Catchfence

In preparation for the Ansell Cut Protection 150, Tim George Jr. returned to the Chicago area with great fondness and anticipation. The 28-year-old once called Chicago home and the racetrack itself, Chicagoland Speedway, was the first place where the road racer turned stockcar driver ran his first laps behind the wheel of a stockcar.

His return was bittersweet however, after rain knocked out the final practice session and eliminated any chance the No. 2 Ruby Tuesday Toyota team may have had to dial in George Jr.’s car.

“The Chicago race started off with some bad luck when we drew first out for qualifying. After the last test, we swapped my primary car with my back up car. The car pushed a bit off of turn 4 and that hurt my overall speed, but all in all not too bad of a run for being the guinea pig,” George Jr. said.

Struggling with the handling of his machine and the uncertainty of the racetrack’s ‘green’ condition after the early morning rain, George Jr. laid down a lap good enough for the 21st position.

However, more obstacles plagued the young driver throughout the 100-mile event, leaving him 21st at the finish.

“Around driver introductions I began to feel a little sick at my stomach and by lap 40 I was fully nauseous. We got back on the lead lap at one point, but I could not stomach the corners very well. I hate it for my guys, because we were coming off some good momentum from that dirt race. I am starting to understand side force a little better, and hopefully by our next mile and a half track we will have a better qualifying effort and race pace.”

George Jr. will next race at Toledo Speedway this Friday, September 4. In George Jr.’s first appearance on the short track earlier this season, he qualified ninth and notched a 17th place finish.

For more on Tim George Jr., visit www.TimGeorgeJr.com

To follow Tim George Jr. on Twitter, visit www.twitter.com/timgeorgejr

For more on Eddie Sharp Racing, visit www.TeamESR.com

- Eddie Sharp Racing Press Release

About Eddie Sharp Racing

Eddie Sharp set up shop in 2005 after several years of transforming young, talented drivers into ARCA championship contenders. Today, Eddie Sharp Racing has evolved into the rite of passage for any serious upcoming driver with an ambition for professional stock car racing. Located in Denver, North Carolina just north of Charlotte, Eddie Sharp Racing occupies a top-notch facility that closely resembles a five-star NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, both inside and out. The two ESR buildings each contain two teams where on any given day, championship contending cars are assembled, engines tuned and teams strategize to score the next race day victory.