Catchfence

Daytona Beach, Fla. (February 19, 2011)— With high expectations Eric McClure and the TriStar Motorsports team headed to Daytona International Speedway for the 2011 Nationwide Series season opener. Starting the race from the 34th position McClure quickly began working the draft, advancing to 14th, before radioing his crew of a potential engine problem on lap 20. Remaining on-track for 20 additional laps the symptoms ultimately forced the team to the garage area for a diagnosis. What was first thought to be a lost cylinder on the Hefty® Blackout™ Chevrolet turned out to be a broken spark plug. After repairing the issue, McClure returned to the track on lap 64 to finish the DRIVE4COPD 300 in the 33rd position.

“I am happy with how the car ran today, although we didn’t get the finish we deserved. We were able to run competitively early and able to get ourselves to the front part of the field. Unfortunately, about the time the pack started to break up into two-car drafts the car started losing rpm’s and we fell to the back. We thought we were down a cylinder in the engine and tried to ride it out for awhile, but after going to the garage, they found a spark plus was broken. Although the finish isn’t the way we wanted to start the season, the effort of this team and how we ran most of the week gets me excited for a great season. I am looking forward to getting to Phoenix and rebounding from this weekend.”

Starting the race from the 34th position McClure quickly began working the draft utilizing both the middle and high lines around the 2.5-mile surface. Running as high as 14th, McClure reported that the water temperature of the car was very hot and the car was dragging the racetrack in the turns. When the first caution flag was displayed on lap 16, the call was made to bring the Hefty® BlackOut™ Impala to pit road for fuel, a wedge adjustment, and to remove debris that was lodged on the front grille of the car. When the race resumed on lap 20 the TriStar Motorsports team was shown in the 25th position and was able to maintain the spot before the event’s second caution flag was displayed three laps later for a multicar accident.

It was then that the 32-year-old driver reported that the car would not accelerate in second and third gear and that the rpms were very low in fourth gear. After switching ignition boxes and bringing the car to pit road for fuel, McClure was scored in the 27th position when the race resumed on lap 28. It quickly became evident the symptoms had worsened as the engine sounded “flat” and the car was no longer able to run with the draft. After bringing the car to the garage area on lap 41 it was discovered that a spark plug had broken. Once repaired, the team was able to return to the track in the 35th position on lap 64.

By returning to the event McClure was able to advance two positions in the remaining laps to finish the DRIVE4COPD 300 in the 33rd position. As a result, McClure sits 22nd in NASCAR Nationwide Series driver standings, while TriStar Motorsports owner Mark Smith is 33rd in owner standings.

Other TriStar Motorsports News:

- **Teammate Mike Bliss and his No. 19 TriStar Motorsports team started the race from the 30th position, received the “Lucky Dog” award on lap 55 while running in the 21st position, and was able to receive a push from the No. 66 Toyota in the closing laps to finish the DRIVE4COPD 300 in the 13th position. As a result of his finish and the new points procedure, Bliss currently sits 6th in Nationwide Series driver standings, while his owner, Mark Smith, sits 13th in owner standings. Bliss will be driving the No. 44 in next weekend’s event at Phoenix International Speedway as Charles Lewandoski will be making his season debut in the #19 Chevrolet.

- TriStar Motorsports Press Release