Chicagoland: Justin Lofton race report

LOFTON FINISHES 26TH AT CHICAGOLAND SPEEDEWAY

JOLIET, Ill. (July 10, 2010) -- Justin Lofton entered Friday night's Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway with high hopes of bringing home his first career top-10 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Lofton won the 2009 ARCA Series race at the mile and half track nestled in the suburbs of Chicago and was coming off a strong run in Baker Curb Racing No. 27 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The young driver's progression through the Dollar General 300 field was slowed on lap 70 when his loose-handling WeekendWarriorsTV.com Ford Fusion slid up the track into the Turn 3 wall causing minor damage to the right-side fenders. After fixing the minor fender damage, numerous adjustments by the Baker Curb Racing crew to tighten the car throughout the final 100 laps of race provided minimal improvements to the handling of Lofton's No. 27 Ford Fusion. In the end, the team came home with a hard-fought 26th-place finish.

"The guys worked hard all weekend long to make the WeekendWarriorsTV.com Ford Fusion faster unfortunately we didn't end up with the finish we had hoped for" said Lofton. "Being a younger driver it is always beneficial to get more seat time, especially against the high level of competition that the Nationwide Series provides. Running these races for Baker Curb was definitely a positive experience and has helped me prepare for the stretch of races coming up in the Camping World Truck Series."

The Baker Curb Racing No. 27 team, which ranks ninth in the NASCAR Nationwide Series owner point standings, heads to Gateway International Raceway for the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 next Saturday, July 17th.

-source: baker curb racing