Catchfence

LOUDON, N.H. (June 27, 2010) – In just his third career NASCAR Nationwide Series start and first time at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Justin Lofton showed why he is one of the top young drivers in NASCAR. The 24-year old California native finished final practice on Friday second quickest and backed that up by qualifying ninth for Saturday’s race. Lofton spent the first 78 laps of Saturday’s New England 200 running in the top 10 before losing valuable track position and having to battle his way to a 17th–place finish.

“About ten laps into a run the WeekendWarriorsTV.com / National FFA Organization Ford Fusion was great but we just couldn’t get going on the restarts,” said Lofton. “We were really fast in practice on Friday and I think we would have been a little bit better today if the weather hadn’t changed. We battled being tight off the corners all race long. All in all it was a great weekend. After being a member of the National FFA Organization in high school it was definitely special to have them on board this weekend. Having Greg Biffle on the pit box giving advice and encouragement throughout the race was really something special for me. I’d like to thank Baker Curb Racing for giving me this opportunity; hopefully I can get back in the No. 27 soon.”

After the green flag dropped, Lofton made his way up to 8th for five laps before settling back into 9th for the early stages of the race. He communicated to crew chief John Reese that the WeekendWarriorsTV.com/National FFA Organization Ford Fusion was loose into the corners and tight exiting.

When green flag pit stops began on lap 75, Lofton had move into the fifth spot before bringing the No. 27 down pit road for fresh tires and a full tank of fuel. A subpar pit stop cost the team several spots and the WeekendWarriorsTV.com/National FFA Organization Ford Fusion returned to the track scored in the 15th position.

On lap 91 race leader Kyle Busch made his way around Lofton, but just a few laps later a caution occurred and the No. 27 was awarded the “Lucky Dog.” Lofton communicated to Reese that the car continued to be loose into the corners and tight exiting. He brought the WeekendWarriorsTV.com/National FFA Organization Ford Fusion down pit road where the crew put four fresh tires on, filled it with fuel, made a trackbar adjustment and returned the young driver to the track scored in the 13th position.

Lofton was running in the 12th position when oil on the track brought out the caution on lap 147. He brought his No. 27 Ford Fusion down pit road where the Baker Curb Racing crew put of four fresh tires, filled it with fuel and made a trackbar adjustment.

When the race restarted on lap 151, Lofton drove too hard into Turn 1and got up into the marbles. It took a few laps to get the debris off the tires and the young driver slipped back to the 16th position. The final caution of the race occurred on lap 177 and Lofton brought his No. 27 to pit road for four fresh tires and fuel. Lofton was scored in the 18th when the race restarted on lap 183. He made his way into 17th and was closing in on a pack of cars scored in front of him when the checkered flag dropped.

- Baker Curb Racing Press Release