Eddie MacDonald finished in the ninth position in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East at Langley Speedway in the Visit Hampton Va. 175. The Grimm Construction Chevy started 17th on the grid for the seventh race of the season.
In the first practice session, the #71 was 13th fastest but fell off during the second session and into qualifying with the veteran driver saying, “We just couldn’t get the speed out of it that we needed. The car was dragging some in the turns that really killed or lap times. We made adjustments but it still continued during the race.”
When the green flag waved for the 175 lap event over the .4 of a mile oval, MacDonald was content to hold the position but headed for the first of three visits to the pits during a lap 43 caution. “The guys went under the hood to make some adjustments and we even considered making a shock change but we would have gone down at least a lap. With the changes the crew made, we were able to stay on the lead lap and that was really important to us.”
By lap 83 the car was running in 17thand was still a handful. The decision was made to pit on caution lap 86 for additional work that helped for the second half of the race. By the next caution on lap 119, MacDonald ran in the 13th spot with a better car. “With the adjustments we made, the car was a little faster than it was earlier and I was able to pass some cars and I knew I could get more. A lot of guys were getting loose so I just needed to be patient and get the best finish I could. Obviously, I didn’t have anything for the leaders but I was hoping to salvage a top ten finish.”
With the laps winding down, MacDonald ran in the ninth position when the caution flag waved with only five laps to go. The #71 maintained that spot to post its sixth top ten finish along with one top five run. Both driver and team owner Rob Grimm moved up one position in sixth in the point’s race. “It wasn’t the finish we wanted but considering everything that happened, finishing ninth and moving up in the point’s race is a good thing. With our next race in Rob’s home state of Pennsylvania, we hope to have a great run for him there. I know a lot of people will be there for that one so that really gives the team added incentive to do well. Rob and his family have done so much for us; it would be super to have a great run there.”
Speed will televise the Visit Hampton Va. on Thursday at 3p.m. on June 28. Next on the schedule is the Samuel 150 at CNB Raceway Park in Clearfield, Pa.
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