ARCA RE/MAX TESTING
ESR TESTS AT THE ROCK
All four ESR squads present for Monday session. |
Rockingham, N.C. (March 25, 2009)- The garage at Rockingham Speedway opened early Monday morning with sunshine, chilly temperatures, and the energy of a track that has been long awaiting the return of the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Eddie Sharp Racing haulers rolled in and unloaded cars for drivers Tim George, Jr., Justin Lofton, Steve Arpin, and Craig Goess, Jr. Following a six-week hiatus from competition and last week’s test at Salem Speedway, the drivers and crew members were anxious to get back on the track.
The morning session, which concluded around 12:15 PM, found all four cars with few changes to be made. Throughout the day, Rookie, Craig Goess, Jr. topped the ESR crew with a 24.95 second lap.
Crew Chief of the No. 81 Greenville Toyota, Patrick Donahue, said, ‘We tested some things we normally wouldn’t do, but it was good for the team to experiment with different things. Craig did a great job from his first run on. We should be able to return to Rockingham in April for the Carolina 200 and hopefully race top-5.’
Returning to the track following a lunch break, the Eddie Sharp Racing teams saw much improvement in speed and car handling.
Crew Chief of the No. 6 Lofton Cattle Toyota, Mark Rette, said, ‘We had a really good session at Rockingham. We learned a lot and figured out what we need to bring, set-up wise, to the track for Justin. This was the first time we’ve worked together, other than Daytona, on an intermediate type track, which is more about having a better handling racecar. Right off the truck we were fairly competitive and made gains all day. All in all, I feel like we had a very good test. I’m really proud of my guys for all of their hard work.’
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Craig Goess and team owner Eddie Sharp |
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Wayne Carroll, crew chief of the No. 20 Taylor Motorsports Toyota felt the day had high and low points, ‘We started off great and struggled in the middle of the day. Finding grip in the corners is always tough at this track (Rockingham Speedway). We were tight in and lose off. Things were much better at the end of the day.’
Crew Chief of the No.2 Ruby Tuesday Toyota was pleased with the progress his team is making, ‘The test is just another step in the learning process for Tim George, Jr. It’s tough to make the transition from road course racing to a stock car and he’s doing a good job. Tim (George, Jr.) and the team are making progress. Our goal is to get better every day.’
Eddie Sharp was very pleased with all four team’s performances yesterday saying, ‘I thought the day went really well. We had three of our four drivers that had never seen the Rockingham Speedway before. I was impressed with how well they took to the track. It was nice to hit the pavement on such a nice day considering last season we spent more time in a rental car drying the track than making laps in a racecar. I think we have four solid teams going to Rockingham in April.’
Next up for ‘The Rock’ is the Carolina 200 at the Rockingham Speedway, Sunday April 19, 2009, but first the ARCA RE/MAX Series will return to action at the Salem Speedway on April 5, 2009 for the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200. |
ARCA RE/MAX TESTING
Eddie Sharp Racing Tests Three Teams at Salem Speedway
Rain delays morning session. |
Denver, N.C. (March 20, 2009) - The garage at the Salem Speedway opened bright and early Thursday morning in Salem, IN., where Eddie Sharp Racing took to the track for testing. The test came following a six-week hiatus and last weekend’s rained-out test session at Rockingham Speedway. The one-day test scheduled for 9 a.m., but was postponed until 11 a.m. also due to rain. Once the track was dry the teams came out strong, showing great speed and car handling.
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Tim George Jr |
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The three ESR teams, including Rookies Tim George, Jr., Steve Arpin, and Craig Goess, Jr. took to the challenging .555 mile oval to gear up for the Sunday, April 5, 2009 race at the Salem Speedway. The race will re-kick off the season for the team that had a strong finish at the Daytona International Speedway.
Rookie Tim George, Jr. driver of the No. 2 Ruby Tuesday Toyota said, ‘We rolled off the trailer really well. I was able to make times close to what I was on the simulator and it showed how hard the guys were working at the shop. I look forward to the new challenge of high horsepower on the short-track and to coming back to Salem with Ruby Tuesday onboard.’
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Steve Arpin |
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Rookie, Steve Arpin, driver of the No. 20 Jeff Taylor Motorsports Toyota was very happy with the Salem test. ‘I am looking forward to the short tracks most this season, so the Salem Speedway was an awesome place to start. Short-track racing is where I began my career and I am excited about applying my dirt-track racing knowledge to that of short-tracks. The whole team has been working really hard to prepare a good car for me and I am so excited to work with three of my teammates this week.’
Rookie, Craig Goess, Jr., was the first out of the gate Thursday morning, he added, ‘It was so good to get back in the car since Daytona. Short-track racing is always fun. It was good to be around all the guys again and it looks like all their hard work and preparation has paid off. I think it will be very competitive when we get back to racing.’
Testing will continue this Monday, March 23rd at Rockingham Speedway. The ARCA RE/MAX Series returns to action at the Salem Speedway on April 5, 2009 for the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200. |
ARCA RE/MAX TESTING
Eddie Sharp Reschedules ARCA RE/MAX Test at North Carolina's Rockingham Speedway
Private session at The Rock (formerly North Carolina Speedway) set for March 23 |
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"I am very excited... It's been way too long since the last race." -Justin Lofton |
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Denver, N.C. (March 12, 2009) - The projected rain is halting Eddie Sharp Racing from attending this weekend's ARCA test at the Rockingham Speedway. The ESR team of Tim George, Jr., Justin Lofton, Steve Arpin, and Craig Goess, Jr. will take on ‘The Rock' during a private test session, Monday, March 23rd to make up for lost time, following the Salem Speedway test, March 19th.
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The March 23rd test will be the first time ESR's ARCA RE/MAX rookies, Tim George, Jr., Steve Arpin, and Craig Goess, Jr. will hit the pavement at The Rock, while returning ESR driver of the No. 6 Lofton Cattle Toyota, Justin Lofton said, "I am very excited about this test at Rockingham. It's been way too long since the last race. The No. 6 team has been working hard on building fast cars and it would be very rewarding to see all the hard work pay off."
Eddie Sharp Racing is coming off a milestone at Daytona International Speedway entering into Saturday's open-test at Rockingham Speedway. The team made history as Eddie Sharp Racing was the first ARCA/REMAX Series team to ever field four cars at Daytona and the home of the, ‘Great American Race,' a track that dates back to 1959. |
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