Catchfence

Bristol, TN (August 21, 2009)— Eric McClure started the Food City 250 in the 39th position after becoming extremely loose while qualifying. Battling the car’s handling early in the event, the Hefty® Racing™ team made adjustments to the car throughout the event that significantly improved its drivability by the conclusion of the race. The No. 24 Ford came home, however, with slight right-front damage that was caused by contact with the No. 09 car that had just hit the wall and pulled in front of the Abingdon, Virginia driver. Although the damage was minor, it did cause McClure to lose an additional lap to the race leader and resulted in a 25th-place finish for the Rensi-Hamilton Racing (RHR) organization.

“We had an okay night, but it wasn’t what I was hoping for at Bristol. We struggled during practice earlier in the morning and were way too loose in qualifying so I was only able to make one lap. When the race started I was still loose, but became tight as the race went on. We made several adjustments that eventually helped, but it just wasn’t our night. We almost came out of Bristol unscathed, but we made contact with the No. 09 car when he swerved down in front of me to come to pit road. I had to slow down considerably and that cost us a lot of time and an additional lap to the race leader. We have struggled this season when running this particular tire but we are getting better with it. We lost some points again this weekend but we will head to Montreal and hope to have a good finish.”

Shortly after the race began McClure advanced to the 37th position, although the car was on top of the racetrack and was loose in the center of the turn. The call was made to visit pit road under the first caution on lap 5 to receive a track-bar adjustment and fuel and the brake bias was adjusted as well. When the race resumed the RHR team was shown in the 39th position.

As the race continued, the driver radioed the crew chief that the car was now “loose on entry and tight through the center of the turn” which eventually caused the Virginia driver to lose a lap to the race leader on lap 27. One lap later, however, the second caution occurred making McClure the recipient of the “Lucky Dog” award. The No. 24 Hefty® Odor Block™/Food City Ford came to pit road to receive right side tires, fuel, and a wedge adjustment during the caution and was scored in the 32nd position upon returning to the track.

Over the next several laps, McClure maintained his position, although he had visited pit road two additional times, each under caution, to receive tires, fuel, and track-bar and wedge adjustments. However, by lap 60, the adjustments made throughout the first part of the race were beginning to improve the car’s handling and McClure was able to advance to the 28th position by lap 84.

During the second half of the 250-lap event, the Hefty® Odor Block™, Food City Ford visited pit road two additional times to receive tires, fuel, a wedge adjustment and to repair minor right front damage caused by contact with the No. 09 car. By the end of the event, the car’s handling was more consistent and comfortable, which allowed the Virginia driver to post a 25th-place finish in the Food City 250.

The RHR team returns to action on Sunday, August 30 with the running of the final road course event of the season in Montreal, Canada.

- Rensi-Hamilton Racing Press Release