Mechanical Problem Sidelines Eddie MacDonald at Richmond

By: Dick Casey

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Eddie MacDonald

The rain-delayed NASCAR K&N Pro Series East’s Blue Ox 100 at Richmond International Raceway took the green flag on Saturday morning with Eddie MacDonald starting in the 11th position after a solid qualifying run on Friday morning. The 100 lap event originally scheduled for a 9:40 p.m. Friday start after the Nationwide race, moved to Saturday morning after a three hour rain delay caused the re-schedule. However, a leaking rear seal late in the race forced Eddie Mac to the pits with eleven laps remaining to post a 27th place finish.
“We definitely struggled in practice both Thursday and Friday morning so having the rear seal leak was the final icing on the cake,” said the frustrated driver after the race. “The car was tight in the corners from the time we unloaded and the tires would just chatter when I got back to the throttle. The nose would just wash up and I didn’t have any forward bite coming off the corners. We thought we improved when we ran a pretty good lap in qualifying but it just didn’t last in the race.”

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Alex Vorrilas – “Boston Strong”

story by Chris Roy

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photo by RPM Photography

This past weekend the MOAT Mountain Legends returned to NHMS to race on the 1.6 mile road course. Alex Vorrilas was last season’s rookie of the year qualified 3rd for the feature with a lap time of 1:24.034. “I’m not sure how the racing was because we didn’t do any wheel to wheel racing. Last weekend at NHMS was a pretty typical weekend for us. It seems like we either break or get on the podium, and we started off the season right back on that path for 2014. It’s discouraging to say the least. Our goal for the first race weekend was just to finish, because with no drops this season is all about consistency. Unfortunately the axle broke on the formation lap, and we were unable to even start the race. Things break, and unfortunately in motorsports it happens a lot. The car is already fixed and back together, but this is an opportunity to take a break from the roller coaster ride we have had the past season into this season and see where we want to go from here.”

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LEE ‘BULLRING BASH’ MODIFIED OPENS ONLY THREE WEEKS AWAY

lee    LEE, NH- A new event that promises to bring New Hampshire’s Center of Speed, the Lee USA Speedway, its highest car count and biggest payday of the season, currently estimated at $44,000 is only three plus weeks away.

 

A field of close to 40 Tour-Type Modified teams will tow in from roughly ten different states for the 1st annual 100-lap, “Bullring Bash Powered by Sunoco” on Sunday, May 11. One of very few drivers competing in this event that has called Lee home is Mike Douglas Jr., from Auburn, N.H.

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Bob Guptill – “The NEMST is the Place to Look in 2014!”

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photo by RPM Photography

Story by Chris Roy

This weekend the North East Mini Stock Tour (NEMST), will start the 2014 race season at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS). In the off season NEMST founder and promoter Bob Guptill has been working hard getting ready for the upcoming race season, “We have been busy signing on even more new tracks for the 2014 schedule as well as numerous new sponsors big and small for all events.”

 

This will be the 6th year of racing for the NEMST, “The previous 5 seasons have flown by. I can’t wait to kick off 2014, by far our most exciting year yet. Every race this season is a special event either by the facility it is held, the increased purse, or “Triple Crown” involvement. It is for sure going to be an epic year.”

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Emily Packard finishes 12th in ACT Tour Season Opener at Lee USA Speedway

Emily trackThe American Canadian Tour kicked off its 23rd season at Lee USA Speedway again this year with the Governor’s Cup 150 on Sunday April 13th.  Hitting the track for her first race of the season, Emily Packard, the 17 year old East Montpelier native, brought home her 9X Northstar Fireworks/Packard Fuels sponsored car in 12th place.

Rain early in the day changed the track and the schedule, shortening day and allowing little to no practice to feel the car out prior to the heat races.  Starting 5th in the heat race, Packard dropped back a position early on fighting a pushing race car, but battled her way up to 4th by Lap 4.  The closing laps found her in a battle of side by side racing for the last three laps holding off the 5VT car to cross the line in 4th place to secure her place in the show.   “I hope it was an exciting race for the fans to watch, because it was definitely exciting from the driver’s seat,” said Packard of her tight racing with the 5vt car, “it was a good (heat) race and a good start to the season.” 

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Eddie MacDonald’s Strategy Leads to ACT Lee Win

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Credit Eric LaFleche/VLFPhotos.com

Lee, NH – Eddie MacDonald of Rowley, MA claimed the American Canadian Tour win in the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150 at Lee USA Speedway (Lee, NH) on Sunday, April 13. MacDonald used strategy to claim his first career ACT win at Lee in his ninth start at the 3/8ths mile speedway. It was his fifth career ACT Late Model win.

MacDonald went from sixth to first in his heat race to claim the win and the pole in the feature with his +5 in ACT’s plus/minus handicap system. MacDonald faded back early from the drop of the green. He fell as far as 10th and appeared to ride for the majority of the event.

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