Both MacDonald Motorsports Cars Finish in Top-20 at Talladega

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In: Xfinity Series News

After running just one car in the first 6 races of the season, MacDonald Motorsports was prepared to run one for each of their drivers at Talladega.  Donnie Neuenberger was in the Eagle Convenience Stores No. 81 and Blake Koch would be driving a second car for the team, the RizeUp.us / Daystar.com No. 82.  Just getting both cars ready for the weekend was a tough task in itself.  Little did the team know this would be their best race weekend of the season thus far.

Practice was up and down for the team as Donnie was able to turn some fast laps in the No. 81 Dodge while Blake’s car struggled to get through the tech line.  When the day was done he had only turned 3 laps on the 2.66 mile high-banked oval.  Qualifying however went much better for both cars as they would share the 16th row for the race.

Blake Koch…..When the race began Blake went straight to the front in the RizeUp.us / Daystar.com No. 81.  He was running just outside the top-ten as early as 10 laps into the race.  After falling a little behind during the middle stages, Blake and the team were able to rebound to the top-20 towards the end.  After getting damage during the “Big One” on lap 89 involving 21 cars, Blake was still able to bring the No. 82 home in 16th position.  This was a career best finish for Blake in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and leaves him 26th in the 2011 NNS driver’s standings.

Donnie Neuenberger…..Making his 3rd start of the year in the Eagle Convenience Stores No. 81, Donnie really wanted to put in a good performance for his sponsor in their home town.  After a late race spin on lap 84 off the bumper of the No. 19 car, Donnie regrouped and earned his best finish of the season with a 20th place result.  Donnie moved up 3 spots in the point’s standings and now sits in 28th.

MacDonald Motorsports…..All the hard work of preparing two cars for the race paid off Saturday afternoon with two great finishes.  It helped a lot in the owner’s standings as well as the No. 81 moved up two spots to 26th.  This puts them 14 points ahead of 31st and will keep them locked in to the field for this Saturday’s race at Nashville Super Speedway.

MacDonald Motorsports PR

 

Speedway Digest Staff
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