American Canadian Tour

Tire Issues Ends Eddie MacDonald’s Race at Thunder Road

Eddie MacDonald battled tire issues from the beginning of the American Canadian Tour’s Community Bank 150 at Barre’s Thunder Road in Vermont on Sunday, June 11 to finish 19th. The race, originally scheduled for April 30 and postponed due to rain, gave new track owners time to make significant changes to the facility, including new hot top for the track. While their intentions were good the end result created a tire-eating monster.

Driving the EXIT Realty/Hancock Electric Chevy, Eddie Mac took the green flag in the 18th position in the Community Bank 150 after posting a win in the consi race. The Freddie Peterson owned ride survived some early crashes to move inside the top ten. However the tire issues that plagued some competitors early also affected Eddie Mac with the driver saying, “The car just got looser in the turns and I felt a vibration around lap 30. We were running around ninth place but I could feel the right rear tire starting to come apart.”

Unfortunately for Eddie Mac he became one of the 11 race cautions with a spin on lap 41 coming out of turn four. The crew quickly changed tires with Eddie Mac returning to the track in the seventeenth position. Because of the known tire issues, ACT officials planned a break at lap 75 in the 150 lap event so teams could change right side tires. For many, it was a matter of too little too late as the carnage continued when racing resumed with the hot track too much for the tires with the #17 Ma. no exception. With the mismatched tire now serving the right rear, the plan was to make it to the halfway flag to get new rubber.

By the caution flag on lap 59, Eddie Mac rode in the 12th saying, “I was trying to make it to the break but the tire was coming apart and then I got pushed up the track, the tire let go and I went over the banking in turn two. That ended our day. It is so disappointing to have to race like that. The new owners really have been working hard to improve the place and believed adding the hot top would be a huge improvement. It just didn’t work out and unfortunately a lot of guys wrecked and we tore up the front of our car. I feel terrible it happened.”

The crash on lap 65 ended the day for Eddie Mac to post the 19th place finish. Only five cars finished on the lead lap with a pit full of angry drivers and crew.

“It was a real hot day and I have to thank the crew for all the hard work,” said Eddie Mac. “It was a tough day but these guys never give up and Rollie and I can’t thank them enough. We couldn’t do this without car owners Sheila and Freddie Peterson, Derek Beatrice from EXIT Realty, and Scott and Kenny Thompson from Hancock Electric. We have some work to do but we will get it fixed and be back on the track. There isn’t much to say. It was just a bad day.”