ESR ARCA RE/MAX Hantz Group 200
Unofficial Results
Toledo Speedway; October 12, 2008

Speed's Championship Hopes Dashed as Short Track Tempers Flared in Toledo Finale

TOLEDO OH (October 12, 2008)-Scott Speed and his No. 2 Red Bull team took the green flag on Sunday leading the ARCA RE/MAX Series championship point standings. Short track tempers flared and 34 laps later, the No. 2 Red Bull Toyota sat in flames against the inside wall between turns 1 and 2, dashing the hope of championship dreams.

Scott Speed

"I was really surprised at how aggressive Ricky was as soon as the race started,” said Speed. “We had just negotiated for him to pass us on the outside when he kept going for my left rear bumper. I know that everyone will only remember the last wreck, but there was a lot of contact from lap 1 from the 99. But it is what it is. I know there were a lot of rumors of teams that planned to wreck us out there today. I had hoped the day would turn out differently and we’d be on the stage. The guys worked really hard all year and they deserved it.”

Speed started the afternoon in the third position and climbed quickly to second, filing in behind teammate and pole sitter, Justin Lofton. The No. 20 had a commanding lead while the No. 99 remained tight on the rear bumper of the No. 2 Red Bull Toyota. During the lap 20 caution, the No. 99 and No. 2 spotters relayed to their drivers that Speed would allow the No. 99 to pass to the outside. On lap 27 however, contact was made with the No. 99 from behind and the No. 2 received extensive right-side damage from contact with the outside wall. Speed came down pit road several times under caution to make attempts at repairing the car despite reports that it was “not driveable.”

Speed restarted the race one lap down to the leaders. As they say, the rest is history. The No. 2 Red Bull Toyota made contact first with the No.99 just off of turn 1, and then hard into the outside wall and harder still into the inside wall. The inside wall, comprised of giant cement blocks, was shifted several feet by the Camry’s impact. The team went quickly to work to lay out parts for repair, but stopped when it became apparent that the day was over for the No. 2 car which had flames and smoke pouring from the under the hood. Speed finished in the 34th position, completing 34 laps and logging only his second DNF of the 2008 season. Speed reported blurred vision and a sore knee and was taken by ambulance to St. Vincent’s hospital where he was treated and released.

The point standings damage was far worse than that to the No. 2 car. With his recent performance, Justin Allgaier had put himself into the hunt for the championship, taking the green flag in the third position in the point standings with 110 points separating him from Speed. Allgaier took the checkered flag on Sunday for the race win and the championship title. Despite returning to the track to complete the event, Stenhouse, Jr. fell to fifth in points.

Sunday’s race marked only the fourth race this season that Speed and the No. 2 Red Bull team finished outside of the top-10. The team and rookie driver finished the 2008 season with some very impressive statistics. The No. 2 Toyota started in the top-10 in 19 of 21 races, with 12 of those starts in the top-5. Speed claimed three SIM Factory Pole awards. The No. 2 finished in the top-10 in 17 of 21 races, recording ten top-5 finishes. Speed and his Red Bull team visited victory lane four times.

The former F-1 driver quickly adapted to oval speedways with a performance that earned the No. 2 team the 2008 Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Championship.

“This team worked incredibly hard all year to put us in the position to win the championship and they should be very proud of themselves for that,” said Crew Chief Patrick Donahue. “We could sit and hash out the could’ve, should’ve, would’ve scenarios, but it won’t change the results. We’ll just take everything we learned this year, the good and bad, and apply it to 2009.”

Donahue entered the weekend with a large lead in the 2008 Cometic Crew Chief Award. The title will be officially announced at the December 6th awards banquet.

Team owner Eddie Sharp commented that, “the entire Eddie Sharp organization should be commended for a successful season. Everyone worked extremely hard all year. We came to the track each week with three very competitive cars. There are simply things beyond our control that occur and to beat ourselves up for that is pointless. I want to thank Red Bull for their support and faith in us to develop Scott Speed. We look forward to continuing to build a relationship with such a great organization. Speed is a talented driver, there is no doubt about that, and we wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Speed will continue his career behind the wheel of the No. 84 Red Bull Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.

Flat Tire Ends Charge for Victory Lane at Toledo for Lofton

Justin Lofton took his second SIM Factory Pole Award at Toledo

TOLEDO, Ohio (October 14, 2008) – Eddie Sharp Racing’s Justin Lofton and his Lofton Cattle team had the car to beat this weekend in the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series season finale at Toledo Speedway. Qualifying on the pole position and setting a new track record, Lofton led the most laps of the Hantz Group 200. A flat tire ended the hopes of a win in the final race of the season with Lofton taking the checkered flag in the 12th position.

