2008 CW East
Race 5 |
New Hampshire
Motor Speedway
Loudon, NH - 1.058 mile
Friday, June 26th |
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Chris Roy Photo
EDDIE WINS!
"This is just awesome. It
hasn't really sunk in yet."
Chris Roy Photo
Chris Roy Photo
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Eddie Wins Heluva Good! Summer 125 at NHMS
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Eddie posted his first
ever win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and did so in
dramatic fashion with a fantastic green-white-checkered
finish in the NASCAR Camping World East Series Heluva
Good! Summer 125. The NEMO/Grimm Construction sponsored
Chevy battled the #1 car door-to-door swapping the lead
several times over five laps until a caution flag on lap
122 forced the overtime.
An excited Eddie said of the restart, “The one car kept
driving into me before the caution so I just wanted to
get away from him on the restart since he was a little
erratic in the turns. I knew I had a great car and I was
able to pull away for the win.” The win is also the
first NASCAR win at the newly renamed New Hampshire
Motor Speedway and will be long remembered as one of the
most competitive races in the series at the track.
Due to Thursday’s washout, Eddie started tenth in the
race based on point’s standing. During the morning
practice session the #71 tied for ninth fastest with a
time of 31.116 seconds (122.406mph) around the “Magic
Mile”.
“We were fast right from the start so I knew if we just
ran our race we would be there at the end,” said Eddie
then adding, “We were a little tight in the middle of
the turns but the car kept getting better. Rollie
(LaChance) did such a great job. It is hard to believe
how many hours he puts in while managing a full time job
and raising his young kids. I could not be any happier
for him and his wife Laura. Our entire team is made up
of volunteers so this win is all the sweeter.”
When the green flag waved Eddie began his march to the
front and by lap 20 he was in third place. On lap 22, he
pitted for fuel only, returning to the track in the 13th
position then moving through the field and into sixth
when another yellow flag flew on lap 35. Four of the
leaders pitted and when the green flag waved, Eddie
passed the #03 on the lap 41 restart for the lead,
holding it for 30 laps.
A caution on lap 82 allowed Eddie to pit for right-side
tires then marched through the pack from his 21st
position narrowly missing a huge back stretch wreck on
lap 101.
“We usually have fast cars here but something stupid
always seems to happen to us so it was nice to miss that
one. I had my left side tires in the grass but I was
able to hang onto it,” said the Rowley, Mass. driver.
“We knew we were in a great position to get the win
after that and it sure was a lot of fun”
The final laps had the crowd on its feet for the effort
as everyone on the team shared the emotion in victory
lane. Rollie showed his happiness at winning the “big
one” saying, “This isn’t just any race, this is Loudon!”
Team owner Rob Grimm said after the race, “This is
awesome. Just to be here and get the win is really
special but as I have said before it is our people that
make it happen. They are incredible. To win Loudon is
huge.”
New England Mechanical Overlay sponsors Ron and Becky
Bennett were equally ecstatic with the win, “This is
such a great win. To win here is such an unbelievable
feeling. It is really special. You have to be happy for
the entire team for all their hard work.”
Eddie seemed to put it all in perspective saying in his
very off-track laid back demeanor saying, “This is
cool.”
The NASCAR Camping World East Series will race next at
the famed Thompson International Speedway on July 12
where Eddie has a previous victory. |
Jamie Williams Photo |
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