After taking it easy and observing an off weekend in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), 25-year-old Justin Lofton will have a full plate next weekend. On Saturday, Lofton will participate in the Smith’s 350 NCWTS race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Following the event, he will head three hours south to Parker, Arizona, where on Sunday, he will run the final leg of the Best in the Desert (BITD) Racing Association’s BlueWater Desert Challenge.
“I am so excited about next week. We have a lot of momentum after Kentucky on the truck side, and it’s always a lot of fun to go off-road racing,” Lofton said.
Lofton and his No. 6 CollegeComplete.com Eddie Sharp Racing team are fresh off of a season high fifth place qualifying effort last week during the NCWTS stop in Kentucky. He raced as high as second before ending the race in 11th. The event moved Lofton up a position in the driver point standings to 14th.
“We’ve grown so much over the last few weeks. We had a lot of speed in Kentucky and I had a lot of fun out there. I can’t wait to get back at it,” he added.
As for the off-road event, Lofton will be splitting seat time with his father Bob behind the wheel of the No. 1577 Class 1500 Buggy. The BlueWater Desert Challenge is a two-day event run on a 28-mile course. Bob will qualify and race the first day of competition on Saturday with Justin primed to take over on Sunday. The Lofton entry will have support from Mastercraft, BF Goodrich, Fox Racing Shocks, Fortin Racing Inc., Dougan Racing Engines, and Rusty’s Motor Car Inc.
Though these days he’s more recognized for his full-time job in the Truck Series , like his father, Lofton’s early career was spent racing in the dusty, open desert. In 2004, he earned the BITD Rookie of the Year honors in addition to claiming three wins in the Desert Buggy Class, and the Class 1000 championship. Justin learned the tricks to tackling the bumpy desert terrain from Bob, who has over 20 years of off-road racing experience with numerous class wins, including the Baja 1000, on his racing resume.
After a break of nearly a year and a half from off-road racing, Justin participated in the SCORE International Off-Road Racing Series event earlier this year in Laughlin, Nevada. He was well on his way to victory after he led his class on the first day of competition, and was leading on the final lap on day two before a broken spindle spoiled the effort.
Kicking off his weekend full of racing, Lofton will first hit the track in his No. 6 CollegeComplete.com Chevrolet at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday, October 14th for practice and qualifying. The Smith’s 350 is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
Justin Lofton PR
