Reuniting with Eddie Sharp Racing (ESR), often considered as one of the strongest race teams on the circuit, Brent’s chances were as good as ever to taste victory lane for the second consecutive year.
A sponsorless No. 6 Toyota Camry took to the 2.5-mile oval on Friday afternoon with Brent working with crew chief Tripp Bruce to dial in their automobile. After several runs, Brent maneuvered the 10th quickest time overall but remained confident in his car’s capabilities.
In qualifying, Brent admitted that he wasn’t pleased with his lap as he posted just the 14th quickest lap overall. “I’m frustrated,” offered Brent. “Eddie Sharp Racing has really brought me a good car. I screwed up a little bit in qualifying, but I know we can make it up in the race.”
Just two hours before the Pennsylvania ARCA 125 was set to take the green flag on Saturday, Mother Nature stormed her way into eastern Pennsylvania where she completely drenched the 2.5-mile oval leaving the race in jeopardy for the day. Shortly after 5:00 p.m., officials from ARCA and Pocono (Pa.) Raceway elected to postpone the race until after the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series dash, which was also delayed until Sunday morning.
Overcast skies with peaks of sunshine greeted the ARCA teams on Sunday with the 13th race of the year getting the green flag shortly after 10:00 a.m. In his typical Pocono fashion, Brent pedaled his way forward in the tracks of fellow ARCA competitor Chad Hackenbracht who were both heading to the front.
The caution flag just as Brent was completing lap two for a melee entering turn one. The lengthy cleanup kept the field under caution for nearly 10 laps before Brent restarted the race gunning towards heading to the front.
Clearly on the move, Brent inched his way towards the top-five by the half-way mark before the caution waived just two laps later allowing the prime opportunity for the team to make their only scheduled pit stop of the day. Bruce called his pilot in for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. Overall, Brent informed the team he was pleased with his racecar, despite being informed after leaving pit lane that he had a slow leak on the left rear tire.
Back to racing, the road-racing ace settled comfortably in the top-five but another yellow flag would waive, which jolted the No. 6 Toyota into the third spot.
When racing resumed Brent found himself hovering in the top-three but having to fend off the sharks of Tim George Jr. and Chris Buescher who eventually made their way past the No. 6 ESR Toyota sliding Brent back to fifth.
As the race began to come to a close, Brent informed his team that his car was extremely tight. Unbenounced to the ESR team, the leak in the tire in the early stages of the contest affected the handling considerably. As instructed, the tire pressure was reset to its original settings before the green flag which included several more pounds of air in the tire which ultimately resulted in the No. 6 ESR Toyota Camry becoming extremely tight as the race came to a close.
Knowing his only potential chance of making a change was a caution. The yellow flag never materialized and Brent was able to reel respectable lap times and held off a hard-charging Ryan Wilson to take the checkered flag in the eighth position.
“First, I want to thank Eddie Sharp and his team for the opportunity to wheel their racecar,” said Brent. “We really had a good car. I messed up in qualifying on Friday, but I knew that we could go to the front and we did. As the race went on, the car got tighter and tighter, but there was nothing I really could do about it, except the drive the car as hard as I could.”
He added, “It sure would have been nice to go back to victory lane, but I was just thankful to have the opportunity to be in a racecar and compete. We had a good day and the car is one piece, so I hope Eddie (Sharp) and the team are satisfied.”
Amazingly, in his seven starts at the track dubbed the “Tricky Triangle”, the Michigander has been able to post two top-fives and seven top-10s including Sunday’s eighth place effort.
“Pocono has always been one of my favorite race tracks,” sounded Brent. It’s a blast to drive and it has some road course technique mixed in with it, which is my background, so it’s that just much more fun. If Pocono had a weekly series, I definitely think I would be a part of it.”
With the 13th race of the 2011 ARCA season being the final planned with Eddie Sharp Racing, Brent is remaining optimistic that something will materialize that will allow him to get back in the seat before year’s end. “We’re still talking to people about sponsorship and who knows maybe the phone will ring too,” Brent said. “I’m just not going to give up and just hope that I’ll be back racing before the end of the year.”
While, Brent didn’t carry any sponsorship on his automobile this weekend, the 24-year old continued to bring awareness to his two favorite charities the Macomb Charitable Foundation (MCF) and the Animal Aid Foundation.
Next up for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards is the first of two dirt races of the season. The 14th race of the year steers the teams to Illinois before landing at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield) for the running of the Allen Crowe 100 set for Sunday, August 21.
Prior to joining Eddie Sharp Racing, Brent participated in the ARCA Racing Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driving for NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski and Brad Keselowski Racing. Most recently, Brent spent the last two seasons in ARCA with Allgaier Motorsports, the 2008 championship team. In his 59 ARCA starts, Brent has acquired one win (Pocono 2010), six top-five finishes and 19 top-10 efforts. Brent notched his career best qualifying effort of second at Kentucky Speedway in 2008. He has led the ARCA pack five times for 55 laps. His best finish in the NCWTS occurred at Nashville Superspeedway in his inaugural truck debut where he finished 21st after qualifying 26th. The road racing ace also made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in 2010 driving for RAB Racing at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
For more on Robb Brent, sponsorship opportunities and official team merchandise, please visit Robbbrentracing.com.
- Robb Brent Racing Press Release
