photo by Norm Marx
By: Dick Casey
After a hectic week rebuilding the #17 EXIT Realty/Hancock Electric Chevy, Eddie MacDonald almost pulled off the win in the “Showdown in the Mountains” at WMMP on Sunday, July 24. With 16 laps to go Eddie Mac could not hold off the hard-charge of Dillon Moltz to finish second in the American Canadian Tour’s ninth race of the season at the No. Woodstock, N.H. track.
“Obviously we would have liked to get the win but when you consider everything the team had to go through this week just to get here, a second place finish is outstanding,” said a pleased Eddie Mac after the race. “I definitely have a lot of people to thank for all the hard work and long hours to rebuild the car starting with Dale Shaw and his guys who put a rear clip on the car in record time so we could have any chance to be here. Donny got parts to Freddie to paint. Tom Rice, my father, John Tiernan, Rob Drandson, and Dick Casey spent countless hours in the shop. It was a miracle to have this ready and for it run as well as it did.”
Eddie Mac started ninth in the third heat to finish fifth for a +4 rating giving him the sixth starting position in the feature in the rescheduled race when rain washed out the event on Saturday. The Rowley, Mass. veteran, driving for car owner Freddie Peterson, moved into the second position by lap 50 to challenge Dillon Moltz for the lead. Eddie Mac made the pass for the top spot on lap 97 and held it until the caution flag on lap 134.
“I knew I was in trouble then because I had to start on the bottom and the car was really tight in the turns,” said Eddie Mac. “When the green flag waved there was no way I was going to hold him off. Dillon drove a great race and deserved the win. He was fast all day and if it had not been for that caution I probably would have held him off but it was not to be. As I said just to be able to bring this car home in second place, and no damage, is a credit to everyone.”
“This is the third time we have rebuilt this car this year and none of could be done without car owner Freddie Peterson and his wife Sheila and Bobby Wood. Our sponsors Derek Beatrice from EXIT Realty and Ken and Scott Thompson from Hancock Electric are fantastic. Stilo, Schroth Racing, and HMS Motorsports have been with us for years and Rollie and I appreciate all the help. Of course, great thanks to our K&N owner Rob Grimm who supports us in the ACT Series,” said Eddie Mac.
The ACT series will travel next to Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Maine for the tenth race of the season on August 6.
