Justin Lofton

Track: Pocono Raceway

Event: 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

Eddie Sharp Racing (ESR)

Brent will pilot the No. 2 Toyota Camry for Sharp, a number that is arguably one of the most prestigious in series history. Many successful drivers have jump started their careers and sustained long-standing success in the No. 2 machine, including former wheelmen Scott Speed and Michael McDowell. The same team also ran with championship contender and winner at Pocono Raceway, Craig Goess, under the No. 81 distinction in 2010.

“The whole team has missed the ARCA Racing Series, and we’re all excited to be back in the garage,” team owner Eddie Sharp explained. “I’m ready to get back to the success that has given us a long-standing reputation among the ARCA competitors, and we feel there’s no better way to do that than with a driver like Robb Brent.”

The team will be preparing two of the chassis with the most previous success for Brent’s races. Each has visited victory lane and had several competitive runs with former ESR driver Justin Lofton during his championship-winning season in 2009.

“These cars have performed well for us in the past on the bigger tracks like Michigan and Pocono,” Sharp recalls. “Robb’s history paired with our cars is going to be a winning combination.”

Robb, a Michigan native, is looking forward to getting back behind the wheel at his home track with his new team. The June 17th event will also be Brent’s first of the 2011 season.

“We chose the Michigan and Pocono events because they are two of my favorite tracks,” Robb expressed. “Michigan is my home track and I always have a good run there, and Pocono is an obvious choice since it is the site of my first ARCA win.”

Though Brent has never taken the controls of an ESR machine, he isn’t a complete stranger to the team. Crew chief Dave Leiner worked with Robb during the 2010 season when the two competed under the Allgaier Motorsports Banner.

“Dave Leiner and I work really well together—he knows what I like in the car and we already have the communication part down, so it’s a natural fit for us to compete together again.”

The RainEater Wiper Blades 200 at Michigan International Speedway is scheduled to air on SPEED on Friday, June 17th at 5 PM EST. For more information on Eddie Sharp Racing, Craig Goess and the No. 46 Greenville Toyota of NC Tundra, visit TeamESR.com and CraigGoess.com. Follow us on Twitter (@TeamESR) and find Eddie Sharp Racing on Facebook.

- Eddie Sharp Racing Press Release

Kyle Busch - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images for NASCAR

Ron Hornaday Jr. made things interesting, passing Busch shortly after a restart with eight laps remaining. After another caution, though, Busch returned the favor, slipping under Hornaday in Turn 3 with two laps to go to complete a pole/victory sweep for the second year in a row at Nashville.

“I felt like we had a dominant truck,” Busch said. “There with about 10 to go, the race really got started and got really interesting.”

Busch led to the green on a restart with nine laps to go, but Hornaday made a bold, sneaky move to get the top spot.

“Hornaday got a good restart and put enough drag on my spoiler that he kind of slowed me down on the frontstretch and stayed alongside me,” Busch said. “I cleared him through (Turns) 1 and 2 and pulled up in front of him, but he had a little bit of momentum on me and pulled back to my inside down the backstretch and made a bold move driving it so far into the corner.”

Hornaday’s truck slid a little through Turn 3, and he and Busch moved up the track, with Hornaday grabbing the lead.

The yellow waved again, giving Busch a chance to turn the tables.

“There on the last restart, I did the same thing,” Busch said. “Luckily we had that opportunity and got back to him and was able to win the thing. It would’ve really been a shame if we weren’t able to win this thing.”

In the process, Busch led his 20,000th lap across the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and truck series. In two truck races at Nashville, Busch has two wins, two poles and 271 of 300 laps led. The victory was Busch’s second of the season and 26th in the truck series.

“Kyle had the dominant truck all day, and he had clean air,” Hornaday said. “I had to wear my stuff out trying to stay with him. That restart, that’s the only opportunity I had to run with him. I just gave a show for the fans. That’s all I could do.”

With shot tires, Hornaday was also passed for position by rookie Nelson Piquet Jr. and Timothy Peters, who finished second and third, respectively.

“I drove it too hard and wore the tires off,” Hornaday said.

Hornaday was fourth, followed by James Buescher, Matt Crafton, Johnny Sauter, David Starr, Craig Goess and Parker Kligerman.

Busch goes for the Nashville sweep in Saturday’s Nashville 300 Nationwide Series race.

- Nashville Superspeedway via Sporting News Press Release

2011 NCWTS Craig Goess Jr - Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

Craig Goess | NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Martinsville Speedway
No. 46 Greenville Toyota of N.C. Tundra

Last Race – Darlington Raceway: Goess battled the Lady in Black in the last NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event on March 12 at Darlington Raceway. In his first appearance at the track, Goess steered the No. 46 Greenville Toyota of N.C. Tundra around the track tagged “Too Tough to Tame” to a 19^th-place finish.

