California native Justin Lofton is on a competition rebound in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series this season as he recently took the championship lead with his career first win at Charlotte after reuniting with Eddie Sharp Racing.
Lofton, 26, struggled in his first two years of Camping World Truck Series racing, lacking the connection and success he had with team owner Eddie Sharp in the ARCA Racing Series. Lofton and Sharp earned the 2009 ARCA championship, but the two split as Lofton was making the move to truck competition in 2010.
“We all went our separate ways after 2009,” Sharp said. “It wasn’t because we didn’t want to be together. He wanted to move to the next level. I didn’t have a program. I wasn’t ready to make that leap. I told him never to lose his confidence, and he lost it. When he walked back through my door, we got it back.”
Sharp made the leap to truck competition last season as Lofton was competing fulltime for Germain Racing. The two found a way to reunite mid-season, however, as Sharp’s driver Craig Goess left the team and Germain began the course of scaling back its Camping World Truck Series program allowing Lofton to seek other opportunities.
Now Sharp and Lofton are in sync again and enjoying the success in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In Lofton’s six starts this season, he has yet to finish outside of the top 10.
“I’m confident in my abilities,” Lofton said. “In this sport and in this garage, it’s very easy to get knocked down. You’ve got to hold yourself up and tell yourself that you have the ability. I’m confident because of what I have behind me.”
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