Eddie MacDonald Completes Successful Season at Seekonk Speedway
Eddie MacDonald’s second place Late Model finish in the DAV Fall Classic at Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk, Mass. on Saturday, Oct, 29 wrapped up a highly competitive campaign in the Freddie Peterson owned Chevy. Unfortunately, the veteran driver could not avoid a wreck on lap three of the 150 lap Pro Stock feature causing terminal radiator damage in the Dave Lemieux owned Chevy.
Eddie Mac started the 50 lap Late Model event in tenth place on the grid in the 23 car field to find the early going very difficult as both the inside and outside groove running side by side with the “Outlaw” saying, “There wasn’t any place to go for the first 25-30 laps because the cars on the outside just stalled. When I finally got by them, my car was pretty good on the outside and I was able to get by a lot of cars but unfortunately, the leader had a big lead. We needed one more caution and I think we would have had something for him but that didn’t happen.”
Eddie Mac drew the fourth starting position in the heat and met with the same stalled outside groove to finish fourth in the ten lap heat. The EXIT Realty/Hancock Electric Chevy started tenth in the DAV feature, so named to honor the 1946 speedway founder D. Anthony Venditti, then moved into the sixth spot by lap eight but again was forced to restart on the outside after the first of eight cautions. It was not until a caution on lap 41 that Eddie Mac was able to restart on the inside. The Rowley, Mass veteran quickly took over the third position then had to race the #7 hard for multiple laps before moving to second place on lap 46. With only four laps to go, Eddie Mac could only close the sizeable gap to the leader by a few car lengths. When the checkered flag waved Eddie Mac trailed the winner Ray Parent by 5 car lengths.
“It just took so long to be able to race that the winner had a big lead and I didn’t have enough time to catch him,” said Eddie Mac. “The car was real good on the outside when I finally had room to race and I think I could have gotten by him if we had a caution or a few more laps. He was really tight and his car had fallen off quite a bit. But we had a good run and we are happy to finish second to end our season. It has been a lot of fun and I am already looking forward to next season.”
The nightcap feature, the Pro Stock 150, ended nearly as fast as it started with the EXIT Realty/Neal Excavating Chevy involved in a huge crash started by an impatient driver. Eddie Mac started in the fifteenth position after qualifying fifth in the heat. When the green flag waved to start the event the 24 car field rode side by side for the first three laps. A driver up front on the outside decided to cut to the bottom that is the preferred line around the one-third of a mile bullring. Usually, drivers wait until it is clear to do so but this driver turned down with a car in the bottom groove causing a huge pile-up. Eddie Mac weaved his way through the initial carnage but ended up in a wreck as a car that made it through the wreckage suddenly lost control and turned down in front of the approaching field of cars. Eddie Mac and another car plowed into him. Eddie Mac went to the pits for repairs but his night ended with a badly damaged radiator.
“I really feel bad for Dave Lemieux and Brian Neal who have put so much into this car and finally got it to where it could run with the leaders,” said Eddie Mac. “We worked on it Friday and Saturday in practice and in the second practice on Saturday, I think, it was the second fastest car on the track. We had hoped for a better starting position but we were stuck again on the outside in the 12 lap heat and just couldn’t go anywhere. But we knew the car was fast and we just needed to stay out of trouble. This track dictates that you get to the bottom as quick as possible but the guy up front did not want to wait for an opening to do that and just caused a huge wreck. I was able to get through but as soon as I did a car lost it in front of me and came right down the track sideways. This track and this race require patience and guys have to wait their turn to make the move to the bottom. Unfortunately for us, this didn’t happen.”
“Rollie (LaChance) and I have had a great season and we are thankful for the support of so many people. Rob Grimm, our K&N team owner, makes all this possible. Sheila and Freddie Peterson own our Late Model and are simply wonderful people to be involved with. Bobby Wood is an important member of the team. Dave Lemieux owns the Pro Stock and we hope to run more with him next season. Brian Neal is a very important cog in the Pro Stock success. We have a small but very dedicated crew both in the shop and at the track starting with Rollie’s family. His wife Laura, his daughter Rachel and son Ryan do so much for our team and have for years. Jolene and Rob Drandson and Tom Rice juggle work schedules so they can be with us every race. John Tiernan and Dick Casey are in the shop countless hours preparing the cars. I have to give thanks to my girlfriend Kelyn Harrell for the patience, understanding, and support. Scott and Kenny Thompson of Hancock Electric have been incredible sponsors for a decade and Derek Beatrice has been a huge supporter with EXIT Realty Beatrice Associates, Of course, my parents, Red and Judy, have supported my racing career since I was a teenager and continue to do so. We all have to thank our fans for all their support and wish everyone well and hope to see everyone again next season.”
Sources: Dick Casey/Eddie MacDonald PR