Team ESR drivers staying busy during break in ARCA schedule
With a break in the ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule, Eddie Sharp racing
drivers Justin Lofton, Tim George Jr. and Craig Goess are finding other
ways to keep themselves busy.
For rookies George Jr. and Goess, it didn't take them long to get back
to a racetrack following the conclusion of last Saturday's Pennsylvania
ARCA 200 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., as the rookie duo packed
up and headed to New Jersey for day of testing at New Jersey Motorsports
Park.
As for Lofton, wheelman of the No. 6 Toyota for ESR, he stayed low-key
following his race win at Pocono. It was Lofton's second straight series
win and his third overall this season. After having two emotionally
packed weekends back-to-back, Lofton needed the time to soak in his
position and ready himself, and his car, for his NASCAR Nationwide
Series debut, set for next weekend at Michigan International Speedway.
Lofton, who scored his first career ARCA win on the Brooklyn, Michigan
track last year, is set to pilot a second CJM Racing entry as a teammate
to Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin.
"I went to San Diego after Pocono for two days and visited with friends
and my grandparents," California native Lofton said.
"I am staying busy moving from my apartment into a house, and getting
ready for the Nationwide race in Michigan," he added of the rest of his
week.
If time allows, Lofton might spend a day this weekend with his crew at
Carowinds, for some much needed fun amidst their hectic schedule.
As Lofton embarks on the next step in his career next weekend, his
teammates are absorbing all they can through their freshman year behind
the wheel of an ARCA machine. Goess notched his career-best finish to
date behind the wheel of the No. 81 Toyota at Pocono, finishing third,
before heading to New Jersey. Following his test at NJMP, Goess planned
on spending the rest of his downtime working.
"I'll be working at the dealership. If I'm not racing, I'm there. I'm
the sales manager," Goess said of his family-owned Greenville of N.C.
Toyota.
After he concluded his part of the Jersey test, George Jr., who pilots
the No. 2 Ruby Tuesday Toyota, eyed a hectic end to the week. With plans
to return to his native New York, George Jr. has on tap an appearance
on Thursday for marketing partner, a clothing and sunglasses boutique,
Chrome Hearts, in New York City, before attending a party as the guest
of honor for Social Life Magazine. George Jr. will appear on the cover
of the magazine's next issue accompanying a feature article.
-credit: esr