First Trip to The Paperclip: For the third-straight race, Goess will compete at a track he has never faced before. Piloting the No. 46 Greenville Toyota of N.C., Goess will take his first laps around the .526-mile track. The southern Virginia track is the shortest track on the NCWTS schedule this season.

Testing, Testing: Goess and the No. 46 team headed to Rockingham, N.C., last weekend to test at the Little Rock track behind Rockingham Speedway. The team had the opportunity to have a private test at the .5-mile, 11-degree banked oval to prepare for this weekend at the .526-mile Martinsville Speedway.

In the Points: Goess remained in the 14^th position in the NCWTS point standings after his 19^th-place finish at Darlington Raceway. The Greenville, N.C., resident moved up three positions in the 2011 NCWTS rookie standings to the fourth position. He is currently 18 points behind rookie points leader Cole Whitt.

Hot Dog! Goess is excited to get a taste of the Famous Martinsville hot dogs this weekend. “I cannot wait to try a Martinsville hot dog,” said Goess. “I’m just a ketchup-and-mustard-type guy. On my first trip to Martinsville, I have to experience those hot dogs. It’s part of the experience. I might have a few!”

No. 46 Greenville Toyota Tundra (Craig Goess Jr.) - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images for NASCAR

No. 46 Team 2011 NCWTS Stats

- Eddie Sharp Racing, Press Release

No. 46 Greenville Toyota Tundra (Craig Goess Jr.) - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images for NASCAR

The Greenville, N.C., native qualified in the show in the 27th position and looked to gain experience at the 1.366-mile track. When the green flag dropped on the Too Tough to Tame 200, Goess was prepared to take on the famed Lady in Black.

The caution flag was out early in the event with trouble in turns one and two on the first lap. Goess was able to avoid the trouble, and spotter David Green and crew chief Trip Bruce coached the rookie during the brief break. Both encouraged the driver to remain focused and get into a rhythm around the track.

The green flag waved, and Goess worked his way into the 18th position by lap six. “You’re doing a great job,” said Bruce. “Just continue to race the race track.”

A caution on lap 25 gave the No. 46 an opportunity to come down pit road for the first time of the night. Coming down pit road in the 21st position, the crew gave the Tundra four tires and fuel. The No. 46 was able to gain three spots on the quick stop.

The green flag dropped on lap 30, and Goess remained focused on each lap. When the yellow flag dropped on lap 57 for debris, Bruce called the No. 46 to come in as the leaders peeled off to pit road. The ESR crew once again had a clean stop and put on four tires and fuel.

Goess was running steady in the 16th position by lap 79. The No. 46 came down pit road for the final time on lap 91 for a yellow flag pit stop for four tires, an air pressure adjustment and fuel. Goess restarted in the 17th position on lap 93, and was able to avoid trouble on lap 96 with a four-car incident. The accident on the frontstretch brought out the red flag as track officials cleaned the track.

The green flag waved after a seven-minute red flag, and Goess moved up in the pack to the 12th position by lap 122. Bruce relayed to Goess that he continued to improve lap each lap, and for Goess to continue racing the race track until the final lap.

The final caution of the night flew on lap 139 for debris. The field set up for a three-lap shootout to decide the race, with Goess lining up in the 12th position on the outside line. The green flag waved for the final time, and Goess radioed to the crew that he felt something happen with the truck, and was not able to get a jump on the restart. The No. 46 fell into line in the 19th position.

Kasey Kahne grabbed the checkered flag for the first time in the 2011 NCWTS season. It is the third win in three races with a Toyota Tundra in victory lane. Goess crossed the finish line in the 19th position. Goess was also the third-highest finishing rookie, behind Cole Whitt in eighth and Parker Klingerman in 14th.

“I don’t know what happened on that last restart,” said Goess. “There was either air in the fuel lines or an ignition miss. I put the throttle down, and it seemed like nothing happened for five seconds, and then it came back to life. It was disappointing finish, but overall I think we made a lot of headway as a team. I am confident we will continue to learn and grow as a team, and I’m excited to get to Martinsville in a few weeks.”

The No. 46 Greenville Toyota of N.C. team will head to Martinsville Speedway on April 2nd for the Kroger 250.

- Eddie Sharp Racing Press Release

2011 NCWTS Craig Goess Jr - Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

Last Race – Phoenix International Raceway: In the second event of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, Craig Goess took to the Phoenix International Raceway for the first time in his career. Goess climbed into the No. 46 Greenville Toyota of N.C. Tundra and took time to learn the one-mile track during practice. Battling the handling of the car for 150 miles, Goess crossed the finish line in the 23rd position.

