Eddie MacDonald and the Grimm Racing Team began the second half of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East 14 race season with a sixth place finish in the Samuel 150 at CNB Bank Raceway Park in Clearfield, Pa.
The Grimm Construction Chevy started 13th in the field after running sixth and fourteenth in the first and second practice sessions respectively with MacDonald saying, “We drew the number one position for qualifying and that is always tough but I knew we had a good handling, fast car that would be there at the end and it was. The car was very good in practice and we were looking forward to the race. We planned to go out there and take what we could the first half of the race and then go for it in the second half.”
When the first of eight caution flags flew on lap nine, the #71 was riding in the tenth spot and gained two more positions by the time the second yellow waved on lap 23 with the veteran driver saying, “For the most part, I was out there just riding and some of the front guys got in trouble and I was able to take advantage of their problems. We wanted to be in a good position when they stopped us for the break and it was even better than we had hoped.”
From lap 50 to the mandatory ten minute break on lap 76, MacDonald moved the Grimm Construction Chevy into the fourth spot for the restart of the second half. When the green flag waved, MacDonald drove to second place in two laps saying, “With the new tires and the adjustments we made during the break, the car was really fast and was handling great in the corners. We blew past two cars right away and then settled into second place. I knew Moffitt was just riding around so I decided not to burn up my tires chasing him. I let the #96 go since it seemed he wanted to try to pass the leader but Moffitt had a great car.”
With 40 to go, Eddie Mac was in third, and then settled into fourth at lap 128 caution flag when the car was “a little too tight.” With four laps to go, MacDonald appeared headed to a second top five finish this season when the backstretch lights went out to bring out the red flag. After a 15 minute delay to restore power, the field restarted for the green white checker finish. MacDonald started outside in the fourth spot but was shuffled back to sixth when the #96 spun his tires right in front of the #71 when the green flag waved.
“I moved to the outside so I wouldn’t get run over from behind and thought I could get the spot but he got it going and I was hung out on the outside in the turn one marbles. I got back down but lost two positions. That did not make me happy but we had a great car and a great run and it was a lot of fun to run the way we did. I think we put on a good show for all the “Grimm Nation” fans that came down from Waymart, Pa. They really support us and we really appreciate it. Rob (Grimm) has been such a great team owner; it is a lot of fun to run well in front of the hometown crowd. I think half the stands were filled with Waymart people and that was just great,” said MacDonald after the race.
The K&N series will take the green flag again for the Jegs 150 at Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway on Saturday, July21. Eddie Mac will then try for a third win in the Oxford 250 the following day on Sunday at the Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine. Speed will televise the Samuel 150 on Thursday, July 19 at 3: p.m.