NCWS-E RACE REPORT
Goess Wraps Rookie Season at Stafford; Finishes 15th
DENVER, N.C. (October 20, 2008) – Craig Goess completed his NASCAR Camping World East Series rookie season at Stafford Speedway in the rescheduled CARQUEST Fall Final on Sunday, October 12. The No. 2 Greenville Toyota team finished 15th at the legendary Connecticut short track. The finish was Goess’ eighth top-15 in the 12 races he competed in on the NCWES schedule.
“If we had been able to race after we unloaded, we would’ve been a top-three,” said Goess. “We were third fastest in practice and had a really good car. The track changed and I don’t know if it was because of the rubber from the Modifieds or what. We made some changes to the car for qualifying and the car just didn’t like those.”
Goess qualified his No. 2 Greenville Toyota in the 12th starting spot on Saturday. On Sunday, teams arrived at the track to a beautiful autumn day, perfect for racing action. The green flag waved shortly after noon and Goess maintained his position throughout the day. He went a lap down around the 100-lap mark, but was able to regain his lap during the sixth caution period on lap 132 when he was awarded the “Lucky Dog.”
Goess restarted the Toyota Camry in the 18th position and was able to pick up three more spots before the conclusion of the 150-lap event.
“The track was dramatically different the next day,” explains Goess. “Those that were good early on Saturday weren’t good for the race. We didn’t anticipate the track changing so much and we just continued to get worse throughout the race. We missed wrecks and didn’t tear the car up though. That was a bright spot in the day. I didn’t want to have to give the guys any extra work after all the hard work they’ve put in this season already. I had a lot of fun racing out there. It was perfect racing weather. I could’ve raced 400 laps because I was so comfortable in the car.”
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Craig Goess |
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“We just didn’t seem to keep up with the track very well this weekend,” stated crew chief Johnny Allen. “For some reason the car was just way too tight for the race. We should have finished a few spots higher but Craig lost the battle and got shuffled back a spot or two when they went three wide at the end.”
Allen added, “I have seen huge improvement in Craig the last third of the season. He is a very skilled driver and as he got more and more comfortable in the car, he became more offensive on the track. It’s a shame the season is over just as we were getting momentum.”
Goess finished the season with eight top-15s, two top-10s and one top-five finish. His best start of the season was a 10th, which he accomplished at three different tracks. Goess finished 16th in the championship points standings, only three points short of the 15th position.
“It’s been a pretty laid back season with only 12 races,” said Goess. “We’re still putting together what we’re doing next year, but I hope to be racing a lot more. I’m looking forward to what the future holds for 2009.”
ESR NASCAR CWS-E Unofficial Results
Stafford Motor Speedway; October 12, 2008 |
| FIN |
STR |
CAR |
DRIVER |
LAPS |
STATUS |
| 15 |
12 |
2 |
Craig Goess |
150 |
Running |
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Craig Goess |
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DENVER, N.C. (October 10, 2008) - Eddie Sharp Racing’s Craig Goess and his Greenville Toyota team head to Stafford Springs, Connecticut for the NASCAR Camping World Series East season finale. The 36th Annual CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend was rescheduled from its original date due to rain.
“I’m looking forward to running at Stafford this weekend,” said Goess. “We’re heading to another track that we have never been on, but this team is absolutely fantastic about unloading a strong car and making whatever adjustments are needed to get it dialed in.”
In his rookie season in the NCWSE and his first season in a stock car, Goess notched two top-10 finishes and one top-5 in only 11 starts.
When asked how he felt going into his 12th race versus his first, Goess replied, “I feel a little more confident. I try to learn something as a driver each time I go out on the track, regardless if is my first race or my 100th.”
NCWS-E practice runs from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 11, 2008, with qualifying to follow at 3:30 p.m. The green flag for the CARQUEST Final Fall drops Sunday, October 12th at 3:00 p.m. All times listed are EASTERN.
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CRAIG GOESS QUICK FACTS:
2008 NASCAR Camping World Series East Stats:
Best Start: Tenth (three times: Music City Motorplex, July 2008; South Boston Speedway, May 2008; Mansfield Motorsports Park, August 2008)
Best Finish: Fifth at Mansfield Motorsports Park, August 2008
Notes of Interest:
* First career start at Stafford Motor Speedway for Goess.
* 12th career start in the NASCAR Camping World Series East for Goess.
* Goess is 17th in the Championship point standings following 11 starts in 12 races with 1295 points (ESR Teammate Justin Lofton was behind the wheel of the No. 2 Toyota Camry at Lime Rock).
* The No. 2 Toyota Camry is currently 15th in Owner Standings (1368 points).
| TRACK FACTS |
| STAFFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY |
| Location |
Stafford Springs, CT |
Address |
55 West Street, Stafford Springs, CT |
| GPS |
N41°57.30906, W072°19.01244
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Track |
.5-mile oval |
Turns |
7.5 and 9 degree turns |
NCWS-E practice starts at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 11, followed by Time Trials at 2:00 PM. Green flag for the 36th annual CARQUEST Fall Final drops at Noon on Sunday, October 12. |