First Trip to The Lady in Black: Goess will compete at the Darlington, S.C., track for the first time in his career. He will face the 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval for the third event of the 2011 NCWTS season.

Say What? With a last name like Goess, people often get tounge-tied. “The official pronunciation of my last name is like saying “Go” and the letter “S”,” said the Greenville, N.C., native. “I usually don’t correct people, but I’ve heard some crazy pronunciations. People get creative sometimes.”

In the Points: With two events under his belt, Goess currently sits in the 14th position in the Official Driver Standings in the NCWTS. He also sits seventh in the 2011 Rookie Standings after the Phoenix International Speedway event.

Tune In: Not at the track? Tune into SPEED for coverage of the Keystone Light Pole Qualifying on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Too Tough to Tame 200 will also be live on SPEED with coverage beginning at 5 p.m. Radio listeners can turn on MRN and SIRIUS XM 128 at 4:45 p.m. Saturday.

Meet Craig Goess: Goess and fellow NCWTS drivers will take part in a series autograph session at Darlington Raceway on March 12. Fans have the opportunity to meet the drivers on pit road from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m ET.

Follow the Action: Be sure to follow all the action on and off the track this weekend at www.facebook.com/TeamESRand www.twitter.com/TeamESR.

Goess on going to Darlington Raceway: “I have not had the opportunity to compete at Darlington Raceway before in my career, so I’m excited to see what the Lady in Black is about. Darlington is definitely a driver’s track, and there is such a rich history of great racing at the track.”

- Eddie Sharp Racing, Press Release

Eddie Sharp Racing Logo

Welcome to ESR: Skinner will make his debut with a new team, Eddie Sharp Racing, at Daytona International Speedway. Skinner will pilot the No. 45 Cushman Toyota Tundra with ESR. Skinner will join Craig Goess, driver of the No. 46 Greenville Toyota of N.C. Tundra, at ESR.

New Crew Chief: Jefferson Hodges will serve as Skinner’s crew chief at DIS. Hodges, who served as crew chief for veteran Steve Park in several NCWTS in 2010, provides years of experience in the NASCAR garages, including experience as crew chief for Kevin Conway in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and car chief for Paul Menard in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He also won the NASCAR Weekly Series National Championship with Mark McFarland.

Skinner at DIS: In eight trips to the famed 2.5-mile speedway in the NCWTS, Skinner has two top-five and three top-10 finishes. He also competed at the speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 15 times, with three top-fives, five top-10s and two pole awards. Skinner also has one NASCAR Nationwide Series start at the track.

Tundra Streak: Skinner is the lone driver to pilot a Toyota Tundra in every NCWTS event. Going into the race at DIS, Skinner has competed in 175-straight NCWTS events in a Tundra. Skinner and Toyta partnered in 2004 for the manufacturer’s entry into NASCAR.

Cushman On Board: The No. 45 will have Cushman on board as sponsor. Cushman vehicles are used worldwide to transport personnel, materials and equipment at manufacturing facilities, warehouses, resorts, and other commercial and industrial facilities. Cushman brand and product lines are owned by Textron, a global multi-industry company based in Providence, R.I. Cushman is a sister brand to such powerful brands as Cessna, Bell Helicopter, E-Z-GO, Greenlee and Jacobsen. 2011 marks Cushman’s 110thanniversary.

Paytas Homes Teams Up with Skinner: The No. 45 Toyota Tundra added a new partner to the truck with Paytas Homes coming on board for the event at Daytona International Speedway. Since 1970, Paytas Homes has enjoyed an excellent reputation for New Homes Construction in some of the areas finest new communities including Daytona Beach, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach and Palm Coast, FL. Our New Home Designs and Home Improvement concepts contain some of the latest features by listening to our customers and homeowners. By acting as New Home Designers as well as Builders, Developers and Real Estate Specialists allows Paytas Homes to coordinate the finest possible New Home Package at competitive pricing. For more information, please visit www.paytashomes.com.

Skinner Roundup: Skinner and wife Angie will host the fifth-annual Toyota Skinner Round-Up presented by Rue & Ziffra Personal Injury Attorneys on Wed., March 16 and Thurs., March 17, at DIS and Spruce Creek Country Club. This year, the charity event will honor former NASCAR executive Jim Hunter, who was a close friend of the Skinners and passed away last Oct.

Getting SIRIUS: Skinner’s wife, Angie, recently became a part of the SIRIUS Speedway cast on SIRIUS XM 128. Listen live to the show every weekday from 3 – 7 p.m. ET to hear Angie.

Tune In: The NextEra Energy Resources 250 can be seen live on SPEED at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, February 18, 2011. The race can also be heard live on MRN with coverage beginning at 7:15p.m. and on SIRIUS XM Radio, channel 128.

