NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Notes and Quotes
Event: UNOH 200
Location: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway
Sharp-Gallaher Racing at Bristol Motor Speedway… In three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts in Thunder Valley, Sharp-Gallaher Racing boasts two top-10 finishes. Last year Cale Gale turned the fastest qualifying lap in the No. 33 SGR Chevrolet Silverado, claiming the Keystone Light pole award for the 2012 UNOH 200. The Denver, N.C.-based organization holds an average starting position of 20.7 and a 15th-place average finishing position, completing 597 of 608 (98.2 percent) laps of competition.
SGR’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History… Since entering the Camping World Truck Series in 2011, SGR has logged 96 starts, earning two wins, nine top-five finishes, 28 top-10 finishes and two pole awards, with an average starting position of 14.8 and an average finishing position of 16.3. SGR claimed the 2009 Automobile Racing Club of America Racing Series title with Justin Lofton.
The SGR Lineup at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile… Lofton returns to pilot the No. 6 Lofton Cattle Chevrolet, and teammate Max Gresham will be behind the wheel of the No. 8 Made in USA Brand Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway.
SGR Welcomes Gere Kennon Aboard… Gere Kennon was named SGR’s director of competition this week and will oversee the organization’s Camping World Truck Series, ARCA Racing Series and Late Model programs. Kennon brings over 30 years of experience across all three of NASCAR’s premier series, including two NASCAR Nationwide Series championships with the legendary Sam Ard.
The Collective SGR… Throughout the season’s first 12 races, SGR’s Camping World Truck Series entries have notched two top-five and four top-10 finishes. In 2013, SGR teams have completed 2,568 out of 2,989 total laps (85.9 percent) with drivers Danny Efland, Max Gresham, Devin Jones, John King, Jared Landers, Lofton and Tyler Young. The group has led a combined nine laps.
Follow SGR on Social Media… To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and view exclusive content, visit Sharp-Gallaher Racing’s Twitter page – @SGRracing_ and Facebook page – Facebook.com/SharpGallaherRacing. Also, follow the SGR NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers on their personal Twitter pages – @MaxGresham and @jlracing, and “Like” Max Gresham on his official Facebook page, Max Gresham’s Fan Page, and Justin Lofton at Facebook.com/jlracing.
Catch the Action… FOX Sports 1’s live coverage of the UNOH 200 begins Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The race will also be broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Qualifying for the 13th event on the Camping World Truck Series schedule will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 2 on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Justin Lofton
No. 6 Lofton Cattle Chevrolet Silverado
This Week’s Lofton Cattle Chevrolet at Bristol Motor Speedway…
Justin Lofton will pilot chassis No. 49 from the Sharp-Gallaher Racing stable in Wednesday night’s UNOH 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The 200-lap event marks the first appearance of this Silverado in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competition for the 2013 season. Lofton most recently drove this Chevrolet at Iowa Speedway in September 2012, where he started from the 13th position, led laps and competed inside of the top 10 until he was collected in a multi-truck accident on lap 95.
Lofton in Thunder Valley… In three previous starts at Bristol Motor Speedway, Lofton has finished each contested race and completed 100 percent (610 of 610) of his laps. He has an average starting position of 25.3 and an average finishing position of 7.3. Lofton’s best start of 15th and best finish of fifth both came in his August 2010 visit to the Bristol, Tenn.-based facility.
Short-Track Success… Lofton is no stranger to short-track racing. He has 14 starts on tracks one-mile or shorter in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, earning three top-five and five top-10 finishes. The 2009 ARCA Racing Series Champion amassed three wins, five pole awards, seven top-five and eight top-10 finishes in 14 starts on short tracks in his two years of competition in the grass roots racing series.
Lofton in the NCWTS in 2013… Lofton has made two Camping World Truck Series starts in 2013, at Daytona International Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway, earning one top-five and two top-10 finishes. He started on the front row in the season-opener at Daytona and has completed 100 percent (234 of 234) of laps contested. Lofton is scheduled to compete in eight of the ten remaining Camping World Truck Series races this season with the exception of the event at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway could be added to the schedule pending additional sponsorship.
Bryan Berry Heads the No. 6 SGR Team… Veteran crew chief Bryan Berry joins SGR to lead the No. 6 team. Since 2000, Berry has 226 starts as a crew chief in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, working mostly with veteran drivers Brendan Gaughan and Jason Keller.
JUSTIN LOFTON QUOTES:
On returning to Sharp-Gallaher Racing and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series… “I am excited to be back at Sharp-Gallaher Racing and behind the wheel of the No. 6 Chevrolet Silverado. The addition of (crew chief) Bryan Berry and (director of competition) Gere Kennon will strengthen this team. Because of competing for a partial season, we won’t be points racing – we’ll be racing for wins.”
On racing at Bristol Motor Speedway… “I am really looking forward to racing at Bristol (Motor Speedway). I love short-track racing, especially under the lights. It’s exciting for the fans and for us drivers. The energy is high and tempers flare. There is never a dull moment. I’ve had success on short tracks in the past, and know we’ll have a strong Lofton Cattle Chevrolet Wednesday night.”
Max Gresham
No. 8 Made in USA Brand (MIUSA) Chevrolet Silverado
This Week’s Made in USA Brand (MIUSA) at Bristol Motor Speedway… Max Gresham will pilot chassis No. 59 from the Sharp-Gallaher Racing (SGR) stable in Wednesday’s UNOH 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Prior to being in the SGR fleet, Chassis No. 59 (KHI-T059) spent time at Kevin Harvick Inc (KHI) with Clint Bowyer and Brendan Gaughan. This truck was victorious at Kansas Speedway in the 2011 season with Bowyer. Gresham drove this Chevrolet to a 16th-place finish at Rockingham Speedway earlier this season. This weekend will be the chassis’ fifth appearance with Gresham.
The World’s Fastest Half-Mile Details… This week’s 200-lap race marks Gresham’s first appearance at the Bristol, Tenn.-based facility.
Short-Track Stats… Gresham is not short on experience with race stats on tracks less than one-mile in length. He has five starts on short tracks in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Milner, Ga., native has earned one win, one pole award, one top-five and four top-10 finishes in nine starts on short tracks in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Racing Series.
Meet Gresham… Gresham is schedule to participate in an autograph session at the Food City Race Night on Thursday, Aug. 22 from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Eastern Time on State Street in Bristol.
Hometown Proud… Rear tire carrier Robert “Pineapple” Miolen hails from Cleveland, Tenn., and currently calls Mooresville, N.C. home.
MAX GRESHAM QUOTE:
On racing at Bristol Motor Speedway… “I cannot tell you how excited I am to be able to race at Bristol Motor Speedway. I’m super-duper excited! This is an experience I have wanted for a long time.”
