Eddie MacDonald Runs Tenth in the Dixieland 250 at WIS
With 15 laps to go in the 250 lap event, Eddie MacDonald appeared headed for a top five finish in the ARCA Midwest Tour’s Dixieland 250 at the Wisconsin International Raceway before a flat tire cost him the solid finish. Driving the Joe Wood owned Pathfinder Chassis house car, Eddie Mac drove from deep in the field to post the tenth place finish on the 5/8 of a mile oval on Tuesday, August 6.
“We did not have a good practice and we ended up qualifying 25th so we didn’t know what to expect in the race but as the race went along the car drove a lot better and we were there at the end, “ said Eddie Mac. “It is a tricky, bumpy track to get hold of and it was tough to pass but it turned out to be a fun track to drive. I would like to race on it again now that I have had the opportunity to figure out what to do to make the car go fast.”
The prestigious race attracted many big names with experience at the Wisconsin tracks. Eddie Mac and back East Super Late Model owner Dave Lemieux teamed up with Joe Wood to race a few mid-west races in the house car built in the Pathfinder shop, most recently finishing ninth at the Milwaukee Mile. Eddie Mac runs a Pathfinder chassis car back east so the two owners struck a deal with Lemieux providing the Paul Rinaldi built engine and transmission with Wood providing the car.
Eddie Mac started the race in the 25th spot in the 29 car field while battling a tight condition but was able to move up steadily through the field advancing into 14th on the grid on the 100th circuit. From that point forward the 17ma Chevy was able to move forward and into seventh when the caution flag flew on lap 230. When the flag waved for the final laps, Eddie Mac hit the speedy dry in the turn then slid up the track into the outside car then cutting down a tire. Forced to the pits for a tire change, the Rowley, Mass. veteran racer was able to salvage a tenth place finish.
“I thought on the restart I would be able to get a few more spots since my car was handling good and the other car seemed to be falling back,” said a disappointed Eddie Mac. “I just hit a patch of speedy dry and I just slid up the track into the other car. It is really disappointing to have that happen since we were probably going to finish in the top five at least.”
“It was a lot of fun today in the race and I have to thank Joe Wood and his guys Jason and Lars for their hard work,” said Eddie Mac. “Thanks also to Dave Lemieux, Brian Neal, Tom Rice, and my Dad for all their help. Our other SLM owners Sheila and Freddie Peterson also made the trip out here and it was great to have them here. Joe and his people here are great and we have had a lot of fun with them.”
Eddie Mac will ride again this Sunday, August 11 in the PASS race at Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine gearing up for the upcoming Oxford 250.