Mike Skinner on driving at Daytona International Speedway

“I’m excited to have Cushman on board for Daytona, and I’m ready to get on the track. We are currently working on sponsorship for the rest of the season, and I really hope that we can put together something to be able to run the full NCWTS schedule. I have a great relationship with Toyota, and we have really helped each other throughout the years- good and bad. It is a win-win situation for both myself and Toyota, and through our relationship, we are able to work with people like Eddie Sharp.”

- Eddie Sharp Racing Press Release

Eddie Sharp Racing Logo

“I am thrilled to have Tripp Bruce on board for the 2011 NCWTS season with ESR,” said team owner Eddie Sharp. “Bruce is very well-respected in the NASCAR community, and I really look forward to having him bring our organization to the next level. He will be a fantastic mentor and leader for our driver Craig Goess and the No. 46 team.”

Bruce is a veteran of the motorsports industry, spanning the top NASCAR series. He got his start as a crew chief in 2004, when he joined Ultra Motorsports with the No. 2 NCWTS team. His guidance helped the team post three wins – Martinsville Speedway with Jamie McMurray and Darlington Speedway and Homestead Miami Speedway with Kasey Kahne.

Bruce took the reins at Evernham Motorsports in 2005 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, working with various drivers through the course of two years. He racked up three wins, four top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. In 2006, Bruce took top honors, winning the NNS Crew Chief of the Year award.

In 2007, Bruce went to work with Bill Davis Racing to serve as crew chief for Johnny Benson in the NCWTS. Bruce worked with BDR from 1999 to 2003, and continued his success with the team as he captured four wins, 12 top-fives and 19 top-10 finishes in his first season with Benson. The next year, Bruce achieved a life-long goal with Benson, capturing five wins, five poles, 14 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes on his way to the 2008 NCWTS Championship.

Last season, Bruce worked with Stringer Motorsports and rookie Brad Sweet in the NCWTS. In the 2011 season, Bruce will take on the NCWTS with ARCA Racing Series sensation Craig Goess.

“I am really excited for this new opportunity at Eddie Sharp Racing,” said Bruce. “I believe that it is the right time and place, and I’m ready to get things rolling. Eddie has been busy building the organization and is at the level now where everyone is ready to compete in one of NASCAR’s top series. I’m looking forward to working with Craig Goess, and I’ve been following his career for the past few years. I think getting down to Daytona to test is going to help to continue to build our confidence and relationship, and I’m excited for this next season.”

Goess finished second in the highly-competitive ARCA Racing Series in 2010. The Greenville, N.C., driver also made his debut in the NCWTS in 2010, competing at Talladega Superspeedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. His 10th and 12th place finishes in his first two events helped prepare Goess for his first full season in the NCWTS in 2011.

“I think it will be a great fit to work with Tripp Bruce,” said Goess. “I’m really looking forward to working with such a highly-esteemed crew chief, and I think that he will help show me the ropes of the NCWTS. His credentials are top-notch, and I really think it is going to help all of us at ESR get up to speed with the NCWTS and help with the learning curve. We are all going to lean on his expertise, and I’m thrilled to get back on the track at Daytona. ”

Jefferson Hodges served as interim crew chief last season for the two NCWTS events Goess competed in. “We were fortunate enough to have Jefferson Hodges quickly jump in last season and take the reins to lead the No. 46 truck on an interim basis,” said Sharp. “In 2011, Hodges will continue to make an impact on the organization, and we are very excited to have him with ESR.”

Bruce and Goess will take to the track for the start of the NCWTS season at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 18, 2010. For more information on the team, please visit www.teamESR.com.

- Eddie Sharp Racing Press Release

Pocono (Pa.) Raceway

The season’s first race at Pocono – an 80-lap, 200-mile event – is scheduled for Saturday, June 11. The second event – scheduled for 50 laps, or 125 miles – will take place Saturday, August 6 in conjunction with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race that day. Both events take place one day before NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

“Pocono Raceway is an integral part of our series, with superspeedway speeds and short track and road course turns,” said Ron Drager, president of ARCA. “When a driver is transitioning from a short track career to superspeedway racing as many of our drivers do, Pocono is often the track to do just that. It’s a great place for someone to run their first superspeedway race.”

“Racing at Pocono takes on special significance because of our long-term relationship with the Mattioli family, especially Dr. Joseph and Rose, as well as Brandon and Nick Igdalsky, third generation family members in track management. In addition, the track’s location near major East Coast markets is important to our series.”

ARCA’s history at Pocono dates back to 1969, when Bobby Watson defeated Benny Parsons to win the track’s first ARCA race on the now-defunct 0.75-mile oval at the facility. Single ARCA Racing Series events were held on the oval in 1983, 1985, and 1986, with Schacht winning the first two and Bobby Jacks winning the third.

