Due to an undisclosed illness that has left Eric McClure hospitalized, he will be sidelined for Saturdays inaugural race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. In McClures absence, Jeff Green, former NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion and teammate to McClure at TriStar Motorsports, will pilot the #14 Hefty/Reynolds Toyota during the Nationwide Childrens Hospital 200. McClures status on returning to competition is week to week. (TMI)(8-14-2013) (8-17-2013) UPDATE: Team McClure, Inc. announced that Jeff Green will pilot the #14 Hefty/Reynolds Toyota during Friday nights Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The teams regular driver, Eric McClure, was admitted to a local hospital on August 12 and was diagnosed with acute renal failure after a series of tests. The Virginia drivers creatinine levels were elevated, signaling improper kidney function. McClure is still receiving treatment, but is hopeful to be released from the hospital this week. His status remains week to week. McClure said, ‘This has been a very challenging week for me, both physically and emotionally. Having a newborn and four other little girls, among other things, has also presented a challenge to my family. Recovery can be a slow and frustrating process, but thankfully we are seeing signs of healing. I cant thank everyone enough for all of the prayers, thoughts, and well-wishes during this difficult time and I cant wait to be back behind the wheel of the Hefty/Reynolds Camry.”(TMI)(8-20-2013) UPDATE 2: Eric McClure tweeted an update Tuesday afternoon, ‘Going home today. Thanks everyone 4 all the kind words. Not sure how much more my family can take, but thankful 4 the blessings God gives. Im so ready to be with Miranda and the girls. So many people involved this wk w/helping diagnose/treat & and i appreciate them so much. Finally, fans/race community well wishes have been truly humbling. So proud to be part of NASCAR world. Going 2 b a bit but I WILL BE BACK.”(8-20-2012) UPDATE 3: Instead of preparing for a Bristol breakthrough, [Eric] McClure has been dealing with pain and searching for answers. McClure spent eight days at Bristol Regional Medical Center where he was diagnosed with acute renal failure. He was released Tuesday evening and is currently resting at home. In a phone interview Wednesday afternoon, McClure admitted that he feels a high level of frustration. ‘This has not been a fun process’ McClure said. ‘Things were really close to getting bad, so the best thing right now is that doctors have diagnosed the problem and were treating it.” McClure became ill just moments after walking through his front door following the Aug. 10 Nationwide event in Watkins Glen, N.Y. ‘I went to the emergency room and they found out that I had an infection’ McClure said. ‘I was violently sick for a day.” In the May Nationwide race at Talladega last year, McClure was involved in a horrific crash that became the subject of sports highlight shows across the country. The impact left McClure with damage to his pancreas and the third concussion of his career. According to McClure, there does not appear to be an immediate correlation between his racing injuries and renal problems even though the symptoms and treatments are similar. ‘Weve tossed around several theories, but nothing has added up’ McClure said. ‘This just snuck up on us. There have been some long nights. Its just tough physically and emotionally.” McClure is unsure how many races he will be forced to skip. Green is expected to run each as a fill-in.( TriCities.com )(8-22-2013) UPDATE 4: As far as being in the race car, short-term concerns involve potential crash injury to the areas where he had tests and the biopsy. Longer term, there are worries about dehydration. McClure said he tried to talk doctors into giving him the green light to start races, given that he wants to stay in the top 20 in Nationwide drivers points. ‘It doesnt sound like thats going to fly’ he admitted. In the meantime, Green will continue to pilot the #14 car, and McClure will hope for a return around Chicagoland. ‘Were saying week to week, but I would say Chicago would be optimistic’ McClure said. ‘And thats kind of the target. If anything happens before then, its a blessing.” Even that, though, is an estimation. In truth, McClure isnt exactly sure when hell be back. Or if hell even return to full-time NASCAR competition at all. ‘Im not going to be a Cup driver. I love this, but theres going to have to be some decisions made, and were probably at that point where we make those decisions’ he said. ‘I do want to come back, and I do want to have fun. Whenever that time is, whether its this year, next year, whenever, I want to go out good and be proud to say I did it. I cant ask for anything more, but in truth, at the same time, five years from now Ive got to be able to provide for my kids and be a father and play with them. These guys who have a lot more at stake than me, its easy to be a hero and suck it up. But if something had happened, and if this had hit the wrong day, and I had pulled myself out “ which I would have “ who knows what happens. This time, Ive got to listen to the doctors.”( NASCAR.com )
