Race 7 - 7/10/04
Lake Erie Speedway

The Local Dodge Dealers 150
   Eddie Finishes Seventeenth Due to Caliper Problem

By Dick Casey---HRM Motorsports

The HRM Motorsports team’s hopes for a top five finish at Lake Erie Speedway were not to be due a caliper malfunction that eventually caused the tire to blow. Good fortune has not been in the cards of late and the team worked diligently throughout the week to recapture their early season success. The effort appeared to have paid off as the #17 Ford was one of the fastest cars in practice.

However, the expectations for a solid finish again escaped the team. A very disappointed Eddie MacDonald said after the race, “ I really feel terrible for the crew who did outstanding work all week long to get our season back on track and were very optimistic this was going to be our race.” Eddie continued, “ The car was really fast in practice and we had no indication that anything was wrong.”

Despite a sixteenth place qualifying run, Eddie remained confident he could move up through the field after the way the car handled in practice. Eddie said, “ We knew we just had to be patient and we could drive to the front because everything seemed good. We weren’t that far off in qualifying so we weren’t worried about it.” However as things have been recently, positive expectations changed.

While the # 17 was maintaining its position, the caliper locked up causing the wheel and tire to heat up eventually blowing out the tire. Said a frustrated Eddie after the race, “ By the time we came in to change the tire we went a lap down and were forced to continue with the caliper the way it was. I really hate it for this team since we had a decent handling car and needed a good finish to get us back in the points race.”

The HRM Motorsports Ford finished two laps down as Eddie explained, “ Towards the end of the race, I lost the brakes completely so we had to finish without brakes which is a pretty tough thing to do on this track.” Despite the setback Eddie feels, “ We made a lot of progress this week getting things back where we want them and have to realize the caliper problem is just one of those things that happen in racing.”

The crew is currently preparing for the July 17th race at Waterford Speedbowl with high expectations. Said Eddie, “The car did not get smashed up so now we can concentrate on the set up and hope we have a little more luck on a track closer to home. We definitely need a good finish and we are going to a track that we like to run on.”
Local Dodge Dealers 150

    NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, BUSCH NORTH SERIES
    Lake Erie Speedway    Saturday, July 10, 2004

UNOFFICIAL FINISH (finishing position, starting position, driver, hometown, manufacturer, laps completed, reason out if any, money won)

      1.  (3) Andy Santerre, Cherryfield Me., Chevrolet, 158, $7,225
      2.  (6) Mike Johnson, Salisbury Mass., Ford, 158, $5,925
      3.  (4) Mike Olsen, North Haverhill N.H., Chevrolet, 158, $3,625
      4.  (5) Bryon Chew, Mattituck N.Y., Chevrolet, 158, $3,125
      5.  (9) Kelly Moore, Scarborough Me., Chevrolet, 158, $2,625
      6. (14) Dale Quarterley, Westfield Mass., Chevrolet, 158, $3,125
      7.  (7) Joey McCarthy, Randolph N.J., Chevrolet, 158, $1,925
      8.  (8) Mike Stefanik, Coverntry R.I., Chevrolet, 158, $1,825
      9. (13) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville Conn., Chevrolet, 158, $1,725
     10. (10) Bobby Dragon, Milton VT., Chevrolet, 158, $1,625
     11.  (2) Ryan Moore, Scarborough ME., Chevrolet, 158, $1,600
     12. (18) Ryan Seaman, Toms River N.J., Chevrolet, 158, $1,550
     13.  (1) Brian Hoar, Williston VT., Dodge, 158, $2,225
     14. (11) Dave Dion, Hudson N.H., Ford, 158, $1,500
     15. (15) Bill Penfold, Yarmouth ME., Chevrolet, 157, $1,450
     16. (21) Scott Bouley, Thomaston Conn., Chevrolet, 157, $1,425
     17. (16) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley Mass., Ford, 156, $1,400
   18. (19) Kip Stockwell, Braintree VT., Chevrolet, 154, $1,350
     19. (20) Barney McRae, Colchester VT., Chevrolet, 115, Parked, $1,325
     20. (17) Troy Williams, Yorkshire N.Y., Chevrolet, 43, Handling, $700
     21. (12) Jamie Aube, Manchester N.H., Chevrolet, 41, Engine, $1,325
     22. (22) Doug Hoar, Williston Vt., Dodge, 31, Overheating, $700
    * Denotes Rookie of the Year Contender

TIME OF RACE: 59 minutes, 30 seconds

AVERAGE SPEED: 59.752 miles per hour

MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.435 seconds

CAUTION PERIODS: 7 for 48 laps

LEAD CHANGES: 4 among 4 drivers

LAP LEADERS: Brian Hoar 1, Mike Olsen 3-49, Ryan Moore 50, Mike Olsen 51-110, Andy Santerre 111-158

BUSCH POLE AWARD: Brian Hoar, Dodge, 15.417 seconds @ 87.566 miles per hour

POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Dale Quarterley, Chevrolet

FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Mike Johnson, Ford
 

 

Media Contact: Jennifer MacDonald - jennymac29@hotmail.com