“What a disappointing way to end the season,” said Lofton. “It was such a great car. We were so fast and if that tire hadn’t gone down, we were going to be in Victory Lane, I have no doubt about it. I want to thank the Lofton Cattle team for a great weekend and a fantastic year! I really appreciate the opportunity that Eddie Sharp gave me and the chance to run as well as I did.”

Saturday afternoon, Lofton set a new track record qualifying the No. 20 Lofton Cattle Dodge for the SIM Factory Pole Award with a 15.860-second lap around the 0.5-mile speedway.

When the green flag fell on Sunday for the 21st and final race of the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Season, the Lofton Cattle Dodge jumped out to a commanding lead, often leading ESR teammate Scott Speed by 20 car lengths. Lofton held the lead until lap 73 when he came down pit road under caution. The Red Bull pit crew, who came down to the Lofton Cattle pit stall to help their ESR teammates, jumped out and put on four fresh tires and fuel.

20 car spins at Toledo

Lofton restarted the race and quickly climbed his way back to the top-5 by lap 105. Lofton worked past eventual race winner Justin Allgaier for the third position and raced Matt Carter hard to move into second. On lap 169, race leader David Ragan suffered a cut tire and Lofton moved to the first position. With only 31 laps remaining, the Lofton Cattle team held their breath. The team’s win at Michigan International Speedway also came as Lofton chased a leader who suffered the same tire fate. Two laps later, Lofton radioed his team that his right front was down. Having to pit under the green flag was costly, putting Lofton two laps down to the leader and ultimately finishing in the 12th position.

Leading 75 out of 200 laps, Lofton was awarded the Aaron’s Lap Leader award for most laps led in the Hantz Group 200.

“Justin Lofton represents everything this company stands for,” commented Team Owner Eddie Sharp. “He is a great kid and he’s fast in a race car. He is definitely on his way up. It was an honor to have him as a part of our program. I would love to do more with him in the future.”

“I am still working on my plans for the future,” added Lofton. “I hope to have some announcements over the next couple of months. As for immediate plans, I will be racing the No. 20 Lofton Cattle Chevy Trophy Truck in the Baja 1000 in November. I’m really excited about that. We’re testing next week actually. Should be a lot of fun!”

Next Stop: Justin Lofton will drive the No. 20 Lofton Cattle Chevy Trophy Truck in the Tecate Baja 1000. Race dates are November 20-23, 2008 in Ensenada, Baja California. Lofton is testing his Chevy next week in Plaster City, CA.

KBIII Finishes 11th at Toledo; 10th in ARCA RE/MAX Series Point Standings

Ken Butler, III

TOLEDO, Ohio (October 14, 2008) – Ken Butler, III and his No. 22 Aaron’s Lucky Dog team wrapped up the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Season this weekend with the Hantz Group 200 at Toledo Speedway. Butler took the checkered flag in 11th place, completing the season tenth in the championship point standings.

“I want to thank all of my guys for their hard work this season,” said Butler. “We had a decent season. We missed the wins we had all hoped for but took home two SIM Factory Pole Awards. I also want to thank Aaron’s for their support this season.”

“These guys did a great job this season. They worked really hard and put together some great cars. I am very proud of them.” - Crew Chief Jonathan Davis.

The No. 22 Aaron’s Lucky Dog Toyota started Sunday’s 200-lap event in the 25th position. KBIII reported the Camry to be tight. When the No. 22 came to pit road on lap 97 the team put on new tires and made adjustments to free up the Lucky Dog Toyota’s handling. The No. 22 was “wreckin’ loose” according to its driver for the remainder of the race. The No. 22 came down pit road on lap 146 for adjustments only and again during the lap 175 caution for tires.

KBIII finished the Hantz Group 200 in the 11th position and closed the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series season with one top-5 finish, seven top-10 finishes, and two SIM Factory Pole Awards.

“These guys did a great job this season,” said Crew Chief Jonathan Davis. “They worked really hard and put together some great cars. I am very proud of them.”

ESR ARCA RE/MAX Hantz Group 200
Qualifying Results
Toledo Speedway; October 11, 2008

ESR ARCA RE/MAX Hantz Group 200
Practice Results
Toledo Speedway; October 11, 2008

Scott Speed

DENVER, N.C. (October 9, 2008) –This weekend will mark the conclusion of an exciting season for the No. 2 Red Bull Toyota team as well as new adventures for Eddie Sharp Racing's Scott Speed. Speed and his team head to Toledo Speedway with an 85-point lead in the hunt for the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship title. The team has consistently performed all season, finishing out of the top-10 only three times in 20 events. All it takes is one more top-10 finish and Eddie Sharp Racing will take home its first Championship. Patience and conservatism have been among the themes discussed for the weekend. Also in the midst of his Championship weekend, should he qualify, Speed will travel between Toledo, Ohio and Charlotte, N.C. to make his Sprint Cup Debut in the No. 82 Red Bull Toyota on Saturday night.

