Avondale, AZ (November 10, 2012)—After posting three consecutive finishes of 22nd or better, Eric McClure headed to Phoenix International Raceway looking to continue the team’s much improved on-track performance. Taking the green flag from the 18th position, McClure ran as low as 27th, two laps down to the race leader before fighting his way back to the lead lap to finish the Great Clips 200 as follows:
20th-Eric McClure, No. 14 Hefty®/Reynolds Wrap®/ Toyota Camry
Starting the 200-lap event from the 18th position, McClure became trapped in the outside lane and slipped to 25th by lap six. Once he was able to get in the preferred groove around the one-mile track, he began to advance, and by lap 17, the orange and blue Camry was in the 23rd position.
A caution on lap 32 allowed McClure to visit pit road for fuel, four tires, and air-pressure and chassis adjustments to help with a car that was loose on entry and exit. Following the service, the TriStar Motorsports team maintained the 23rd position for the lap 37 restart.
McClure slid to the 25th position after making slight contact with another competitor on the restart. Continuing to battle a car that was loose on entry and exit, McClure lost a lap to the race leader on lap 59, but was able to advance to the 24th position by the time the caution flag waved ten laps later. Following a four tire and fuel service, McClure was scored in the 27th position when the race resumed on lap 74, but by lap 100, the Virginia driver had worked his way back to the 25th position.
Over the next 50 laps, McClure lost an additional lap to the race leader, but was the recipient of the “lucky dog” award when the yellow flag waved on lap 148.
Using this opportunity to visit pit road, the team changed tires, added fuel, and made a chassis adjustment to help alleviate the car’s handling issues. When the race resumed on lap 153, McClure was scored in the 24th position, one lap down to the race leader.
Two laps later, another caution came out, and as a result, the Virginia driver was again awarded the “lucky dog” and placed back on the lead lap in the 23rd position. He remained there until a late-race caution forced an overtime situation.
After a 12 minute red flag, the race resumed for a green-white-checkered finish. In the end, McClure crossed the finish line in the 20th position.
Eric McClure Quotes: “We missed it a little bit on the race setup today, but overall it was a positive race for our Hefty®/Reynolds Wrap® Racing™ team. We have shown a lot of improvement in the past six weeks and I am hoping we can carry this momentum into next weekend’s the season finale.”