2011 will be the 25th consecutive year that ARCA has contested two annual races at Pocono Raceway. Bob Schacht won both races at the track in 1987, the first year that ARCA scheduled two races on the “Tricky Triangle.” This season’s events will be the 52nd and 53rd for the ARCA Racing Series on the 2.5-mile oval at Pocono Raceway. Craig Goess won the 50th in June, and Robb Brent followed that with a win in July’s race, the first 50-lap event for ARCA at the track.

Nick Igdalsky, the senior vice president of the track, raced a full season in the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards for the first time in 2010 and finished the year 13th in overall driver points. Igdalsky spoke about his unique connection as executive and competitor.

“This is a tradition, and something we always look forward to doing every year. There’s that personal date in some of our hearts with ARCA, and we’ve been associated with the series from very early on,” Igdalsky said. “We plan on having ARCA accompany every race we have at Pocono.”

Tim Steele is the all-time wins leader at Pocono with nine (including five consecutive from 1996-98), and he is closely followed by Schacht (six) and Bob Keselowski (five). Familiar names like Ryan Newman and Joey Logano dot the winner list.

Races at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, Michigan International Speedway on June 17, Salem Speedway on May 1 and September 17, and Winchester Speedway on June 25 have already been announced, and the remainder of the diverse 2011 ARCA Racing Series schedule will be released shortly. Meanwhile, the thrilling 2010 campaign will close Saturday, December 4, with the series’ Championship Awards Banquet at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky., near Cincinnati.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards has crowned an ARCA national champion each year since its inaugural season in 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 28 states since its inception. The series tests the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, annually visiting tracks ranging from 0.4 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as left- and right-turn street and road courses.

Founded by John Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in two professional touring series and local weekly events.

- Automobile Racing Club of America Press Release

Eddie Sharp Racing Logo

“I am proud to announce that Eddie Sharp Racing will be running full-time next season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series,” said team owner Eddie Sharp. “Our team is ready to run full-time at the next level, and I am proud to have Craig Goess piloting our truck.”

Goess debuted in the NCWTS at Talladega Superspeedway in October with an impressive 10th-place finish. The Greenville, N.C., native is slated to run in the NCWTS event at Homestead Miami Speedway on Nov. 19, 2010 to better prepare for next year.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to compete next season in the NCWTS,” said Goess. “I think that running two events this season is really going to help us in the off season preparing for next year. After our 10th-place finish at Talladega, I feel like we have the perfect opportunity to get our feet wet and compete at the front of the series next year.”

The 2011 season will be Goess’ fourth year working the ESR. Goess debuted with the team in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2008. In 2009, Goess moved to the ARCA Racing Series, where he competed for the full season and finished fifth in the points in his rookie season. Goess continued to make waves in the ARCA Racing Series in 2010, as Goess competed in one of the most highly-contested championship chases in series history. With one win, three pole awards, 10 top-five and 15 top-10 finishes in 20 races, Goess finished second in the year-end points standings.

ESR proved to be a front-runner in the ARCA Racing Series over the past four years, fielding cars for drivers such as 2009 series champion Justin Lofton, Scott Speed, Michael McDowell, Nelson Piquet Jr., Brandon McReynolds, Ken Butler III, Josh Wise and other notable drivers. The team looks to continue its dominance in the NASCAR ranks.

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.

- Activ8 Communications Press Release

CGS Imaging

Sheltra, who won the award in 2007 and 2008, finished the season with 93 points to edge Jerick Johnson, who scored 88. Robb Brent and Craig Goess tied for third at 59 points, and Tom Hessert completed the top five with 57 points.

“We are proud to be affiliated with the ARCA Racing Series during one of the most competitive seasons in the history of the series, and we are pleased to present this award to Patrick Sheltra. We congratulate their entire organization,” said Chuck Stranc, CEO and president of CGS Imaging.

Points for the CGS Imaging Hard Charger Award are awarded race-by-race, with drivers accumulating totals based on positions advanced from the start within a race. Cars must feature a CGS Imaging decal for drivers to be eligible for the award, and drivers using starting provisionals are not eligible.

The driver who advances the most positions during each race receives the CGS Imaging Hard Charger Award for that event, and the driver with the most points at the end of the season receives the CGS Imaging Hard Charger of the Year award. The CGS Imaging Hard Charger Award provides a $200 product certificate per race, and the year-end CGS Imaging Hard Charger of the Year receives a full race car wrap, which is valued at $2500.

Sheltra improved from his starting position in a series-high 15 races in 2010, with notable jumps of 14 positions at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway, 13 at Talladega Superspeedway, 12 in DuQuoin, Ill., 11 in the spring at Salem (Ind.) Speedway, and 10 at Toledo Speedway in May.

