Eddie MacDonald Finishes Fourth in PASS Firecracker 200 at Spud Speedway
Eddie MacDonald celebrated the new opening of Spud Speedway in Caribou, Maine on July 3 with a fourth-place finish in the Pro All-Star Series Firecracker 200. With the top five finish the Dave Lemieux owned #17 Super Late Model secured a guaranteed starting position in the Oxford 250.
Eddie Mac’s EXIT Realty/Grimm Construction Chevy posted a fourth-place finish in the heat and had to struggle with a loose car early in the race saying, “This quarter mile track is tricky and most of the time you had to run the second groove where there is some banking because the bottom is so flat. The car was loose for the first 125 laps until we were able to make adjustments and for the final 75 laps it responded much better. As the race went on, I discovered a few tricks to get around this place.”
Eddie Mac started sixth in the 200-lap feature due to the rule that recent winners cannot start in the top 10. For the first 100 laps the Rowley, Mass. veteran was content to ride in the eighth and ninth position. When the competition flag waved on lap 125 for the 10-minute break, Eddie Mac had moved into the sixth position knowing a top five finish would guarantee a spot in the Oxford 250.
“Naturally I was hoping to challenge for the win but I just didn’t have the car tonight but I thought I could get a third-place finish. With 25 to go I was in third place and just overdrove the turn trying to get to second and almost lost it completely. My two right side tires were off the track and I was lucky to save it and only lose one spot. One of our goals was to qualify for the 250 and we did that so that is a lot of pressure off of us. Now we can race for a starting position at Oxford and not have to worry about qualifying for the race.”
“It was a hectic day traveling up there, racing, and then getting home so everyone could enjoy the 4th with their families, but it was a lot of fun,” said Eddie Mac. “The track owners did a great job getting the track ready for racing after it had been closed for a couple of years. The crowd was great and we could not have been treated any better.”
Thanks to our sponsors Derek Beatrice from EXIT Realty in Middleton, Mass. and Rob Grimm from Grimm Construction in Waymart, Pa. Thanks also to car owner Dave Lemieux from Lemieux Home Builders and Brian Neal from Neal Excavating for everything they do. Rollie and I would be lost without the dedication of our crew. Rollie’s wife Laura and son Ryan are always there along with Jolene and Rob. Tom, Frenchy, and Brian also made the trip and we can’t thank them enough. It was a very hot day and we are thankful for all their hard work in the heat.”
Eddie Mac and the team’s next competition will be at Speedway 51 in Groveton< NH for the American Canadian Tour’s second visit this season to the track. The much-anticipated Oxford 250 for the Super Late Model race is scheduled for August 25-26.
