Catchfence

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Nov. 21, 2010)- Craig Goess scored a 12th-place finish in his second-career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) event Friday night at Homestead Miami Speedway. In the series’ season finale, Goess piloted the No. 46 Greenville Toyota of N.C. Eddie Sharp Racing Toyota Tundra to his second top-15 finish in his two starts in the NCWTS season.

The weekend began with two scheduled practice sessions on Thursday night. In his first laps around the 1.5-mile track, Goess posted a fast time of 33.610 seconds (160.666 mph). The team looked to make changes to the truck in the 30-minute break, but heavy rain began to fall over the south Florida track, forcing the teams to call it a night.

The No. 46 Greenville Toyota of N.C. team returned to the track early Friday morning for the rescheduled final practice. Making adjustments to prepare for qualifying and the race, Goess was able to lay down a fast lap time of 33.553 seconds (160.939 mph), in the final session of the day.

As the air temperature began to cool on Friday evening, Goess rolled off for qualifying, laying down a lap of 32.673 seconds (165.274 mph). The lap time placed the No. 46 in the 21st position to start the race.

Anticipation continued to build around the final NCWTS race as the trucks rolled off the grid for the start of the Ford 200. Beginning in the 21st position, Goess took the green flag and looked to gain experience in the truck throughout the 134-lap event. The Greenville, N.C. driver looked to move up right away and took the 20th position on the first lap. The No. 39 of Ryan Sieg battled Goess for position by the second lap, and Goess fell back to the 22nd position.

Holding steady early in the race in the 22nd position, Goess radioed to the crew that the truck was loose all around the track. On lap 28, crew chief Jefferson Hodges relayed to the driver that the race leader was catching up to the No. 46. The yellow came out just in time for the No. 46 on lap 30 as the race leader passed Goess, presenting the ESR team with the Aaron’s Lucky Dog award. The truck came down pit road for the first pit stop of the day on lap 33, and the No. 46 crew went to work on the truck. The crew changed four tires, added fuel and made adjustments to help with the loose truck. With the lucky dog award, Goess was able to restart the race at the back of the field on the lead lap on lap 35 in the 21st position.

Caught up in traffic, Goess fell back to the 23rd position on lap 40, but it did not take long for Goess to use momentum to go after the No. 9 of Max Paps for the 22nd position. The No. 46 held steady in the 22nd position, and crew chief Hodges continued to encourage the driver. “You are quicker than the next seven in front of you,” said Hodges. “Whatever you are doing, it is working. Keep it up.” By lap 71, Goess worked his way into 20th.

The yellow flag waved for the field on lap 74 with Goess in the 19th position, and the ESR Tundra came down pit road for four tires, fuel, an air pressure adjustment and adjustments to help tighten up the truck. The quick stop by the No. 46 crew pushed Goess up one position to the 18th spot. The field went back to green-flag racing on lap 80, and Goess continued to battle for positions. Moving passed Sieg and Tayler Malsam, Goess moved into the 16th position on lap 85. He continued to battle, going three-wide on the frontstretch.

The field slowed again on lap 88, and Goess came down pit road in the 18th position for the last stop of the night. The crew efficiently cleaned the grill and topped the truck off with fuel for a quick stop, picking up three spots for the restart. The green flag dropped with Goess in the 15th position on lap 95, and the drivers’ momentum began to help move him forward. Goess moved into the highest position of the night on lap 96, fighting Sieg for the 12th position. “That’s it, right there,” said Hodges. “What you are doing is working. Keep it up.”

The field was slowed again for a caution on lap 104, with Goess running in the 13th position. The green flag waved on lap 110, and Goess restarted in the 13th position on the bottom line. Going four-wide on lap 111, the No. 46 competed for the 12th position. It was not long before green-flag racing halted for another yellow flag. The No. 72 of John Jackson hit the inside wall and safety barrels, scattering sand across the track. As the track officials cleaned up the track, the red flag flew and gave the team plenty of time to strategize how to get to the front before the checkered flag waved. Going back to green on lap 114 after an extended red flag, Goess restarted 12th.

The intensity of the event increased when the green flag waved on lap 114, and Goess got caught in traffic running three- and four-wide. He fell back to the 20th position but didn’t stay back there long. Goess used momentum to pass trucks and move into the 16th position. The final caution of the evening waved on lap 126, halting Goess progress through the field.

The green flag waved for the final time on lap 130 presenting the field with a four-lap shootout with Goess in the 13th position. Goess battled the No. 19 of David Mayhew but was able to hold him off and crossed the finish line in the 12th position. Kyle Busch wheeled his way to his eighth-NCWTS win of the season and was crowned the 2010 NCWTS Owner Champion. Todd Bodine was crowned the 2010 NCWTS Driver Champion.

“I am really proud of the No. 46 Greenville Toyota of N.C. Eddie Sharp Racing team,” said Goess. “I think that we have learned a lot in these two races at Talladega Superspeedway and Homestead. Running the two races this year has really helped us gain footing for next season, and I think we have a lot to work with in the off-season. I’m thankful for all of the work everyone put in this season, and I’m really looking forward to running full-time in the NCWTS next year.”

Goess will pilot the No. 46 Greenville Toyota of N.C. ESR Toyota Tundra in the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The green flag drops on the 2011 season on February 18, 2011 at Daytona International Speedway.

About Eddie Sharp Racing

Eddie Sharp set up shop in 2005 in Denver, N.C. 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 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.

- Eddie Sharp Racing / Activ8 Communications Press Release