Eric McClure’s Ford Ecoboost 300 Event Preview
Race Notes and Quotes
Season Finale…This weekend will mark Eric McClure’s 199th-career start in NNS competition and his fifth at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In four starts, McClure has completed 75.6% of the total laps attempted and has an average finish of 31.5. He has also suffered one DNF as a result of an accident in 2009. Following Saturday’s Ford Ecoboost 300, the Virginia driver will have completed his sixth full-time season in NNS competition.
Closing in on Career-Best Points Finish… Heading in to the season finale, the Virginia driver sits a mere seven points behind fellow NNS competitor Erik Darnell in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver standings. If McClure can surpass Darnell by eight positions in Saturday’s event, he will take over the 16th position in driver standings, resulting in a career-high points finish by the 33-year-old driver. McClure’s previous best (17th) was obtained in his first season with Team Rensi Motorsports in 2009.
This Week’s Hefty®/ Reynolds Wrap® Camry …For this weekend’s running of the Ford Ecoboost 300, Crew Chief Wes Ward has selected McClure’s favorite chassis from the TriStar Motorsports stable. Chassis No. 12 has been run three out of the last four race weekends and, in those three events, McClure has had an average finish of 19.3.
Last Race Recap… Last weekend, McClure matched his track-best qualifying effort of 18th at Phoenix Int’l Raceway and, although the car’s handling wasn’t to the liking of McClure for the majority of the event, he still posted a 20th-place finish.
Personal Appearances…Following Saturday’s event, McClure will be making an appearance at the Food and Wine Festival in Clearwater Beach, FL on Sunday, November 18 from 1:00 – 3:00pm. The event is located at the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa. McClure will be signing autographs by his No. 14 Hefty®/Reynolds Wrap® Camry from 1:00pm – 2:00pm and will then participate in a cooking demonstration with Master Chocolatier Anna Czaja from Lindt Chocolates.