The driver of the No. 60 Sheltra Motorsports entry won the race award twice, at Berlin and DuQuoin, and was joined by fellow multiple race award winners Darrell Basham (Toledo – May, Springfield) and Chris Buescher (Toledo – September, Salem – September).

“I am used to winning this award, so I am happy to take home this award again in the ARCA Racing Series,” Sheltra said with a laugh. “I really thought, though, this was an award that we weren’t going to win, but it just shows you that even with the strong qualifying runs we did have this year, that the competition was so fierce so when we did bobble in qualifying and have to come from the back we were, in a sense, racing to win a title within a title.”

Other race winners in 2010 include: Tommy Joe Martins (Daytona), Tim Cowen (Palm Beach), Goess (Salem – April), Steve Arpin (Texas), Scott Stenzel (Talladega), Ed Pompa (Pocono – June), Alli Owens (Michigan), Casey Roderick (Iowa), Max Gresham (Mansfield), Armstrong (Pocono – July), Frank Kimmel (New Jersey), Brent (Springfield), Tom Hessert (Kansas), and Bryan Silas (Rockingham).

Though a series champion, Sheltra admitted that he’s not known for qualifying well, and acknowledged that in winning the CGS Imaging Hard Charger Award.

“For the champion to win this award, I guess in a sense, says that we were able to overcome the obstacles and maneuver our Sheltra Motorsports car to the front in times of doubt. An award is an award, though, and we’re honored to bring it home to the team and our marketing partners one more time,” Sheltra said.

CGS Imaging, the Official Wide Format Digital Printing Supplier of ARCA and the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards, is one of the nation’s premier suppliers of digital printing and sporting event graphics.

The Maumee, Ohio-based company specializes in wide and super-wide format banners, custom vehicle wraps, and stadium graphics. Much of CGS Imaging’s work can be seen at many of the host tracks in ARCA and NASCAR, including Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, and Michigan International Speedway.

“CGS Imaging is still a relatively new company to the ARCA Racing Series but they have not wasted any time by stepping up to the plate and showing their commitment to the series and drivers by sponsoring awards and offering discounts,” Sheltra said. “When I won the Hard Charger award in 2007 and 2008 it was sponsored by another company, so this year is the first year I will be honored under the CGS banner.

“It’s great to show that companies are still spending money and willing to go above and beyond their requirements not only to try and expand their business but make everyone happy. CGS is a prime example of that. Sheltra Motorsports thanks them for their support this season and hopes that they have found themselves a comfortable home in the ARCA Racing Series.”

More information on CGS Imaging is available at http://www.cgs-imaging.com.

The 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards Championship Awards Banquet will take place Saturday, December 4 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky., near Cincinnati.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards has crowned an ARCA national champion each year since its inaugural season in 1953, and has toured over 200 racetracks in 28 states since its inception. The series tests the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, annually visiting tracks ranging from 0.4 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as left- and right-turn street and road courses.

Founded by John Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in two professional touring series and local weekly events.

- Automobile Racing Club of America Press Release

Tony Jackson Jr.

Jackson’s 2010 NCWTS journey ended seventeen laps earlier than planned; behind the wall with an overheated truck resulting in an unfortunate twenty-sixth place finish in the Mountain Dew 250 at the Talladega Superspeedway.

For the second race this season Jackson was under the guidance of veteran Butch Miller and Tony took to the 2.66-mile track like a true veteran throughout practice running with and even running at the point of the draft. In Friday’s qualifying session, Tony posted a lap of 54.12 seconds giving the rookie driver the twenty-fifth starting spot for the ninety-four lap race on NASCAR’s longest track.

Miller’s plan for his young driver making his first start on a superspeedway was simple, stay at the back of the lead pack out of trouble and gain experience for the last twenty laps of the race. Tony did a great job early in the race, following Miller’s plan and keeping the ASI Limited / Akzo Noble Chevrolet away from trouble.

When teammate David Starr ran out of fuel during the first caution, Tony was in position to push Starr to the attention of the SS Green Light crew, protecting Starr from going down a lap.

Tony hung back through the middle portions of the 250-mile race drafting with Johnny Sauter and others, gaining experience and keeping his ASI Limited No. 07 out of out of harms way until it was time to move up into the lead draft. Following pit stops under caution on lap sixty-one, Jackson was set for the run to the checkers.

While running inside the top-twenty in the lead draft, Jackson got into the back of Craig Goess at Lap sixty-eight when James Buescher got bumped out of the draft directly in front of him forcing Goess to lift and that caused damage to the nose of his ASI Limited/Akzo Nobel Chevrolet. With reduced airflow to the radiator, Jackson’s truck began to overheat eventually forcing him behind the wall after completing seventy-seven of the races scheduled ninety-four laps and was credited with twenty-sixth place behind Kyle Busch.

