Oxford Plains Speedway - 8/27/05 - 21st

Photos by
Chris Roy
EDDIE MACDONALD FINISHES TWENTY-FIRST
AFTER CRASH AT OXFORD PLAINS SPEEDWAY

By Dick Casey---Triple Crown Racing

The first shoe dropped on Eddie MacDonald in the second practice for the Busch North Series Fisher Snow Plows 150 at Oxford Plains when the engine quit. The next shoe fell on lap 92 when the One Stop Toy Shop Chevy crashed into a spinning Kelly Moore ending his night with heavy front-end damage to finish 21st.

MacDonald was third fastest in the first practice and the engine showed no signs of any problems but just three laps into the second practice the Rowley, Mass. driver felt the engine just tighten up and shut it down immediately but the damage was done. The crew jumped into action and over the next two hours they did yeoman’s work in changing engines. While part of the crew removed the power plant from the back-up car, the remaining team lifted out the broken motor. Soon afterwards, the engine was installed and running well before race time.

Although disappointed in the turn of events, MacDonald could not say enough about his crew’s efforts saying, “These guys are amazing. There just isn’t any quit in them. They just go about their business like it was an everyday thing. Imagine doing all of this work in this amount of time? This is why I wouldn’t want anyone else working on my car.”

The engine change bumped MacDonald from qualifying and he started tail end of the field in the 24th position. With no practice with the new engine, MacDonald and crew chief Rollie LaChance decided to run the first few laps easy to see how the car handled and if all went well to then start moving towards the front, passing one car at a time. The car responded well and was able to pass a number of cars in the first 15 laps.

“I was real happy with the car and it really responded well. Even though it was a little loose I was still able to drive it where it need to be to move up,” said MacDonald. When the caution flag waved on lap 27, the #77 was in 14th place and after Johnson’s spin on lap 31, MacDonald had moved into the 11th spot. The field ran nose to tail until a lap 55 caution with some of the leaders making pit stops. On the lap 63 restart, MacDonald had the sixth position and was waiting for the next caution in order to pit. Unfortunately, he was involved in the next one on lap 92.

“I was coming up through the pack real good and we were just waiting it out hoping that we would get a caution real soon. We were going to pit for tires then get back out there to run on the outside because the inside line was backed right up, but I think the car was good enough to go on the outside and pass some people. All day long we were good and it stayed that way right up until the end,” said MacDonald after the race.

On the crash that sent him to the pits, MacDonald said, “ I didn’t see it but I think somebody got into us and dragged us up into the mess. I thought we were going to clear it. It’s tough because the guys worked so hard getting the motor back together to get the car exactly where it needed to be. I feel bad for all the guys and Jerry who had an expensive week. Hopefully we will get it ready for Loudon because we need to have a good run there. We will need the time between now and then to get this fixed but I know the guys will get it done again. They always do.”

Dejected Jerry Morello sat in the hauler after the race but still had high praise for the crew saying, “This is a great group of guys working for this team. I can’t say enough about them and the effort they give every week, especially today. Did you see how excited they got? This is what this team can do. I can’t thank them enough.”

Look for the One Stop Toy Shop Chevy to be ready for the Sylvania 125 at New Hampshire International Speedway on Friday, September 16.		 
Fisher Snow Plows 150
NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, BUSCH NORTH SERIES
Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, Maine, Saturday, August 27, 2005

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

1. (3) Dave Dion, Hudson N.H., Ford, 150, $8,595
2. (7) Ryan Moore, Scarborough Maine, Chevrolet, 150, $3,995
3. (5) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $3,295
4. (2) Brian Hoar, Williston Vt., Dodge, 150, $3,095
5. (12) Andy Santerre, Cherryfield Maine, Chevrolet, 150, $2,895
6. (8) Mike Olsen, North Haverhill N.H., Chevrolet, 150, $1,945
7. (11) Bryon Chew, Mattituck N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $1,845
8. (13) Mike Stefanik, Coventry R.I., Chevrolet, 150, $1,745
9. (18) Kip Stockwell, Braintree Vt., Chevrolet, 150, $2,720
10. (9) Dale Shaw, Center Conway N.H., Chevrolet, 150, $1,695
11. (20) John Salemi, Nashua N.H., Pontiac, 150, $1,670
12. (1) Mike Johnson, Salisbury Mass., Ford, 150, $2,645
13. (15) Anthony Demonte, Commack N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $1,020
14. (4) Kelly Moore, Scarborough Maine, Chevrolet, 150, $1,000
15. (10) Bill Penfold, Yarmouth Maine, Pontiac, 149, $925
16. (19) Ryan Seaman, Toms River N.J., Chevrolet, 149, $1,495
17. (6) Sean Caisse, Pelham N.H., Chevrolet, 149, $1,445
18. (14) Brad Leighton, Center Harbor N.H., Chevrolet, 148, $1,420
19. (16) Joe Masessa, Franklin Lakes N.J., Chevrolet, 144, $1,395
20. (21) Laine Chase, Beverly Mass., Chevrolet, 141, Parked, $1,395
21. (24) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley Mass., Chevrolet, 92, Accident, $1,395
22. (17) Jeff Anton, Russell Mass., Pontiac, 88, Accident, $1,395
23. (23) Rob Humphreys, Elbridge N.Y., Chevrolet, 7, Oil Line, $1,395
24. (22) Scott Bouley, Thomaston Conn., Chevrolet, 3, Rear End, $1,395

TIME OF RACE: 59 minutes, 29 seconds AVERAGE SPEED: 57.495 mph

MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.405 seconds

CAUTION PERIODS: 5 for 48 laps

LEAD CHANGES: 3 among 3 drivers

LAP LEADERS: Mike Johnson 1-5, Dave Dion 6-61, Ryan Moore 62-63, Dion 64-150

BUSCH POLE AWARD: Mike Johnson, Johnson Lumber Ford (15.584 seconds @ 86.627 mph)

POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Kip Stockwell, Sabil & Sons Chevrolet

FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Brian Hoar, Goss Dodge

UNOFFICIAL BUSCH NORTH SERIES STANDINGS (wins)

1. Andy Santerre (1) 1473
2. Mike Stefanik (2) 1445
3. Matt Kobyluck 1434
4. Ryan Moore (2) 1405
5. Mike Olsen 1350
6. Brian Hoar 1234
7. Mike Johnson 1227
8. Bryon Chew 1221
9. Eddie MacDonald 1140
10. Sean Caisse 1113
11. Dave Dion (1) 1107
12. Ryan Seaman 1082
13 Kip stockwell 1054
14. Dale Shaw 1010
15. John Salemi 1009

Media Contact: Jennifer MacDonald - jennymac29@hotmail.com