"If someone doesn't crash us or we don't break, we should be able to walk away with (the championship)," Speed said. "We just have to do what we've done all year. And that is show up and to do our best."

Making an impression on and off the track, Speed is tied for the most wins this season and most SIM Factory Pole awards, and leads the lists for the Championship, Aaron's Lap Leader, SunTrust Rookie of the Year, R.E. Lightning Challenge, and the Fast Track Award. Speed turned heads with his zebra driving shoes and out-of-the norm garage attire, but his performance on track this year in the ARCA and Craftsman Truck Series has locked him in as someone to watch for years to come. This weekend he is looking to wrap up the title and his ARCA career in true "Speed" fashion.

ESR has seen a lot of success at Toledo Speedway in the past. Last season teammate Ken Butler, III won the speedway's May race while ESR alum Michael McDowell took the victory in October. McDowell started each of the two events from the pole position. The Red Bull team is packing a weapon this weekend, the No. 2 Toyota that Speed wheeled to victory at Berlin Raceway in July is Speed's favorite short track Camry.

2 car Crew Chief Patrick Donahue

"We are excited about the opportunity to go to Toledo and win the Championship this year," said Crew Chief Patrick Donahue. "Last year we were locked into second and despite the win, couldn't take the title. Everyone is prepared for the weekend, just as we have been every weekend, all season. TRD is prepared, the team is prepared, the car is ready. We left Daytona, the only race we failed to finish, 38th in points. To come this far is something that every member of this team should be very proud of."

Lofton Looking to Cap an Impressive Rookie Season with an Impressive Finish

Justin Lofton

DENVER, N.C. (October 9, 2008) – Justin Lofton and his No. 20 Lofton Cattle team head to Toledo, Ohio for the Hantz Group 200 by Belle Tire and Federated Car Care. The Eddie Sharp Racing rookie started from the second row at Toledo Speedway in May. Look for the Lofton Cattle Dodge to be a strong contender in the ARCA RE/MAX Series season finale.

"I'm really looking forward to returning to Toledo," said Lofton. "It's a fun track to race on. We had a strong race in May and a great car. I enjoy short track racing and plan to have a lot of fun Sunday. Wayne and the guys have worked really hard all year and I would love to put them in Victory Lane for the last race of the season."

Lofton qualified an impressive third at the 0.5-mile paved track in May. Lofton remained in the top-10 for much of the day until late race contact sent him spinning down the front stretch. The team was able to keep the No. 20 on the lead lap and Lofton worked his way back to a 14th place finish.

"It's hard to believe this is the last race of the season," Lofton added. "This has been such a great experience. I've really enjoyed working with all the guys at ESR and appreciate the opportunity that Eddie gave me."

Butler Seeking Another Win on the Short Track at Toledo

Ken Butler, III

DENVER, N.C. (October 9, 2008) – This weekend Eddie Sharp Racing's Ken Butler, III heads to Toledo Speedway for the final race of the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Season. The driver of the No. 22 Aaron's Lucky Dog Toyota won at Toledo in May 2007. Returning in October, KBIII sat on the front row in the outside pole position and finished in the top-15.

Butler knows how to get his No. 22 Aaron's Lucky Dog Toyota around Toledo Speedway, and he is hungry to wrap the season up with his second career ARCA Series win. Butler is enters the weekend 10th in the ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship point standings

Ken Butler III won at Toledo in May 2007

"I'm looking forward to heading to Toledo this weekend," said Butler, III. "I really enjoy racing there. We have run well there and I think we'll have a good weekend. I'm feeling good from the hit at Talladega. I was sore early in the week but am ready to climb back in the No. 22 Aaron's Lucky Dog Toyota and run hard. Of course we want to sit on the pole and win, but a good solid run and we will walk out of here top-10 in points."

This weekend marks the fourth career start for Ken Butler, III at the 0.5-mile paved oval. KBII earned his first and only ARCA RE/MAX Series win at Toledo Speedway in May 2007. In October, KBIII qualified 2nd by a fraction of a second behind ESR teammate Michael McDowell, giving Eddie Sharp Racing yet another 1-2 start. McDowell went on to win the Hantz Group 200 by Belle Tire.