LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Eddy McKean, current NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series champion, made his debut in the Nascar Busch Series, this past weekend in the Sam's Town 300 race, held at Las Vegas' 1.5 mile Motorspeedway. McKean entered a 2002 Jack Roush, Ford Tauras and ran his signature antique turquoise car color with the #91, Stanton Barrett's number from last year. McKean hired Terri Allen, from Concord, NC of Red's Racing, to crew chief his team.
Friday's qualifying was rained out and McKean was fortunate enough to have have a provisional available from Mr. Barrett's last season car owner points. He would gladly start Saturday's race in the 35th position. Friday brought about an hour of precious practice time for McKean in the Busch car. The decision was made to change gears; special thanks to the Larry Gunselman team for renting the team the gear package needed. Another addition to the team was Mike Naake, of Naake Motorsports, to assist with the shock package. The decision was made, by Crew Chief Allen, to stick with shocks done back east; (not Mikes, the ones previously tested on) a choice that would prove later to be a big mistake. The team was also expecting to have a Winston Cup crew team pit for them; which fell through. A special thanks to the members of the local pit crew of Scott Lynch, they jumped in to help out a fellow Idahoan. The weekend just didn't seem to be working in the favor of a good finish for McKean Motorsports.
The race started on time, with rain clouds looming in the near distance. On lap 62 McKean radioed to the crew he needed to come in and have the windshield cleaned. Someone had been leaking oil on the track. The rain clouds had moved in closer and he tried to stay out as long as possible, but he felt he was jeopardizing other racers. He had already been lapped by the leader and felt it was time to come in make few changes. Pitting under green caused McKean to go an additional two laps down. After returning to the track, the yellow was already out for a few rain drops but quickly resumed. On lap 77, McKean was told by his spotter, there was a car high and low. The car on the bottom backed out of it, but McKean had already committed to the second groove. He went into turn one and pushed up, tryed to stay off of the high car; #16-Gunselman, lost the rear traction, slipped into the #16, sending McKean into the wall and Gunselman, spinning. McKean refired the car and headed to the pits. The crew saw the damage and told him it was time to go to the garage. McKean could have continued, but felt he wasn't in the points race and would only be in the way of other contenders.
McKean said, "This was a great experience. I feel grateful to everyone who made it possible. I would like to give a heart felt thanks to everyone who has shown support of my racing career. I would have liked to have made a better show and possibly caught the eye of a Busch car owner, but sometimes Lady Luck just isn't smiling on you. And as the saying goes - That's Racing! I would like to compete in several other west coast Busch series events; pending a marketing partner. It doesn't matter what class I'm competing in, I just want to race. I am eager to show what undiscovered talent is available in the touring divisions."
McKean Motorsports did not run the Sam's Town 300 with a marketing partner. We did run decals with information for Laci Peterson. Laci has been missing from Modesto, California since December 24th, 2002. Currently, there is a reward of $500,000 for information leading to her safe return. Our hope is that someone will come forward with information, having seen the car on TV. If you have information or would like to visit with her family, you can contact them at www.lacipeterson.com. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.
Until next time - may you be safe... God Bless
