What are your expectations for the 2013 season, especially entering the new season with a new crew chief?
“I have high expectations for the 2013 season. We ran really well at the end of 2012 and I am looking to continue that momentum through this year. Entering a season with a new crew chief is tough, but I believe our personalities will mesh really well and quickly so I don’t foresee any issues. John (Monsam) is experienced and has a good track record, so I think he’s really going to be an asset to the team.”
What does racing at Daytona Int’l Speedway mean to you?
“Daytona is a special place and it means a lot to me and my family. It’s probably one of, if not my favorite track on the circuit. It has a lot of history and the fan support here is great. There’s nothing like it.”
Hefty®/Reynolds® Racing NOTES:
New in 2013: Beginning with the season-opener on Saturday, February 23, the size of a full-field in the NASCAR Nationwide Series will be a little smaller than in years past, shrinking from 43 to 40. According to Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition, the rule was implemented to “strengthen the ownership base”, giving “us an opportunity to put what we (NASCAR) feel a better quality field of cars in play in those Nationwide events.”
200th-career Start: Eric McClure will be reaching a milestone this weekend in his Nationwide Series career; he will be making his 200th start during the season-opener at Daytona Int’l Speedway on Saturday, February 23, 2013. McClure’s first recorded NNS start came in 2003, where he has competed in at least one race every year since then.
McClure in Daytona: This weekend’s DRIVE4COPD 300 will mark McClure’s 14th start at the famed 2.5-mile superspeedway. In 13 starts, the 34-year-old driver has completed 88.6% of the total laps attempted and has an average finish of 30.2. One year ago, McClure was on-track to earn a career-high finish when a mistake by another competitor relegated the team to a 22nd-place finish, with just six laps remaining in the event.
Chassis No. 16: McClure will be piloting chassis No. 16 out of the TriStar Motorsports stable for this weekend’s running of the DRIVE4COPD 300. This car was last used during the summer event at the speedway. McClure posted an 18th-place finish.
Driver Appearance: As part of the Race Time with Wal Mart program, McClure will be making a special appearance on Wednesday, February 20th from 11:30am-12:30pm at Wal Mart 613. The store is located at 1521 W Granada Boulevard, Ormond Beach, FL. We look forward to seeing you there.
Welcome John Monsam…During the off-season, TriStar Motorsports announced John Monsam as crew chief for the No. 14 Hefty®/Reynolds® Camry driven by McClure for the 2013 Nationwide Series season. Monsam spent the 2012 season with Randy MacDonald Motorsports leading Jason Bowles and the No. 81 team to a 13th-place and 22nd-place finish in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and owner standings respectively.
Tune-In: Saturday’s 300-mile race from Daytona Int’l Speedway will be televised live on ESPN beginning with NASCAR Countdown at 12:00pm (ET). ESPN 2 will also televise practice on Thursday, February 21 at 10:00 a.m. (ET) and qualifying on Friday, February 22 at 3:30 p.m. (ET)
Social Media: Follow Eric McClure and the TriStar Motorsports Team on their social media sites during the 2013 season.
Facebook: facebook.com/EricMcClureRacing
Twitter: @HeftyReynolds14 (race updates) @TriStarRaceTeam (organization)
