Eric McClure Posts 24th-place Finish in 5-Hour Energy 200

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In: Xfinity Series News

Eric McClure and the No. 14 Hefty®/Reynolds® Camry finished 24th in Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series event at the “Monster Mile” after qualifying in the 32nd position.  With this finish, McClure maintains the 23rd position in the NASCAR Owner standings, 21 points out of the 20thspot heading into next weekend’s event at Iowa Speedway.

At the drop of the green flag, McClure quickly advanced two positions in the running order and maintained the position until he picked up an additional spot on lap 18.

Battling an extremely loose-handling car, the team was able to make a series of chassis adjustments under the event’s first caution period on lap 48.  The crew also changed four tires and added fuel during the initial pit stop.  When the race resumed on lap 52, the team was scored in the 29th position.

Despite slipping two positions on the restart, McClure was able to regain the positions lost by lap 71.  The car’s handling had slightly improved during the green-flag run, but McClure was now fighting a car that was tight in the center and snappy loose on exit of the turns. When the event’s second caution flag waved on lap 79, McClure again brought his orange and blue Camry to pit road where the team changed four tires, added fuel, and made a track-bar adjustment.  Once the service was complete, McClure returned to the track in the 28th position.

Over the next several laps, the car’s handling again improved and McClure was able to not only advance to the 27th position, but also run his fastest lap of the race at that point by the time the event’s third caution flag waved on lap 112.  It was then that chief John Monsam made the call for McClure to remain on track and receive the “wave around” which allowed him to restart 25th when the race resumed on lap120.

Fortunately, the gamble paid off as the caution flag waved one lap later, allowing the Virginia driver to bring his car to pit road for the last scheduled stop of the afternoon.  The team changed four tires, added fuel, and made another track bar adjustment during this stop in hopes of helping the car’s tight in the center and snappy loose-off condition.  When the race resumed on lap 128, McClure was scored in the 26th position.

During the remaining laps, McClure not only ran his fastest laps of the race, but also advanced two positions in the running order to finish the 5-Hour Energy 200 in the 24th position.

Driver, Eric McClure Quotes:

“It was an OK finish, but we really didn’t run well.  We struggled most of the weekend and I didn’t help matters either as I was feeling a little sick.  It’s just disappointing to fight as hard as we do and have nothing to show for it.  We will keep our heads high though and keep working at it and hopefully something will turn around soon.” 

TMI PR

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