History 300 QUOTES & NOTES: Charlotte Motor Speedway

Eric McClure Quotes

The Nationwide Series had its last off-weekend before a 21-week stretch. What did you do during the down time?

“Miranda and I took the girls to Disney for a few days and will spend race week at the Great Wolf Lodge.  With the new baby due in August, Miranda is getting close to travel cutoff, and being Disney fanatics, we couldn’t pass up an excuse to go.”

Last fall at CMS, you were able to not only post a track-best qualifying effort but also your best finish at the 1.5-mile track since 2009; what are your thoughts heading into this weekend’s event?

“We need to see an improvement at this type track, and try to back up last year’s effort.  We struggled mightily at Texas with both me and Jeff, but we are bringing … Read More »

Darlington, SC (May 10, 2013)—After sitting out last year’s event due to injuries sustained in a late race accident the week prior, Eric McClure headed to the historic Darlington Raceway not only for his first race on the 1.366-mile track since 2011, but also looking to improve on his past performances.  Despite qualifying in the 37th position and bringing out the caution on lap 32 after hitting the wall on the exit of turn four, McClure was able to regroup and finish the VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 as follows:

26th-Eric McClure, No. 14 Hefty®/Reynolds® Toyota Camry

Taking the green flag from the 37th position, McClure quickly began maneuvering his way through the field.  By lap two, he was already up to the 32nd spot and although he was battling a car that was loose when turning off of the … Read More »

VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 QUOTES & NOTES: Darlington Raceway

Eric McClure Quotes

Coming off a disappointing finish at Talladega and slipping in the points, do you worry about falling out of the top-30 or do you just take one race at a time?

“For us we just need to work on each race and getting stronger as a race team.  We still have some cushion on the points, and that’s with a lot of unfortunate luck mixed in.  If we get better then they will take care of themselves.”

You haven’t raced at Darlington since May 2011, and there you had a mechanical failure early in the race, what are your thoughts on this weekend’s race?

“Darlington is a fun racetrack and I look forward to racing there this year. It was hard to sit out and watch last year, but we … Read More »

Talladega, AL (May 4, 2013)—Following a successful outing during the series’ first plate rate of the 2013 season, Eric McClure headed to Talladega Superspeedway looking for another top-10 finish.  Taking the green flag from the 23rd position, the Virginia native ran as high as sixth before being caught-up in an accident on lap 94.  As a result, the Hefty®/Reynolds® Team finished the Aaron’s 312 as follows:

23rd-Eric McClure, No. 14 Hefty®/Reynolds® Toyota Camry

Three hours after the scheduled start time, 40 cars took the green flag to commence the Aaron’s 312 at Talladega Superspeedway.  McClure started the 117-lap event from the 23rd position and quickly found himself in the top-15 by lap ten.

A caution on lap 13 allowed McClure to bring his orange and blue Toyota Camry to pit road for fuel only.  When the race resumed on lap 17, McClure was … Read More »

http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2013/05/02/memories-perspective-for-mcclure-in-talladega-return.html

Aaron’s 312 QUOTES & NOTES: Talladega Superspeedway

Eric McClure Quotes

What are your thoughts heading in to your first race at Talladega Superspeedway since your horrific accident one year ago?

“Obviously it’s something that crosses my mind, occasionally. People still talk to me about it though.  Truthfully, it had a bigger effect in our lives off the track than on it; but physically, there are still reminders of it.  However, it becomes just another race when you get to the track and you can’t dwell on things.  Accidents happen in this business and I look forward to competing there.”

What are your expectations for this weekend since you scored an 8th-place finish during the season-opener at Daytona Int’l Speedway?

“We have a great deal of confidence heading to Talladega.  We ran well last year prior to the accident and we had a fantastic day at … Read More »

Richmond, VA (April 26, 2013)—Following the series’ third off-weekend of the 2013 season, Eric McClure and the Hefty®/Reynolds® Racing team headed to Richmond Int’l Raceway looking to improve on their 2012 finishes of 31st (April) and 26th (September) at the ¾-mile track .  Although the team battled brake issues throughout the entire race weekend and gambled on a wave around early in the race that didn’t pay dividends, McClure was still able to bring the car home in one piece and finish the Toyota Care 250 as follows:

 26th-Eric McClure, No. 14 Hefty®/Reynolds® Toyota Camry

Starting the race from the 37th position, it didn’t take long for McClure to quickly advance his position; by the completion of lap one, he was scored in the 33rd position.  By lap 10, he had worked his way up to the 31st position where he remained … Read More »

Toyota Care 250 QUOTES & NOTES: Richmond Int’l Raceway

Eric McClure Quotes

You had the stomach flu in Texas, which forced you from the car, how are you feeling?

“I feel ok. I’m not sure I’ve ever been that sick before outside of the Epstein Barr virus.  The kids appear to be going through round two of this bug, so hopefully we won’t have any problems. For whatever reason, there seems to be a divine reason I can’t finish the spring race at Texas, so I’m sure we will be fine at Richmond.”

The team has struggled in recent weeks, what are your thoughts on this?

“We’ve had a lot of bad luck this year.  We had good speed in the first four races, but lost two engines and broke a sway bar at Bristol.  The last two weeks we have struggled but battled a … Read More »

Ft. Worth, TX (April 12, 2013)—With a combined effort from drivers Eric McClure and teammate Jeff Green, the No. 14 Hefty®/Reynolds® Racing team posted a 30th-place finish in Friday night’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway.  Consequently, the TriStar Motorsports team slipped one position to 24th in the NASCAR Owner Standings.

McClure, whose children had the stomach flu just days leading up to his departure for the race, came down with the bug himself at the most inopportune time-just an hour prior to Thursday’s practice session.  This not only sidelined the Virginia driver from practicing the car, it also sent him to the Emergency Room late that night to receive fluids and medication in hopes of helping his symptoms subside.  Although McClure was able to practice and qualify the No. 14 Camry Friday afternoon, he thought it would be … Read More »

O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 QUOTES & NOTES: Texas Motor Speedway

Eric McClure Quotes

How have you enjoyed your two off-weekends?

“Basically I relaxed with the kids and watched the local boys race at the track where I grew up racing, Lonesome Pine Raceway.  We also celebrated our oldest (Mabreigh) and youngest (Merritt) daughters’ birthdays while I was at home; the party was a Princess Jasmine theme.  I had an enjoyable two weeks off, but I am ready to go back racing.”

What are your expectations heading into Texas?

“We haven’t had the best of luck recently so I am looking forward to racing at one of my favorite tracks on the circuit this weekend.  The guy have worked extremely hard, we ran well in November, so we are hoping for a good night.”

Hefty®/Reynolds® Racing NOTES

23rd in Owners’ Points:  Heading into race six of the Nationwide … Read More »