Washout for Eddie MacDonald at Richmond in the K&N
Eddie MacDonald not only battled with the weather in the K&N Pro Series East’s UNOH 100 at Richmond international Raceway on Thursday, September 10, he also struggled with a loose car for the entire race. The checkered/yellow flag waved on lap 70 of the scheduled 100 lap event for rain with the Grimm Construction Chevy scored in the 19th position.
Earlier in the day qualifying was rained out with five cars in the 35 car field left on pit lane unable to take time due to the thunderstorm raging through the track. Eddie Mac had qualified and was in the 12th when the rains came. The field was set by points forcing Eddie Mac to start 21st on the grid. The team only runs a part-time schedule. The scheduled 6:40 start was pushed back until the Air Titans dried the track so the UNOH 100 could get under way at 7:50. The Xfinity practice scheduled after qualifying was also rained out.
“It’s too bad we lost qualifying and had to start so far back,” said Eddie Mac. “The car was a handful right from the green flag. It was free in and out of the turns and was washing the nose up the track. I tried to run different lines but that only made the car worse. I had to stay on the bottom of the track so I couldn’t challenge anyone on the outside to try to make a pass. It is tough to pass here anyway and being so loose made it nearly impossible. Then suddenly just before the yellow came out for rain, the car got really tight. We have had our struggles here in the past and tonight was not any different.”
Eddie Mac started inside in the 21st spot but could not make up any ground and rode mid pack until the first caution on lap 17. After much discussion between crew chief Rollie LaChance and the veteran driver to pit for an adjustment, the decision was made to stay out so as not to lose more spots to the field. Eddie Mac fell back to 23rd by lap 27 but was able to gain four positions and into 19th until the next caution on lap 61 for rain. Track officials finally waved the checkered/yellow flag on lap 70 when the sky really opened up.
“I feel bad for everyone on the team that worked so hard here at the track on Wednesday and Thursday,” said Eddie Mac. “The guys at the shop worked their tails off to get this car ready. We had the new body style put on and that required a ton of work in the Newburyport shop. Freddie Peterson, our ACT car owner, painted the car at his shop Peterson Auto and John Tiernan did the entire black accent work on the body. The car looked great and it is just too bad we couldn’t get it to run better. We knew there would be a learning curve with the new body so hopefully we will have it figured out for the Dover race.”
The UNOH 100 will be televised on NBCSN on Thursday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m. The final race of the K&N Pro Series East will be the Drive Sober 125 at Dover International Speedway.