SCARBOROUGH, Maine – Eddie MacDonald passed American Canadian Tour (ACT) point leader Scott Payea for the lead on lap 41 and went on to win the Coastal 100 at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway Saturday.
MacDonald was shadowed by Payea the rest of the way as race stayed under green from start to finish. His winning margin of three car-lengths was the farthest MacDonald ever got from Payea, who was attempting to break his own record of four consecutive ACT Late Model wins.
“I was glad to be able to steal a little thunder from him, he’s having a great year,” MacDonald said. “It was starting to look like the race was going to stay green and I wanted the lead if I could get it.”
Jimmy Hebert finished third well behind the leaders a short distance head of a torrid battle for fourth that went to Jean-Francois Dery.
Rowland Robinson Jr. (from 13th) was a close fifth, three feet ahead of Oren Remick, who edged out Rich Dubeau to finish 6th.
Miles Chipman, Dillon Moltz and Shawn Swallow completed the top ten.
“Eddie wanted to get racy early,” Payea said. “I decided to let him go and wait for a yellow to cool the tires, but it never came. I can’t be disappointed. Any time you have a solid finish up front, you don’t want to ask for more.”
Payea started on the outside pole and quickly grabbed the lead. Remick took up hot pursuit from the fourth starting spot before yielding second place to MacDonald on lap 23.
At the halfway mark, MacDonald was in front with Payea glued to his bumper while Hebert worked underneath Remick for third, several car-lengths off the pace.
“I got pushed up the track some racing the 30-car (Dubeau) and I found the outside had come in and I got going better,” Hebert said, “but I needed a caution. I used the tires up some trying to stay with the leaders.”
MacDonald’s win was his first ACT victory this season. He has five top-5’s in his last five starts at Beech Ridge, including a win in 2013.
“We changed the car a lot,” MacDonald said. “I love coming out and racing with ACT. Thanks to my team and my sponsors Hancock Electric, Exit Realty, Annie Mac Home Mortgages and Grimm Construction.”
Miles Chipman, Josh Masterson and Payea won the qualifying heats.
The next event on the American Canadian Tour is at White Mountain Motorsports Park Saturday, August 19.
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