NASCAR CAMPING WORLD SERIES-EAST RACE REPORT
SHORT, FRUSTRATING DAY AT LIME ROCK

Engine failure ends charge to the front after 9 laps

Justin Lofton

LAKEVILLE, Conn. (August 16, 2008) - Eddie Sharp Racing’s Justin Lofton traveled from Connecticut to Illinois this weekend, pulling double duty, racing in both the NASCAR Camping World Series East and the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Neither race satisfied the competitive driver as rotten luck plagued the weekend’s events.

The first leg of the journey ended early with engine woes at Lime Rock Park in the No. 2 Greenville-Toyota/Lofton Cattle Toyota in Saturday’s Mohegan Sun NASCAR 200. Lofton then climbed into his No. 20 Lofton Cattle Dodge at the Illinois State Fairgrounds for his first taste of dirt track racing. Following a long and frustrating day in the dust, Lofton took the checkered flag in the 24th position.

LIME ROCK PARK:
With Friday’s qualifying rained out at Lime Rock, the field was set by owner’s points. Lofton and the No. 2 team were forced to start in the 17th position. Lofton took the green flag on Saturday afternoon and quickly charged through the field, moving up to the sixth position in only nine laps around the 1.53-mile road course.

While under caution, Lofton reported that the Camry didn’t sound quite right and brought the No. 2 down pit road. The team quickly lifted the hood of the smoking car and ascertained the damage to be terminal. Lofton finished a very disappointing 30th but certainly made his presence known. In addition to his skillful driving, images captured of the No. 2 with four wheels off the ground definitely caught people’s attention.

“I know we could have contended for the win,” said Lofton. “That’s what makes this so frustrating. We had a fantastic car and I have no doubt that if the engine would not have failed, we would have been battling Kobyluck up front. The team did a great job. I had a lot of fun working with them this weekend.”

That evening, Lofton boarded a plane for St. Louis, Missouri and drove to Springfield, Illinois for the Sunday ARCA RE/MAX event.

Read the full Springfield ARCA RE/MAX Series Race Report here

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD SERIES-EAST
RAIN CANCELS QUALIFYING

No. 2 catches some air Photo: Alan Claffie

Grid set by rule book;
Lofton starts 17th

LAKEVILLE, Conn. ( August 15, 2008) - Rain washed out NASCAR Camping World Series East qualifying at Lime Rock Park Friday afternoon for Saturday's Mohegan Sun 200. The starting field was set by the rule book.

Fans can track the NCWSE race weekend at localtracks.nascar.com and www.eastseries.com

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD SERIES-EAST
LIME ROCK PARK PREVIEW

Justin Lofton Pulls Double Duty Road Racing at Lime Rock Park and Dirt Trackin’ at Illinois State Fairgrounds

Justin Lofton

Denver, N.C. ( August 14, 3008) – Eddie Sharp Racing’s Justin Lofton is going to rack up the frequent flyer miles this weekend as he competes in both the NASCAR Camping World Series East and the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Lofton will travel to Lakeville, Connecticut where he will pilot the No. 2 Greenville-Toyota/Lofton Cattle Toyota in Saturday’s Mohegan Sun NASCAR 200 at Lime Rock Park. The full-time ARCA RE/MAX Series driver will hop a plane that night and fly to Springfield, IL where he will make his first career start on dirt in Sunday’s Allen Crowe Memorial 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

“It will be a crazy travel schedule running double duty this weekend, but will be a lot of fun," said Lofton. "I’m really looking forward to running with the Camping World Series at Lime Rock. We head straight to Illinois after the race Saturday and Sunday I get to run on dirt for the first time. It's going to be a blast! I honestly think we have a great chance at winning both races. I want to thank Eddie [Sharp] for the opportunity and to both my ARCA team and the ESR East team for all their hard work."

Lofton is no stranger to making right turns. Lofton boasted two top 5 and three top 10 finishes at Infineon Speedway, Miller Motorsports Park, and California Speedway Road Course while competing in the Camping World Series West in 2006 and 2007.

“I really enjoy running on road courses and this will be a great warm-up for the September race in New Jersey [New Jersey Motorsports Park],” commented Lofton.