“The truck wasn’t the fastest on it’s own, but it worked really good in traffic,” said Miller. “Tony did a good job for first time on a speedway, we were hanging back to keep out of trouble and we just got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“We have all enjoyed working with Tony this season,” said SS Green Light General Manager Bobby Dotter. “I saw a lot of growth over the seven races he ran with our team. He has a lot of talent and a bright future.”

Despite only running seven of the twenty-two races so far in 2010, Jackson is currently thirty-fourth in the driver point standings. The SS Green Light team hopes to run Jackson full time and compete for NCWTS rookie of the year in 2011.

For more information on SS Green Light Racing visit www.SSRacingonline.com.

- SS Green Light Racing Press Release

Patrick Sheltra winner of the Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Award

The Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Award is given to the owner of the ARCA Racing Series team scoring the most race points – not counting qualifying or lap bonuses – in the eight races at Daytona International Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Pocono Raceway (two), Michigan International Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, and Kansas Speedway.

Sheltra, in addition to becoming the sixth driver/owner to win the ARCA Racing Series championship, is the first driver/owner to win the Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Award since Davey Allison won in 1984.

“Man, what a huge accomplishment this was for our Sheltra Motorsports team this year. Over the years of our presence in ARCA, I feel we have lacked on the bigger tracks. This year, we knew we had to step up the program in order to have a shot at winning the Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge,” said the winner. “Overall, our intent was to use those speedway events to aid us in our bid towards the championship. But to have the honor to take home the Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge championship trophy as well is a real honor.”

The driver of the No. 60 Sheltra Motorsports car – a Dodge at Daytona and Talladega and a Toyota at the other six races – finished with 1475 points in the competition, beating by a margin of 115 points the No. 32 Win-Tron Racing entry owned by Kevin Cywinski and driven by Justin Marks.

Eddie Sharp (No. 81 Eddie Sharp Racing; driver Craig Goess) finished third with 1350 points. Frank Kimmel (No. 44 Kimmel Racing; driver Frank Kimmel) was fourth with 1290 points, and Cathy Ventruini (No. 25 Venturini Motorsports; driver Mikey Kile) was fifth with 1285 points.

Sheltra finished fifth at Daytona and seventh at Texas before a runner-up result at Talladega in April gave him the Superspeedway lead for good. He finished fourth at Pocono and third at Michigan in back-to-back weeks, and returned to Pocono in July with a sixth-place finish.

One week after winning his first race of 2010 on the dirt mile of the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill., Sheltra scored his first speedway victory of the year at Chicagoland. At that point, Sheltra had completed seven Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge races and had finished in each of the top seven positions exactly once.

Sheltra finished fifth at Kansas on the final day in September to complete a run of eight top-10 finishes in eight races – a feat accomplished by no other driver – and clinch the Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Award.

Sheltra credited crew chief Jon Wolfe for being keenly decisive in pursuit of the series and Superspeedway Challenge championships.

“We added Jon Wolfe at the beginning of the year to help steer the Sheltra Motorsports ship towards a championship effort this year. With his presence came exceptional knowledge and experience not only on the intermediate tracks but with every track in general,” Sheltra said. “With his assistance we also decided to switch our entire mile-and-a-half program over to Toyota this year compared to Dodge and Toyota last year. It proved to be a strong and the right move for the team and with support from Triad and the hard work of the Sheltra Motorsports team it allowed us to contend for the Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge. Thankfully, all of our hard work paid off.”

Based in Lakeville, Ind., Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. produces the Official Tire of the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards and is part of one of the longest-standing sponsor relationships in ARCA’s 58-year history. Hoosier has participated as a supplier for ARCA-sanctioned events since the 1960s and has been the exclusive tire provider for the ARCA Racing Series since 1995.

“You cannot say enough about Hoosier’s commitment to the ARCA Racing Series. They have been so good for the series for a long time and are often overlooked for their involvement,” Sheltra said. “Dave Wroblewski and his staff made sure that our team was taken care of at every race this year and that means a lot. I thank Hoosier for sponsoring a championship within a championship and I hope we make them proud!”

The 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards Championship Awards Banquet will take place Saturday, December 4 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky., near Cincinnati.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards has crowned an ARCA national champion each year since its inaugural season in 1953, and has toured over 200 racetracks in 28 states since its inception. The series tests the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, annually visiting tracks ranging from 0.4 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as left- and right-turn street and road courses.

Founded by John Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in two professional touring series and local weekly events.

