Eric McClure, driver of the No.14 Hefty Toyota for Tri-Star Motorsports who missed the race last week at Mid-Ohio, will also be sitting out the Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway. McClure was hospitalized on August 12 and diagnosed with acute renal failure.
The Bristol event is somewhat of a hometrack race for McClure, who hails from just up the road in Chilhowie, Va. His family owned and operated Morgan-McClure Racing for many years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The Southwest Virginia based team started 702 races and accumulated 14 wins with a variety of drivers including Sterling Marlin, Ernie Irvan and Bobby Hamliton.
McClure was hospitalized on August 12 and diagnosed with acute renal failure. Fellow Tri-Star Motorsports driver and former series champion, Jeff Green, who filled the seat at Mid-Ohio has been tabbed to drive the car again this weekend. Green won the series championship in 2000 driving the No. 10 Nesquick Ford. Green scored six wins and a very impressive 27 top-10’s in 32 races in his championship season.
Green, also has a good deal of experience at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile, with one win in 28 starts. In recent years, Green has been a start and park driver for the team. He has many years of experience and should be a good substitute for the team.
Green was 23rd fastest in final practice on Friday with a lap of 15.912 seconds and a speed of 120.588 mph.
As of Friday at Bristol, crew chief Todd Myers said there is still no confirmed date for the return of McClure.
