back-to-back fifth place starting positions.

The slick and damp track condition at the beginning of the race made driving difficult but Eddie was able to maintain fifth place as the leaders began to separate. At the halfway flag, the car was getting very loose and in need of some new rubber. Eddie was very relieved when the yellow came out on lap 87 saying, “ I was sliding all over the place and really needed to pit since I was backing up, so I was real happy when the caution came out.”

The fresh tires did not solve the problem completely because according to Eddie, “ We over-adjusted the car and then it was too tight.” On the lap 97 restart, Eddie was in eleventh place and loosing ground due the tight condition that caused him to spin out on lap 114. Said Eddie of the spin, “ I just turned it too hard and it went around but the good thing was I didn’t hit anything and was able to keep going.”

With ten cars on the lead lap on the lap 119 restart, Eddie held the #17 Ford in position for the final laps. After two cautions on laps 134 and 145, he moved up to the eighth right behind Mike Olsen on the lap 150 green white checker restart. After another caution, Eddie battled Olsen over the final laps and was able to make the pass on the final circuit to get the hard earned seventh place finish.

Overall Eddie was pleased with the result saying, “ It is not as good a finish as we wanted but after struggling with being loose, then tight, and then spinning out, we are real happy the way we finished.” 

Busch North 200K

NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, BUSCH NORTH SERIES

Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Conn. – Saturday, May 29, 2004

UNOFFICIAL FINISH (finishing position, starting position, driver, hometown,  manufacturer, laps completed, reason out if any, money won)

1.    (19)  Brad Leighton, Center Harbor, N.H., Ford, 82, $11,925
2.    (6)    Dale Quarterley, Westfield, Mass., Chevrolet, 82, $6,325
3.    (8)    Mike Olsen, North Haverhill, N.H., Chevrolet, 82, $5,525
4.    (18)  Bill Penfold, Yarmouth, Me., Chevrolet, 82, $4,325
5.    (3)    Mike Johnson, Salisbury, Mass., Ford, 82, $3,525
6.    (1)    Andy Santerre, Cherryfield, Me., Chevrolet, 82, $3,625
7.    (26)  Brad Bennett, Stamford, Conn., Ford, 82, $2,000
8.    (11)  Bryon Chew, Mattituck, N.Y., Chevrolet, 82, $2,325
9.    (5)    Kelly Moore, Scarborough, Me.,  Chevrolet, 82, $2,575
10.    (30)  Jeremy Treadway, Ticonderoga, N.Y., Pontiac, 82, $1,500
11.    (32)  Jack Lewis, Norcross, Ga., Ford, 82, $2,450
12.    (14)  Jamie Aube, Manchester, N.H., Chevrolet, 82, $1,425
13.    (10)  Ryan Moore, Scarborough, Me., Chevrolet, 82, $2,000
14.    (4)    Brian Hoar, Williston, Vt., Chevrolet, 81, $1,975
15.    (22)  Scott Bouley, Thomaston, Conn., Chevrolet, 81, $1,275
16.    (25)  Doug Krpata, Bethpage, N.Y., Chevrolet, 81, $1,250
17.    (27)  Mike Speakman, Pylesville, Md., Chevrolet, 81, $1,225
18.    (13)  Kip Stockwell, Braintree, Vt., Pontiac, 81, $1,825
19.    (28)  George Whelen, Old Saybrook ,Conn., Ford, 81, $1,175
20.    (15)  Barney McRae, Colchester, Vt., Pontiac, 81, $1,775
21.    (20)  Joey McCarthy, Randolph, N.J., Chevrolet, 79, $1,750
22.    (12)  Dave Dion, Hudson, N.H., Ford, 79, $1,725
23.    (29)  John Murphy, Canaan, Conn., Pontiac, 77, $1,075
24. (7)Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Ford, 75, $1,675
25.    (16)  Bobby Dragon, Milton, Vt., Chevrolet, 73, $1,650
26.    (21)  Anthony Demonte, Commack, N.Y., Chevrolet, 73, $1,000
27.    (2)    Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Chevrolet, 70, $1,625
28.    (9)    Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn., 58, axle, $1,625
29.    (17)  John Cerbone, City Island, N.Y., Chevrolet, 56, transmission, $1,625
30.    (31)  Tim Andrews, Concord, N.C., Chevrolet, 49, accident, $1,625
31.    (33)  Bryan Wall, Plaistow, N.H., Ford, 31, $1,000
32.    (24)  Rick Bell, Salisbury, Conn., Pontiac, 21, axle, $1,000
33.    (23)  Ryan Seaman, Toms River, N.J., Chevrolet, 17, accident, $1,000

TIME OF RACE: 1 hour, 48 minutes, 17 seconds   
        
AVERAGE SPEED: 69.304 mph

MARGIN OF VICTORY: 1.514 seconds

CAUTION PERIODS: 7 for 33 laps (19-24, 32-37, 43-47, 54-57, 60-64, 71-74, 77-79)

LEAD CHANGES: 3 among 4 drivers (Stefanik 1-41, Olsen 42-57, Quarterley 58-79, Leighton 80-82)

BUSCH POLE AWARD: None awarded, qualifying cancelled due to inclement weather

POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE: Jack Lewis, Lewis Racing Ford

FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Kelly Moore, NAPA/Bill Dodge Chevrolet
 

 

Media Contact: Jennifer MacDonald - jennymac29@hotmail.com