GOESS GETS A LITTLE BIT OF HELP AT THE GLEN
Arm Injury Requires Relief Driver
Index Size 253 X 172
Craig Goess and his Eddie Sharp Racing team traveled to the “Finger Lakes” region of New York to participate in the NASCAR Camping World East Series' fourth race of the 2008 season. Coming off their season best finish the previous weekend at South Boston (Va.) Speedway, Goess and Team ESR were poised to gain some momentum at the road course at Watkins Glen International. An injury during practice set Goess back a bit, but the team found a replacement in veteran road racer Andy Lally, who brought the No. 2 Greenville Toyota/Team ESR Development Toyota to a 14th place finish.
“It was a pretty interesting weekend,” said Goess. “We missed the first practice trying to fix some mechanical issues. Then I went out during the second practice session and the transmission wasn't working properly. The guys replaced the transmission and I was able to qualify the car. However, I pulled a tendon in my arm and by the time I brought the car back to the pits, I couldn't even lift my arm to remove my HANS Device.”
Fortunately, the Grand-Am Rolex Series was a part of the race weekend at The Glen, and veteran road racer Andy Lally, now a competitor in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, was on hand to lend his services. Goess was able to start the No. 2 Greenville Toyota/Team ESR Development Toyota to earn the points for the day then turned the wheel over to Lally during the first caution period on lap six.
Lally was fairly happy with the performance of the car, saying it was just a bit tight in the turns. Overall, Lally did a great job of getting into a vehicle he had not turned a lap in and got it up to the 14th position in a race that was delayed by rain for the start, four caution periods and a red flag for rain.
“We definitely had a top-10 car,” continued Goess. “But with the rain and having to restart in the rear, Andy had his work cut out for him. Overall, it was a competitive run and I have to thank
Andy for stepping in for me. I was hoping to be able to log some laps since I am inexperienced on the road courses, but the injury prevented me from doing so. It was a long weekend to not get many laps under my belt. I can't wait to go to New Hampshire. “We had a decent test session there a couple weeks ago and it will be nice to get back on an oval.”
Goess and the No. 2 Greenville Toyota/Team ESR Development team have a couple weekends off before returning to action at the New Hampshire International Speedway on June 27.
