Eddie MacDonald of Rowley, MA is having a very successful 2016 racing season. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo.)

For the fifth time this season, Eddie MacDonald, starting on the pole, finished second in the Fall Foliage 150 at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Maine on Saturday. The scheduled two day event reduced to one day due to predicted inclement weather on Sunday also reduced the American Canadian Tour’s 200 lap feature to 150 laps.

Eddie Mac won the pole position with a +3 rating after finishing third from his sixth starting position in the first of two heats. The #17 EXIT Realty/Hancock Electric Chevy posted the second fastest time in two of the three fifteen minute practices and a fifth fastest in the other practice.

Usually a second place run, with five for the season along with two wins, would be enough to gain ground in the race for championship points. However, point’s leader Nick Sweet dominated the race after taking the lead from Eddie Mac on lap 63 then lapped the field to the seventh position to increase his point lead over Eddie Mac and second place driver Scott Payea. Sweet now leads the Rowley, Mass. veteran by 26 points and 23 points over Payea with Thompson Motor Sports Park the final point’s race of the ACT season to be run as part of the World Series of Racing.The Bond Invitational event scheduled for this Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a race Eddie Mac has won four times, is a non-point ACT race.

Eddie Mac held the lead for the first 18 laps before the hard charge of Payea found the two drivers battling door-to-door and swapping the lead until Eddie Mac regained a solid lead on lap 42 after the second of two cautions (laps 33 and 41). The field ran single file with the exception of Sweet who began his incredible march to the front. On lap 63 Sweet powered past the Freddie Peterson owned ride on his way to a dominating run to the checkers. Eddie Mac was never challenged for the second spot as contenders battled for the third position.

“I wish we could have done a little better but that thing (Sweet) was unbelievable,” said Eddie Mac on the radio after crossing the finish line. In the pits after the race, the “Outlaw” said, “Nick had the car set up and he hit it just perfect. He was able to run anywhere on the track and we were not going to be able to catch him even if we had a caution. You get the set-up right like that sometimes and it is a lot of fun. Our car was just a little off and unfortunately it cost us big time. It will be tough to catch Nick at Thompson but as they say, “That is why we run the race.” Our team never gives up and we will give it our best shot at Thompson.”

“I have to thank the crew for all the hard work this weekend and season,” said Eddie Mac. “It is really difficult to make changes in the pits during fifteen minute practices but Rob, Tom, and Ryan were able to do just that. Rollie (LaChance) and I appreciate everything the guys do. I also have to thank our fantastic sponsors beginning with our longtime sponsors Ken and Scott Thompson from Hancock Electric Motor located in Quincy. EXIT Realty is a great sponsor and Derek Beatrice even brought his grill and cooked for the crew. Derek is a super guy and is an awesome addition to our team since coming on board last year. I also have to thank HMS, Schroth Racing, Stilo, and Grimm Racing. We can’t thank Rob Grimm enough, our K&N team owner, for everything he has done for us. Our Late Model owners Freddie and Sheila Peterson from Peterson Auto Body in Peabody are fantastic owners and better people. I hope to see a lot of our fans at Loudon this weekend.”

Source: Judy MacDonald/Lee and Eddie MacDonald PR

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