Track:
Pocono RacewayEvent: Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service 125
Distance: 50 laps / 125 miles
When: Saturday, August 6th at 1:00 PM (Eastern)
Broadcast information: 1:00 PM (Eastern) SPEED, SIRIUSXM, MRN Radio
Lofton, ESR Team Anticipating Pocono Stop
Last race review: Justin Lofton and the No. 6 CollegeComplete.com team had a challenge last week at Lucas Oil Raceway with the handling of their Toyota. After starting the event from the 24th position, the team made multiple chassis adjustments in order to give Lofton some relief with the lingering tight condition through the center of the turns. As the race went on, the truck improved and Lofton knocked on the door of the top-10, running as high as 14th before the final round of pit stops. As the stops cycled through under the green flag, Lofton drifted back as the late stop and varied pit strategy mixed up the end result. Lofton and the No. 6 team ended the night 20th in the rundown.
Lofton and Sharp at Pocono: Lofton has been waiting for this weekend’s run at Pocono Raceway for quite some time. Even though this is only the second trip to the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania track for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), Lofton will be making his sixth start at the “Tricky Triangle.” In 2008 Lofton made his debut at the Pennsylvania track within ARCA Racing Series competition. He made two starts that year in ARCA, while driving for ESR, with a best finish of 11th. The following year in 2009, Lofton wowed the crowd with a second place effort after leading 14 laps, followed by a dominant performance during the tour’s return visit.
He started from the pole, led 65 of the possible 82 laps and took home the trophy. Last year, while the NCWTS made their debut there, Lofton used his experience to his benefit by qualifying seventh, contending throughout the race, and finishing a solid fifth. Team owner Sharp’s success within ARCA continued last year at Pocono as well, as Craig Goess visited victory lane, giving Sharp his second straight Pocono win. In addition to Lofton’s run on Saturday, Sharp will also be entered in the ARCA race, with driver Robb Brent behind the wheel. Brent also visited victory lane at Pocono last year.
Truck information: Lofton will race chassis ESR008 this week at Pocono. Lofton last raced the truck two races ago in Nashville, finishing 15th. Lofton previously ran the truck on July 7th at Kentucky, also finishing 15th.
Lofton on Pocono Raceway: “I am so excited about Pocono this weekend. Eddie (Sharp, team owner) and all of the guys at ESR always prepare competitive rides. We have had a lot of success together at Pocono. It is going to be an exciting weekend. It is a big race for our sponsor CollegeComplete.com too, and it will be nice to have some of them out showing their support. I’m really looking forward to Pocono, that is for sure.”
Sponsor support: Pocono is not only an exciting race for Lofton and his ESR team, but also an important one for sponsor CollegeComplete.com. College Complete, in tandem with associate sponsor Grand Canyon University, will be on hand this weekend in Pocono. Grand Canyon University has become “one of the nation’s top military friendly schools” by catering to their needs of study while also serving their country. Lofton, who is military friendly himself, has visited Army and Air Force bases in order to reach out to military members. Together, Lofton, College Complete and Grand Canyon University are reaching out to military members to help accelerate their careers. Military members interested in programs, scholarships, and military course credit information can visit http://www.gcu.edu/Admissions/Military-Students.php.
Golfing for good: Defending NCWTS champion Todd Bodine will be hosting the Second Annual Todd Bodine Onion Slice Open on Thursday, August 4th prior to the track activities at Pocono. Lofton, who also hosts a golf tournament himself during the off season, will be on hand showing off his golf game. Proceeds from the event benefit the Pediatric Patients with Brain Trauma and Brain Disease at John Heinz Medical Center in Wilkes Barre, PA. Currently, the facility has 800 patients receiving treatment without the benefits of health insurance.
- Justin Lofton Media Relations Press Release
