Eddie MacDonald posted his first ever win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and did so in dramatic fashion with a fantastic green-white-checkered finish in the NASCAR Camping World East Series Heluva Good! Summer 125. The NEMO/Grimm Construction sponsored Chevy battled the #1 car door-to-door swapping the lead several times over five laps until a caution flag on lap 122 forced the overtime.

An excited MacDonald said of the restart, “The one car kept driving into me before the caution so I just wanted to get away from him on the restart since he was a little erratic in the turns. I knew I had a great car and I was able to pull away for the win.” The win is also the first NASCAR win at the newly renamed New Hampshire Motor Speedway and will be long remembered as one of the most competitive races in the series at the track.

Due to Thursday’s washout, MacDonald started tenth in the race based on point’s standing. During the morning practice session the #71 tied for ninth fastest with a time of 31.116 seconds (122.406mph) around the “Magic Mile”.

“We were fast right from the start so I knew if we just ran our race we would be there at the end,” said MacDonald then adding, “We were a little tight in the middle of the turns but the car kept getting better. Rollie (LaChance) did such a great job. It is hard to believe how many hours he puts in while managing a full time job and raising his young kids. I could not be any happier for him and his wife Laura. Our entire team is made up of volunteers so this win is all the sweeter.”

When the green flag waved MacDonald began his march to the front and by lap 20 he was in third place. On lap 22, MacDonald pitted for fuel only, returning to the track in the 13th position then moving through the field and into sixth when another yellow flag flew on lap 35. Four of the leaders pitted and when the green flag waved, MacDonald passed the #03 on the lap 41 restart for the lead, holding it for 30 laps.

A caution on lap 82 allowed MacDonald to pit for right-side tires then marched through the pack from his 21st position narrowly missing a huge back stretch wreck on lap 101.

“We usually have fast cars here but something stupid always seems to happen to us so it was nice to miss that one. I had my left side tires in the grass but I was able to hang onto it,” said the Rowley, Mass. driver. “We knew we were in a great position to get the win after that and it sure was a lot of fun”

The final laps had the crowd on its feet for the effort as everyone on the team shared the emotion in victory lane. LaChance showed his happiness at winning the “big one” saying, “This isn’t just any race, this is Loudon!”

Team owner Rob Grimm said after the race, “This is awesome. Just to be here and get the win is really special but as I have said before it is our people that make it happen. They are incredible. To win Loudon is huge.”

New England Mechanical Overlay sponsors Ron and Becky Bennett were equally ecstatic with the win, “This is such a great win. To win here is such an unbelievable feeling. It is really special. You have to be happy for the entire team for all their hard work.”

MacDonald seemed to put it all in perspective saying in his very off-track laid back demeanor, “This is cool.”

The NASCAR Camping World East Series will race next at the famed Thompson International Speedway on July 12 where MacDonald has a previous victory.