MacDonald Motorsports Team Fights to Finish the Rain Delayed and Shortened Carquest Auto Parts 300

Concord, N.C. (May 24, 2009) – Rain delayed the start and shortened the Carquest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Saturday. Kevin Hamlin began the race on the inside of row 11 in the No. 81 D.H.

Griffin/Go ‘Canes Dodge when NASCAR called for a yellow/green flag start for drivers to assist in drying the track. After six caution laps the green flag was waived.

The NASCAR Nationwide Series qualified earlier in the day when track conditions were very different than they were for the start of the 300 mile race; which started after a rain shower and after dark. Hamlin reported tight conditions during the majority of the race. On lap 24, after the first caution, the No. 81 Dodge pulled onto pit road taking four tires, fuel and air pressure adjustments. Through two more pit stops the crew tried to make track bar and air pressure adjustments but the team continued to fight a tight condition.

The car got tighter as the laps ticked down and on lap 136 Hamlin brushed the wall going two wide into the turn causing damage to the right front.

On lap 147 the right front tire went down on the No. 81 Dodge, causing Hamlin to hit the wall in turn four resulting in additional body and brake damage. Hamlin drove the car directly to the garage to give the crew an opportunity to repair the damage and replace the brake rotor.

In the garage, the MacDonald Motorsports crew worked diligently to get the D.H. Griffin/Go ‘Canes Dodge back on the track following the accident.

At lap 170 rain caused a red flag and forced the crew to halt repairs to the Dodge Charger. The crew, anxious to get the car back in the race, waited for word to restart work on the car. NASCAR officials ultimately called the race when the rain was expected to continue, reducing the race to only 255 miles; the MacDonald Motorsports entry finished the race in 35th position.

In addition to their primary sponsor, D.H. Griffin Companies, the MacDonald Motorsports Dodge sported the Carolina Hurricanes logo for the race in support of the local NHL favorite, currently in the middle of the Eastern Conference Finals. Owner Randy MacDonald, a former junior hockey player in Canada, is a big fan of the Hurricanes and wanted to show support for the team during their run in the NHL playoffs.

Hamlin will sign autographs Tuesday night at the RBC Center in Raleigh when the Hurricanes take on Pittsburgh in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The NASCAR Nationwide Series will be back on track at Dover International Speedway for the Heluva Good! 200. Practice for the 200 mile race will begin at 1:10 p.m. on Friday with live coverage at 1 p.m. ET on SPEED.

Qualifying will be broadcast live again on SPEED on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. ET. The green flag for the 12th of 35 races of the NASCAR Nationwide Series is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET with live coverage on ABC.

For more information about MacDonald Motorsports go to macdonaldmotorsports.com and for Kevin Hamlin click on kevinhamlin.com.

For information about the Carolina Hurricanes and tickets click on hurricanes.com.