Predicting who can beat Eddie MacDonald in April’s Governoro’s Cup ACT opener at Lee USA Speedway will be hard. Because Eddie has been able to string several races on various late Model circuits from last year into the February pre-season ACT events at New Smyrna Speedway in Fla. (Credit: ACT Tour photo.)
Eddie MacDonald of Rowley has gone on to win just about every major regional Late Model race, including championship efforts in the NASCAR K&N Series, the Oxford 250 (twice), Bond Auto ACT Invitational at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (twice), Thunder Road’s famous Milk Bowl, and recently he swept the triple 100 lap features in a very competitive field at the World Series of Asphalt Racing at New Smyrna Speedway.
“Eddie Mac” carries the moniker “the Outlaw”, a well-deserved nick-name, as the likeable, smoother-than-silk driver, who doesn’t have the appearance of a nasty outlaw type, but his race day mission is intense, professional, and he races smart, and with respect. The Hancock Electric-Grimm team pays attention to detail, led by long-time crew chief, Rollie Lachance.
Director of Competition for ACT, Dean Gallison, said, “They are like bees hovering around a nest as far as work ethic. When they hit the track they can put a sting on any competition. They pay no attention to what other teams are doing, they are not afraid to try different combinations during a typical race day.”
“But when the racing is for real, they seem to always have things sorted out for that particular track and race. I think the ‘Outlaw’ handle they seem to have gotten is because they don’t race for points or championships, they race to win—every time. And they certainly are getting that done. When you know Eddie and Rollie are in town, best bring your “A” game if you want to beat them.”
MacDonald will face the best ACT has to offer on opening day 2015 at this home track. Starting with the Milk Bowl last October, the non-ACT Fall Brawl in November, and the New Smyrna Speedway triple wins, the Freddy Petersen owned team is 5 in a row on top of the podium. A follow up win at Lee would set a Late Model standard unlike any other in the long 30 year history of ACT. Past glories went to drivers like Dion, Crouch, Cabana, Hanley, Cyr, and Hoar.
They have high race pedigrees, but none has ever strung 6 major events together in a row. Teams like Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., Hudson, NH; Wayne Helliwell, Jr., Dover, NH; Alex Labbe, St. Albert, QC; former NH Governor Cup winner Jimmy Hebert, Williamstown, VT; and dozens more will try and stop the “Outlaw” at Lee USA, this April 12th.
Tom Curley, President of ACT said, “I think the remarkable run Eddie and his team are having is just great. It forces our very best teams to dig deep, and it uses his success as motivation for all our teams going into the season. We will get better racers and races. The fans ultimately win. The intensity showed during the New Smyrna trip is just what short track fans like, and what we need in our business. For the talented depth of young upcoming teams we have racing in ACT, the present “Outlaw” run should serve as an example of what hard work, dedication to your craft, and a positive attitude can do to improve and continually challenge a racing program at all stages of development.”
MacDonald will join an expected field of 40 teams for opening day of the 2015 season. The New Hampshire Governor’s Cup is Sunday, April 12, 2015. Post time is 1 pm. Practice will take place from noon until 5 pm on Saturday, April 11, 2015.
Source: ACT Tour PR/personal notes