GRIMM RACING - NASCAR K&N Pro Series East

Tri-County Motor Speedway
Hudson, NC - .400 mile
April 25th, 2009

EDDIE FINISHES TWELFTH IN THE TRI-COUNTY 150

Eddie MacDonald's twelfth place finish in the NASCAR Camping World East Series race at Tri-County Motor Speedway was a letdown after posting the fastest times in both practices. The Grimm Racing Chevy qualified a disappointing eighth for the race as MacDonald and the team struggled the rest of the way.

"We missed the set-up just by a little bit," said MacDonald after the race. "The car was really good for the first five laps or so on the restarts but then we started sliding back after that. Our qualifying run was a sign of things to come because the car would not handle in the corners. Tires were a big issue during the race and really hurt us at the end."

When the green flag waved, the # 71 Chevy was able to maintain the position for most of the early segment of the race. By lap 50, MacDonald was running in the third spot but was unable to stay there and slid back to seventh. With the laps winding down, the team was hoping for a top ten finish but a spin on lap 95 put the Grimm Construction Chevy out of contention.

"We definitely had some help getting spun out. The only good thing about it was, we stayed off the wall," said MacDonald. "After that, we came into the pits a number of times to make adjustments but the tires were gone. The car just did not have any grip in the turns so we had to hang on to finish where we did. I think we could have had a top five finish if we could have changed tires, but we couldn't. It is really tough to run out there that way knowing there is nothing you can do. The crew worked hard the last couple of months to get this car ready but it just didn't work out today. It stinks, but it is just one of those things."

The team is preparing for the combination race with the West Series at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, May 17th. The event attracts the top drivers from both series as well as some of the top names from NASCAR'S top three divisions.

Follow real-time practice, qualifying, & race action at either:

NASCAR Home Tracks Lap-By-Lap

Race: After running as high as fifth, Eddie spins in turn two on lap 95, makes multiple pit stops, and falls out of the top 15. Climbs back to finish 12th.

Time Trials: Eddie posted a 16.686 for 8th starting spot. Lyman, Maine's Alan
Tardiff took his first pole with a 16.562.

Second practice has concluded. Eddie again tops the charts, with a time of 16.778. Ryan Duff was second, followed by Matt DiBenedetto, Patrick Long and Trevor Bayne.

Practice Update: The first practice has concluded and Eddie has the fastest lap at 16.759 seconds (85.924 mph), followed by Alan Tardiff and Trevor Bayne.