Mansfield: Eddie Sharp Racing preview

Arpin, Goess roll with top-10 momentum:

Steve Arpin, driver of the No. 20 Toyota Camry, scored his highest finish to date in the ARCA RE/MAX Series last weekend in Michigan, crossing the line in eighth. Craig Goess, Jr. followed within the top 10, scoring his fourth top-10 of the season in 10th. Goess heads to Mansfield as a rookie in ARCA but a veteran on the half-mile track. Last August Goess ran in the Mansfield 150 in the Camping World East Series, finishing a respectable fifth. Tim George Jr. also showed well in Michigan, running near the top-10 throughout the race before a late restart one lap from the finish caused a manic run to the checkered flag, leaving George Jr. just shy of the top-10, finishing 13th.

Lofton looks to rebound at Mansfield:

Last weekend in Michigan, Justin Lofton entered the Racing for Wildlife 200 as the points leader. Given the pole after weather interrupted on-track action, Lofton dominated the event, leading the first 39 laps of the 100 lap-race. A mechanical issue on lap 40 however, curbed the No. 6 Eddie Sharp Racing team's run, dropping them to 30th at the finish and second in the point standings. The last time Lofton was on a short track however, he nabbed a solid runner-up showing at Toledo. With the same car on the truck headed to Mansfield, Lofton is confident of a return to victory lane for the second time this season and to the top of the point standings.

"We had a great car last week but that's history and we're looking forward to Mansfield. We've got a great short track program here at ESR and I love short track racing," he said.

On board for the ride:

This week Steve Arpin's No. 20 Toyota team welcomes back Lo-N-Bro Enterprises and Jeff Taylor Motorsports for the ride around the half-mile Mansfield track.

Jeff Taylor Motorsports is a full service chassis and modified builder, run by renowned dirt modified racer Jeff Taylor.Jhttp://www.jefftaylor5.com/

What they're saying:

Steve Arpin, driver, No. 20 Toyota: "I think we are good. I'm looking forward to another short track. We had a fast car at Toledo but mechanical problems hurt us. Our crew chief (Jefferson Hodges) has a lot of history at Mansfield so we should be good off of the truck."

Tim George Jr., driver, No. 2 Ruby Tuesday/Chrome Hearts Toyota: "There is a lot of bumping and grinding. We are in the same car that I ran in Toledo, so I am excited to be back in that car, since I drove well in Toledo."

-credit: esr