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McClure prepares for Nextel Cup
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| By:KEVIN MAYS, Associate Sports Editor |
June 28, 2004 |
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Eric McClure leads the field around Lonesome Pine Raceway on the way to his win. (Roddy Addington photo)
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COEBURN -- Abingdon-based driver Eric McClure tuned up for his attempt to qualify for his second career NASCAR Nextel Cup race by taking a first and second in the Late Model division twin 50-lap races Saturday at Lonesome Pine Raceway. "I've never been so relieved to win a race," McClure said after holding off Steve Blackburn in the first 50-lapper on the asphalt oval. The LPR appearance was the first for McClure in four weeks. "To come over here and beat somebody like Steve is just phenomenal," McClure said.
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Blackburn rebounded in the second race by getting ahead of McClure early and holding him off for the win.
RACING THE BIG BOYS
After finishing 26th in his Nextel Cup debut in the April running of the Aaron's 499 at Talladega, McClure hopes to make the field for Saturday's running of the Pepsi 400 at Daytona.
"This is a great opportunity," McClure said of the chance of racing in the Nextel Cup series. "This has really been a great year."
BANGED UP
A total of 13 cars started the first 50-lap Late Model race, but only seven were able to make it to the checkered flag.
Limited Sportsman and Grand Stock veteran Roger Neece, of Clintwood, tried his hand at the late models, but early mechanical problems left his car sitting on pit row for most of both races.
Jeff Woodard and Jeremy Pike also found their vehicles on pit road before the end of the first race after they were both collected in a four-car spin coming out of turn four on lap 32.
Woodard, who broke his rear axle, and Pike were the only two drivers who did not return for the second race.
Wayne Hale, of Bluff City, Tenn., and Buddy Talbert, also did not finish the race.
McClure, who started on the pole for both races, and Blackburn ran away from the field in the first race - leading by as a much as a straightaway at certain points.
While McClure and Blackburn made it a two-car race for the win, Kingsport, Tenn., drivers Jeff Berry and Royce Peters and Clintwood's Will McKnight battled for position throughout most of the race.
Berry picked up his third third-place finish in as many starts as he has had at LPR. Peters finished fourth in the race, while McKnight placed fifth.
TABLES TURNED
McClure started on the pole and Blackburn started alongside him on the front row in the second race. Blackburn got a good jump on the start and took the lead and held off McClure for the rest of the race to take the win.
"We gave him all we had," McClure said. "I knew going into this race that if we didn't get a good jump on the start, we'd be hurting."
Like McClure, Blackburn knew the key to getting the win was getting a good start.
"We knew the only way we were going to win was to get a good jump on the start, so I just dug in and we came out on top," Blackburn said.
Unlike the first race, which saw plenty of sheet metal banging, the second race ran almost caution free. The only caution flag in the event came on lap 27 when Talbert spun going into turn two.
Hale finished third in the race, followed by Peters and Berry.
After taking this Saturday night off because the track is closed, the late models will be back in action on July 10 at LPR.
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