MacDonald Completes Sweep Oxford Regulars Finish Well
MacDonald Completes Sweep Oxford Regulars Finish Well
By Caleb Lamb
OXFORD, Maine – The next time the American-Canadian Tour visits Oxford Plains they may have to rename the 150 lap race the, “Eddie MacDonald 150”. MacDonald once again took the checkered flag at OPS to sweep the two ACT races held at the track. Add in the fact that he also won last year’s TD Bank 250 and that makes MacDonald 3 for 3 in his latest trips to Oxford. After three rounds of qualifying, the starting grid was set for main event. As a part of Oxford Plains ongoing 60th anniversary celebration, the fans were treated to a special interview with OPS pioneer, Glen Andrews. Then Mr. Andrews gave the command to fire engines and the race was underway. Brian Hoar took the early lead while Eddie MacDonald settled into fourth place behind OPS regulars Jeff White and Shawn Martin. Martin grabbed the lead on a lap 48 restart following the race’s first yellow for one car crash featuring Joey Laquerre. But his lead was short-lived as just 5 laps later the yellow flew once again for the biggest wreck of the night. Corey Morgan got spun around going into turn 1 and several other cars got involved in the mayhem. Mark Lamberton, Travis Stearns, Billy Childs Jr, Ben Ashline, and Jean Paul Cyr were all involved, with Lamberton and Stearns getting the worst of it. Following the restart, Hoar jumped back in front while MacDonald slipped by White and Martin to take second. Ricky Rolfe had a great showing, passing MacDonald for second on lap 75, while Tommy Ricker and T.J. Brackett slowly started picking their way through the field, just outside the top 10. A caution for Joey Pole’s spin on lap 102 set the stage for an all out sprint to the finish as the top drivers pushed their cars to the limit. MacDonald took the lead for the first time shortly after the restart, and Tommy Ricker jumped to fourth, passing five cars in just 7 laps. Corey Morgan recovered well from his earlier spin, and while nearly every other driver followed the high line around the race track, Morgan used the inside groove to pick his way to fourth. With positions constantly changing, Morgan moved to second behind MacDonald on lap 125, and then faded as Ricky Rolfe reclaimed the spot and made the charge at the leader. T.J. Brackett moved into the third position while the likes of Hoar, Ricker, Morgan, and Scott Luce battled it out behind him. But while several drivers came close, nobody could touch MacDonald who navigated the lap traffic well and crossed the finish line several car lengths in front of Rolfe and Brackett. Corey Morgan finished fourth in his most impressive run of the season, while Brian Hoar slipped to second, and Scott Luce finished deep in the field after he spun with just 3 laps remaining.