Goess Finishes 14th at Adirondack

Coming Through the Field is The Story of The Day

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With momentum on his side, Craig Goess, Jr. was anxious to get to his next race this past Saturday.  Goess and his Eddie Sharp Racing team competed at Adirondack International Speedway in Beaver Falls, N.Y. for the Edge Hotel 150 presented by Casella Waste Systems, the seventh race on the 2008 schedule for the NASCAR Camping World East Series.  Goess' momentum was evident during the race but a spin in the final laps dropped Goess in the finishing order.  Goess and the No. 2 Greenville Toyota/Team ESR Development Toyota finished in 14th position.

Goess and team unloaded for practice on Saturday morning with high anticipation.  When the teams got on track for their two hour session, Goess quickly voiced his displeasure with the handling of his racecar.  Team ESR, led by crew chief Johnny Allen, worked diligently to remedy the situation and got the handling adjusted for Goess.

“When we unloaded for practice, the car felt like it just wanted to turn right,” said Goess.  “It was off considerably, but the guys thrashed on the car.  I couldn't have asked for more from them and they got it a lot better.”

Goess qualified the No. 2 Greenville Toyota/Team ESR Development Toyota in the 15th position with a time of 16.957 seconds around the half-mile.  From the start, Goess was making strides on working towards the front.  An hour-long red flag period for rain showers halted Goess' progress briefly.  Once green flag racing resumed, Goess, once again, made his way into the top-10.

Goess got as high as eighth position on lap 107 before cautions would befall during

the 150-lap race.  Goess would have to restart on the outside for the double file restarts

during each caution.  Each time, Goess would have to wait patiently until he could fall into position in the lower lane.

“Those double file restarts would just kill us,” explains Goess.  “The outside is not the place to be at that place and I would have to just fall back to get in a hole, somewhere between 10th and 12th.”

Goess would get tagged from behind on lap 119 trying to avoid another incident.  Luckily, the No. 2 Greenville Toyota/Team ESR Development Toyota Camry didn't receive any significant damage and Goess would be able to recover and fall back in line.  Unfortunately, once again, Goess would start on the outside and have to battle back to try to regain the lost spots.

Another spin in the closing laps forced Goess to settle for a 14th place finish.  His fourth top-15 finish in 2008 allowed Goess and his Team ESR to remain in the 18th position of the NCWES points standings. 

“The No. 52 spun us coming off turn four,” said Goess.  “I'm sure he didn't mean to, but that made us lose a few positions.  Again, I would have to start on the outside.  Luckily, we didn't tear the car up.  The finish was definitely not reflective of how well we were doing.  We were going forward and I think we passed the most cars on the track.  It was still another good finish for us though.”

Goess and his No. 2 Greenville Toyota/Team ESR Development will travel to Lime Rock Park in Lime Rock, Conn. for their next event on August 16.

The #2 Greenville Toyota