If you are going to score your best career finish in the ARCA Racing Series, why not do it style at one of the toughest tracks on the schedule?  Craig Goess Jr. rose to that challenge at Salem Speedway (IN) on Sunday.  Goess started 19th at the tricky high-banked half mile and drove towards the front to challenge for the win on his way to scoring a career-best second-place finish.

“We had to overcome so much to finish second,” said Goess.  “We qualified when the track was covered with oil dry, we had to dodge a wreck where we knocked the toe out a bit.  I think all things considering the finish was really good.  If we had gone green for a long run at the end of the race then we could have contended for the win.”

For Goess, it was a dose of good medicine after he started strong at Salem, but didn’t get the finish to show for it back in 2009.  This year the roles were reversed and Goss picked his way to the front to finish on the podium.

“There is not a lot of room to work with there,” said Goess.  “You have to be in the right place at the right time to gain track position.  It’s a tight track and to get a solid finish there is great especially when the infield looks like a junk yard after the race.”

With the runner-up finish Goess now sits just outside the top 10 in points. Goess will be back behind the wheel this coming weekend at the Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, April 16th for the Rattlesnake 150.

Goess Scores Career Best at Salem Speedway

Career Best at the High-Banked Half Mile

Craig Goess Finished Second at Salem.