Eric McClure and the Hefty® Racing Team headed to the Michigan Int’l Speedway for the second “New Car” race of the Nationwide Series season.  Never pacifying the same loose handling characteristic that occurred during last month’s “New Car” debut, the Virginia driver was still able to overcome his 39^th-place qualifying effort to finish the CARFAX 250 in the 30^th position.

“We didn’t get the finish we wanted today.  I have no experience in these cars and as a small team, despite how hard the guys work, there’s not a lot of time to devote a great deal of extra attention to this deal.  We slowed down in qualifying from our practice session because the car was extremely loose and unfortunately there were long green flag runs today and we just couldn’t overcome it.  We took the wave around once which hurt us.  We did make the race though which is a plus; we just can’t experience.”

Starting the race from the 39^th position the Hefty® Odor Block®/Kroger® Mustang began working its way through the field despite being loose on entry.  When green flag pit stops began on lap 30 McClure was scored in the 30^th position, but was able to advance to the 25th position before making his way to pit road on lap 45 for four “scuffed” tires with a large air-pressure adjustment, a track-bar adjustment and fuel.  Upon returning to the race, the Team Rensi Motorsports team was scored in the 32^nd position.

As the race progressed the Hefty® Odor Block®/Kroger® Mustang became more secure on entry but had become “loose through the center of the turns.”

Rather than visiting pit road for adjustments when the first caution flag waved on lap 61 the call was made to stay on track and receive the “Wave Around.”  On the lap 67 restart the driver was scored in the 30^th position where he remained until green flag pit stops began on lap 101.   Having not visited pit road since early in the event, the call was made to visit pit road on lap 102 for fuel and right side “scuffed” tires only.

Slipping to the 31^st position McClure was able to advance one position in the closing laps to finish the CARFAX 250 in the 30^th position.   Up next for the Hefty® Racing™ team is the Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, August 20, 2010.