Craig Goess and his Toyota of Greenville ARCA RE/MAX team knew they would have a strong car for the “Click It or Ticket Buckle Up 150” due to the success they experienced in their test at the Kentucky Speedway in recent weeks, however as their race weekend began, it did not look like things were going to flow in their favor.  Goess experienced devastating engine issues in practice and was left with no option but to change engines and start at the rear of the field.  However, a challenging starting position was not going to hold Goess back as he made his way through the pack.  Using pit strategy in his favor, Goess brought home a fourth-place finish.

“We were optimistic about going there [Kentucky Speedway] because of the car we had brought there to the test.  We were close to the top of the board all day and it was the best feeling car that we’ve had so far this year, so we were anxious to go back,” explained Goess.  “Then pretty much the whole day in practice it didn’t feel like the car had any motor in it.  When we qualified it really laid down and started tightening up, so we ended up putting a backup motor in the car. The end result of that was obviously we had to go back and start in the back in 36th.  I don’t think the other motor would’ve lasted more than a few laps anyway so we really didn’t have a choice. 

“The car was really good,” continued Goess.  “It got a little tight at the end and we just got out-motored by the guys in front of us and down the straightaway.  At that place, horsepower is really, really important.  Everybody worked hard on the car getting the motor out since it was kind of a last minute thing that we had to do, but fighting back from the back of the pack and using a little pit strategy to make up track position and being able to maintain the pace that I was doing at the end of the race where a lot of guys had a lot fresher tires than we did, we were all pretty happy it ended up being a good night.”

This weekend marked Goess’ career-best ARCA RE/MAX Series finish, and rolling off that momentum, he and his team are hoping their first series win is in the cards in the near future.

“I think we’re going in the right direction,” commented Goess.  “It’s always hard to know when that’s going to come, but I think that if we keep making improvements, then a win will come.  Who knows when, but hopefully sooner than later.”

Craig Goess’ next opportunity to pull into victory lane will occur on July 25th in the ARCA RE/MAX Series event at Berlin Raceway in Maine.

After a Trying Start to the Weekend, Goess Ends Up Fourth at Kentucky

ARCA Rookie Gets a Solid Finish in the Blue Grass State

Craig Goess finished in the top five at Kentucky. (51 Sports Photo)