- Automobile Racing Club of America Press Release

Phil Parsons (Photo Credit: Automobile Racing Club of America)

Parsons, the younger brother of the late NASCAR and ARCA champion Benny Parsons, utilized the ARCA Racing Series as a stepping stone to launch a long career in NASCAR that included over 200 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts, a Cup victory at Talladega, and more than 250 Nationwide Series starts. Parsons posted one ARCA victory at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 1980 and a fourth-place finish at Daytona International Speedway in 1981.

Parsons currently provides color commentary for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Racing Series on SPEED.

Following one of the most competitive seasons in series history and featuring a host of compelling story lines, this year’s banquet ceremony promises to be one of the finest. First and foremost, the event will honor the top 20 drivers and top 10 team owners, and will culminate with the official crowning of the 2010 ARCA Racing Series driver champion, Patrick Sheltra.

The Sheltra Motorsports team will also be honored with the 2010 Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge title, among other special awards.

Craig Goess, who finished just 20 points below Sheltra in one of the most exciting conclusions in ARCA history, will be honored as the runner-up driver in the championship standings.

Additional Special Award presentations include the Bill France Four Crown, the RE/MAX Rookie of the Year, the Cometic Crew Chief of the Year, the H.G. Adcox Sportsmanship Award, the Manufacturer Championship, the Marcum Award, the Spirit Award, the Most Popular Driver Award presented by National Speed Sport News, the Klotz Engine Mechanic Award, and the CGS Imaging Hard Charger Award. In addition, scholarship recipients will be announced, compliments of the University of Northwestern Ohio and the Bob Loga Memorial Scholarship Foundation.

While open to teams, series and track officials, and sponsors, the annual formal gala is also open to ARCA Racing Series fans. As always, several big-screen video presentations will accompany the festivities.

Information on ticket reservations, table seating, and directions is available by contacting Shalene Williams of the ARCA Racing Series at swilliams@arcaracing.com or (734) 847-6726, or visiting http://www.arcaracing.com.

The public schedule of events for Saturday, December 4 is as follows:

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Master’s Men (ministry) Silent Auction

2 p.m. ARCA Racing Series Press Conference

3 p.m. Master’s Men Live Auction

4:45 p.m. – 6 p.m. Formal Portrait Photo Session

5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Hosted Bar

6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Awards Dinner and Program

The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards has crowned an ARCA national champion each year since its inaugural season in 1953, and has toured over 200 racetracks in 28 states since its inception. The series tests the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, annually visiting tracks ranging from 0.4 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as left- and right-turn street and road courses.

Founded by John Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in two professional touring series and local weekly events.

- Automobile Racing Club of America Press Release

Eddie Sharp Racing Logo

NASCAR Debut: ARCA Racing Series star Craig Goess will make his NASCAR debut this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Goess will make his entrance in the NASCAR ranks piloting the No. 46 Greenville Toyota of N.C. Toyota. The 29-year-old driver finished second in points this season in the ARCA Racing Series and looks to capitalize on his fourth-place finish in ARCA at Talladega this season.

Returning to Talladega: Goess will take to Talladega Superspeedway for the third time in his career. In his career-best finish at the 2.66-mile track, in April, Goess competed in the ARCA Racing Series event where he collected a fourth-place finish after installing a new engine after practice. He hopes his ARCA experience at the superspeedway will translate to a strong performance in the NCWTS.

Racing this year: Goess competed in the ARCA Racing Series for the complete 2010 season. He finished second in the point standings, with an intense championship chase going into the last race of the season at Rockingham Speedway. The 29-year-old driver finished 20 points behind Patrick Sheltra. He completed the season with one win, three pole awards, 10 top-five and 15 top-10 finishes in 20 races.

Experience: Goess began making a name for himself as a Legends Car driver, where he earned a 98-percent win ratio and feature wins at more than 24 tracks across the country in the Semi-Pro and Pro divisions. He earned three National Pro Division Championships. In 2008, Goess made the jump to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in the Eddie Sharp Racing Development Toyota, where he proved to be a consistent threat in his first season. Goess competed in the ARCA Racing Series in 2009 and 2010, finishing fifth and second in points, respectively.

New Partnership: Eddie Sharp Racing and Team Gill Racing have teamed up for the remainder of the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. The two teams hope to work together in preparation for competitive racing beyond this season.

Follow the Action: Be sure to follow all the action on and off the track this weekend at www.facebook.com/TeamESR and www.twitter.com/TeamESR.

Craig Goess Jr.

“I’m thrilled to get back in a racecar this weekend. I’m so excited to make my debut in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and I can’t think of a better place to get my feet wet than at Talladega. I can’t wait to get back there this weekend. We have a really great team, and I am thankful for the opportunity to have Greenville Toyota on the truck. ”

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.

- Activ8 Communications Press Release