Even though the Toyota All-Star Showdown in Irwindale, California on January
29-30 is regarded as a post season event for the East and West series, Eddie
MacDonald and the Grimm Racing Team feels it is the kickoff to the 2010
schedule. Touted as the “Daytona 500 of Short Track Racing”, the team would
like nothing better than a win in the prestigious race.
“We have been busy all winter preparing for this race and everyone is
excited to get racing and hopefully come away with the win,” said MacDonald
from his Newbury, Mass. garage. “We are bringing the car we ran there two
years ago to a fifth place finish and we have made some changes especially
with the set-up so we feel very confident of our chances. We had a great
season last year and we hope to continue this year.”
Last season, The Grimm Racing team posted some stellar numbers for an
independent team racing against the developmental teams sponsored by Cup
organizations. MacDonald finished second by 34 points to Ryan Truex, a
driver for Michael Waltrip Racing, while posting ten top ten finishes.
MacDonald won the September race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway after
finishing sixth in the June event. For his efforts in the two races,
MacDonald won the Lincoln Electric/Airgas NHMS Track Championship for the
second year in a row. Also, MacDonald raced to two pole awards.
The success continued as MacDonald, along with crew chief Rollie LaChance
and most of the East Series crew, won the prestigious TD BankNorth 250 at
Oxford Plains Speedway and the inaugural American Canadian Tour race at New
Hampshire Motor Speedway in the #17 Late Model. For his performance last
season, MacDonald was chosen to receive the 2010 Expo Award for Touring
Driver of the year presented to him by Amanda Leach from Mainely
Motorsports.
MacDonald knows the competition will be extremely competitive saying, “I
expect a tremendous battle right from the start. No points are involved so
everyone will be racing hard for the win. You just hope to stay out of
trouble for 200 laps then go for the win. The track is a lot of fun to drive
with all the grooves but the fastest way around is the bottom. Hopefully we
have the set-up that will keep the nose flat on the ground without any
roll-over. I am going to have to do that with the list of drivers who are
going to be there. Joey Logano and David Gilliland have a ton of experience
on that track. Sean Caisse is back racing with us and he is always tough.
Matt DiBennedetto will be there representing Joe Gibbs and of course, Matt
Kobyluck will try to make it three in a row. I am not sure if Brett Moffitt
and Max Gresham will be there but they just signed with Gibbs. This will be
an amazing field and I haven’t even mention the regular West Series drivers.
Whoever wins this thing, and I am hoping it is us, will certainly earn it.”
The winner will have bragging rights for the upcoming season with new
sponsor K&N Engineering replacing Camping World. The company has signed a
seven year agreement and will sponsor both the East and West. It will be
known as the K&N Pro East Series and will be the entitlement sponsor at the
Showdown. MacDonald is pleased to have the company step up saying, “This is
a great series and with the long term commitment from K&N the series can
only get better. I look forward to meeting their representatives in
Irwindale.”
Speed Channel and Sirius Radio will cover both nights of racing.