Eddie Sharp Racing Logo

Event: Pennsylvania ARCA 200 – 200 miles / 80 laps

Track: Pocono Raceway

Track length: 2.5-mile triangle

Coverage: SPEED live television coverage, ARCARacing.com live audiocast, 1 P.M. EST

Worth another mention

Justin Lofton dominated last weekend’s race in Berlin by first pacing practice, laying down a new track record in qualifying, and setting the pace in the No. 6 Toyota for 171 of the race’s extended 207 laps. It was Lofton’s second race win of the season and third overall. He chopped 50 points off of Parker Kligerman’s points lead with the win and enters Pocono just 100 markers behind in second. Craig Goess, driver of the No. 81 team car, also had a good run in Berlin within the top 10, finishing seventh.

Tricky triangle

Known as the tricky triangle, Pocono’s unique three-cornered racetrack is different than any other on the 21-race schedule. During the first visit to Pocono in June, Eddie Sharp Racing seemed to have a handle on the challenging track as Justin Lofton led 18 laps and finished runner-up. Rookie Craig Goess put on a solid display during his first visit, finishing eighth despite struggling with shock problems and Tim George, Jr., ESR’s third full-time driver, finished 19th.

Temporary fill-in

Kevin Belmont will be behind the wheel of the No. 20 Toyota this weekend in order to maintain ESR’s position in the owner standings. The seat is open to the next young talent looking to advance their career behind the wheel of a stock car.

What they’re saying

Craig Goess, driver of the No. 81 Greenville Toyota of N.C. Toyota

“To me it’s easier to go to a short track to a big track. I love that feeling, when you are running 190 mph into the corner. When you go from that down to a short track and drop to 75 through a turn, it’s not as fun. I liked Pocono the first time around. I thought it was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the amount of practice going to a new place that we needed. The guys made some changes before the race but we had a shock problem. We felt like we had a top five car. We all feel like we are going with a better car this time around and of course now I have more time in the seat.”

Justin Lofton, driver of the No. 6 Lofton Cattle Toyota

“Pocono is very different than a lot of the other tracks that we race on. I’d love to get a win there. We have the momentum after the weekend that we had at Berlin, the guys are pumped, and we have a good car.”

Tim George Jr., driver of the No. 2 Ruby Tuesday Toyota

“Pocono is a tricky track. Every driver that I talk to about it says the reason why it’s so tough is that all three corners are different. I found this to be the truth when I raced on it for the first time earlier this season. I had the most trouble with turn three last time, and this time I plan to focus on setting the car up for that.”

There he Goess

Race fans can meet Craig Goess, driver of the No. 81 Toyota, on Friday from 3:30 to 4:30 P.M. at the Bacardi Bistro located in the infield.

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

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.

- Activ8 Communications Press Release

Eddie Sharp Racing Logo

To date, ESR’s four teams sit within the top 10 of the point standings. Justin Lofton, who drives the No. 6 Toyota for Eddie Sharp, has garnered two race wins so far this season, spanning the superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama and the Berlin short track in Michigan, showcasing the team’s diversity on the tour’s various tracks.

Lofton has guided the No.6 car to the top spot in the owner point standings, and second in the driver standings. His teammate Craig Goess, driver of the No. 81 Toyota for ESR, has made his transition from the Camping World East Series look easy, settling into the fifth spot in the points. The two remaining ESR-backed entries, the No. 20 and the No. 2, are also within the top 10 of the points, sitting seventh and 10th respectively.

The 20 however, is missing one thing, a driver. Following the Berlin race last weekend, Steve Arpin, who had piloted the No. 20 to four consecutive top-10s in recent weeks, vacated the ride, leaving it open for the next up and comer.

“I wish Steve the best of luck. We put together a very strong team and the results have shown that. All of our cars are within the top 10 in the points, that says a lot,” car owner Eddie Sharp said. “We’ll wait and see what comes along. With the economy the way it is, I am lucky to have the three teams out there but I would hate to see the 20 sidelined.”

As the hunt for a replacement driver in the No. 20 continues, Kevin Belmont will climb behind the wheel in Pocono this weekend in order to keep the car in contention in the point standings for the next hungry racer. Whoever it is has big shoes to fill, as ESR has quickly become the best at producing new talent. Over the last few seasons, ESR has ushered along the careers of Michael McDowell and Scott Speed. McDowell nabbed four race wins in 2007 driving for Sharp while Speed tallied four wins in 2008.

As a whole, Eddie Sharp Racing has 12 wins spanning four drivers over the last three seasons.

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

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.

- Eddie Sharp Racing Press Release

Andy Belmont Racing Logo

ABR driver Kevin Belmont has stepped aside to provide this opportunity for Kory. “Kevin did a great job running for us with consistent finishes and bringing the car home in one piece” proclaimed team manager Andy Belmont. “Fortunately for us Kevin understands the family business and we have needed to make this move. Kevin will continue working with the team as part of the crew, spotting, doing our graphics with his KB Letterin’ business and filling in as he always has. This is one of the great things about ARCA that the world needs to know, it is still a family business”.

Kory first ran for ABR in 2007 when then driver Dominick Casola needed a relief driver for the Governor’s Cup 200 at the Milwaukee Mile. After retiring his own car on lap 76 of the 200 lap event Rabenhold was asked by Belmont to relieve Casola for the remainder of the race. Rabenhold brought the ABR number 1 home to a 24th place finish after losing laps making the driver change at the famed Milwaukee Mile.

Kory Rabenold

“I’m very excited to be teaming up with Andy and his team for the remainder of the season” stated Rabenhold. “When I ran for ABR at the Milwaukee Mile back in 2007 I quickly discovered how fierce of a competitor Andy is, he is very driven. I truly believe that with Andy’s knowledge and my experience we can produce great finishes.”

While Rabenhold has never raced at Iowa he has great confidence that he will adjust quickly with the coaching of Belmont. “Andy has coached many drivers over the years in the ARS that have since moved on to NASCAR so I have great confidence in him and what he has to offer.”

About Andy Belmont Racing:

Andy Belmont Racing is a driver development program. ABR offers opportunities to race in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, NASCAR Camping World East Series & NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

- Andy Belmont Racing Press Release