Eddie MacDonald Returns Home to Lee USA Speedway for Oktoberfest
Eddie MacDonald’s return to his family-owned Lee USA Speedway in Lee, N.H. track for Oktoberfest presented by EXIT Realty, produced a second place finish in the Pro Stock/Super late Model 50 lap feature and first in the Late Model heat on Saturday, October, 8. Another 50 lap PS/SLM race and a 40 lap Late Model feature were slated for Sunday but heavy rains forced a rescheduling for Sunday, October 23, beginning at noon.
A late week decision was made by Team MacDonald to run the Dave Lemieux owned Chevy Pro Stock along with the famous “#17 “Flame” Late Model GTO that won three Bond Invitational races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and two Oxford 250’s with many other victories in the record books.
With little work the EXIT Realty/Hancock Electric Late Model was ready to go performing well in Friday’s practice and finishing first in the heat on Saturday. The EXIT Realty Pro Stock proved to be more difficult to get into shape after sitting idle for most of the racing season. Eddie Mac drove the car to victory in the first ever Super Late Model race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last season. The first glitch came after the first practice Friday when the transmission bound up followed by a rear end problem that required changingSaturday morning. Repairs were made in time for the heat race only to get run over on the start causing a flat time and torn up fender. Quick repairs were made as Eddie Mac returned to the track to complete five heat laps.
The crew jumped into action to repair the damage in time for the 50 lap feature starting 11th in the 15 car field. With the gremlins now behind him, Eddie Mac powered the #17ma to the front moving into sixth place on the sixth circuit and into third place on lap 21. The “Outlaw” then set his sights on leader Derek Griffiths and second place driver Jeremy Davis. Both started near the front of the field when the green flag waved and were able to pull away early not having to contend with traffic. Both appeared headed for easy finishes until the first and only caution on lap 45 negated the huge leads. Eddie Mac powered past Davis for second place on the restart with five to go but couldn’t catch Griffiths.
“I have to thank the crew for this finish because they worked their tails off to get this car ready,” said Eddie Mac. “Even my father was under the car all morning changing out the rear end and that made all the difference, Craig (Laroche) spent yesterday under the car fixing the transmission. Rollie (LaChance) and I are lucky to have the crew we have to get everything done and do it so well I can drive it to a second place finish. These people are awesome. We have another fifty-lap race so we will make some minor adjustments and hope we will be able to win. Derek had a rocket ship today and I hope we will be as good next time out. ”
I have to thank Derek Beatrice from EXIT Realty from Middleton, Mass. for helping us out on both cars and sponsoring the Oktoberfest at Lee,” said Eddie Mac. “He is a great guy and I hope we put on a good show for all the EXIT Realty people who came to the track to support us. Dave Lemieux, from D.R. Lemieux Builders. Inc. is the car owner and I am happy we were able to get together for these two races and hope to do more in the future. His great friend Brian Neal from Neal Excavating is a huge part of the operation and both are fantastic guys. They just love racing and will do whatever it takes to be successful. I know they both enjoyed the second place finish and it would be great to get the win next time out.”
Sources: Dick Casey/Eddie MacDonald PR