Overheating Issues Ultimately Relegates McClure to 31st-place Finish at IMS

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In: Xfinity Series News

Eric McClure and the Hefty®/Reynolds® Team finished 31st in Saturday’s Nationwide Series event at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway after overheating issues forced two un-scheduled green flag pit stops during the 100-lap event.  With this finish, the team dropped two spots to 25th in the NASCAR Owner Standings and is currently 54 points out of the 20thposition heading into next weekend’s event at Iowa Speedway.

Starting the race from the 36th position, McClure quickly gained two spots in the running order where he remained until making a scheduled green flag pit stop on lap 28.  Battling a car that was tight in the center and on exit of the turns, crew chief Todd Myers instructed the team to change four tires, add fuel, and make an air-pressure and chassis adjustment.  When all cars had made their stops, McClure was scored in the 33rd position.

Over the next few laps, McClure informed Myers that the adjustments made had helped the car’s drivability in the center and exit of the turns, but had hurt the car’s handling on entry.  When the event’s first caution flag waved on lap 50, McClure returned to pit road for four tires, fuel, and a chassis adjustment in hopes of helping the car’s handling.  After quick work from the Hefty®/Reynolds® team, McClure was scored in the 29th position when the race resumed on lap 55.

Two laps later, McClure began overheating as the water temperature was 280 degrees and rising.  After making two un-scheduled green flag pit stops on lap 60 and 65 to clean the grill and add water to the radiator, the event’s second caution flag waved on lap 65.  With the water pressure gauge still reading zero, McClure returned to pit road where the team once again added water to the radiator.  When the race resumed on lap 70, the team was scored in the 31st position, five laps down to the race leader.

Running on a lap by himself, McClure was unable to advance his position in the final 30 laps, and in the end was credited with a 31st-place finish.  

TMI PR

Speedway Digest Staff
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