Photo by RPM 360Eddi
By: Dick Casey
Eddie MacDonald and Go FAS Racing will again represent an all New England team in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup New Hampshire 301 on Sunday, July 19 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The Rowley, Mass. legendary driver will join forces with team owners Archie St. Hilaire from Old Orchard Beach, Maine and Frankie Stoddard from No. Haverhill, N.H. DraftDemons.com owned by Mike Alden from Beverly, Mass. will sponsor the #32 Ford Fusion for the second year in a row for the 301 lap event.
“This is a thrill to drive for Archie, Frankie, and Mike again this year,” said Eddie Mac, the winner of the inaugural PASS North race at NHMS last Sunday. “Go FAS Racing made my life-long dream come true to race in the Sprint Cup and now I get the opportunity to do it again. The excitement is building and this is incredible to be part of this. I love racing at Loudon and to do it a Cup car is awesome. Those guys have been fantastic to me and I can’t thank Mike Alden enough for sponsoring us again. I spent a lot of time with Mike last year and he is an
incredible person. It is an honor to represent DraftDemons.com. The car looks fantastic and I think everyone will enjoy the graphics. I also have to thank Derek Beatrice from Exit Realty in Middleton, Mass. and Les Sanborn, “The Rod Doctor,” from Sanford, Maine for their support. The Exit Realty logo will appear on the rear quarter panel on the #32. The local 99 Restaurants have also come aboard with their support. This is truly an all New England team. Even crew chief Clinton Cramm is from Massachusetts. Hopefully we can put on a good show for all our fans.”
“Last year Mike (Alden) wanted to sponsor the NHMS race and asked me if I had a New England driver in mind and right away I said Eddie MacDonald,” said Archie St. Hilaire. “Mike has helped us out this year and asked me to save the July race at Loudon for him and he asked right away if Eddie was available to drive for us again. He really enjoyed the time with Eddie both as a person and as a driver and wanted the opportunity to work with him again. Mike is a very successful businessman and was extremely pleased to have Eddie represent his company. DraftDemons.com was created by Mike and is a fantasy sports website for daily entries. You can draft your dream team in any sport and compete against other players for your chance to win. We have improved our short track program with the purchase of some Roush Fenway chassis’ and feel like we will be more competitive at Loudon than last year. We are always working to improve and I think the results are there. Eddie should have a fun time this race and we are hoping all our New England fans will enjoy the show.”
Eddie Mac has competed in nearly every racing series at NHMS including three wins in both the K&N Pro Series East (a second place finish last year) and in the American Canadian Tour, plus the PASS North win last Sunday, July 5. Beside his Sprint Cup start last year the veteran racer has also competed in the Xfinity, Craftsman Truck, and the Whelen Modified Series with Eddie Mac saying, “I have been very fortunate to race in so many series at Loudon. It is my home track and I would like nothing better than to put on a good show for everyone involved. Of course you want to win every time out but we hope to have a lot of fun and entertain the fans. Again, thank you to all the people to make this possible.”
Eddie Mac has a busy schedule ahead with practice and racing in the NASCAR’s Granite State 70 K&N Pro Series East race on Friday, plus two Sprint Cup practices and qualifying on Friday. Two Cup practices on Saturday with the New Hampshire 301 scheduled to take the green flag at 1:30 p.m. Eddie Mac will also be making four car show appearances in the days leading up to the Cup race. On Tuesday, July 14, Eddie Mac is slated to appear with the show car at Bentley’s Saloon in Arundel, Maine beginning at 5:00 p.m. to sign autographs and chat with fans. Saloon owner Bentley Warren is regarded as one of the greatest Super Modified drivers of all-time. On Wednesday, July 15 Eddie Mac will be at the 99 Restaurants in Salem, Mass. from 4-6 and Salem, N.H. from 7-9. The team will make an appearance at the 99 Restaurant in Tilton, N.H. on Saturday from 4-6. The show car is wrapped exactly like the Cup car so Archie St. Hilaire encourages all the New England fans to get an up close look and have a Hero card signed by Eddie MacDonald at one of the events.
“We have a very busy schedule stating on Tuesday but it is something we are really looking forward to meet as many fans as possible,” said Eddie Mac. “This is such a great opportunity to do something I love to do. I owe many people for giving me the chance to realize my dream. Archie, Frankie, Mike and so many others I will be forever grateful. This experience will be a lot of fun and I hope to share it with all our fans.”