Full Throttle

Justin Lofton, in an Eddie Sharp Racing Dodge, broke the ARCA RE/MAX Series qualifying record at Toledo Speedway on Saturday afternoon with a 15.860-second lap around the .5-mile short track. He starts on the pole alongside Dexter Bean for Sunday’s Hantz Group 200.

Lofton’s time was good enough to eclipse the ARCA RE/MAX Series’ previous qualifying record of 15.891 seconds, set by Win-Tron Racing’s Andy Hanson in May.

“One down and one to go,” Lofton said. “The car was excellent. It just kept getting better and better in practice this afternoon. The hard work by the Lofton Cattle boys definitely paid off today. This is such a great way to end the season by setting a track record. Now, if we could just get the win tomorrow it would be perfect.”

Lofton’s Eddie Sharp Racing teammate Scott Speed, who is attempting to clinch the ARCA RE/MAX Series championship this weekend, qualified third and gained an additional five points in the ARCA RE/MAX Series championship points chase. He now leads the standings by 90 points heading into Sunday’s race. Second place point contender Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. qualified fourth in the No. 99 Aflac Ford for Roush Fenway Racing. Speed will clinch the 2008 championship provided he finishes 17th or better in Sunday’s race.

Grant Enfinger starts fifth in an Andy Belmont-prepared Ford, followed by Brandon Thompson, Brian Scott, Matt Carter and Justin Allgaier.

Brian Tyler qualified tenth in the same No. 39 Roulo Bros. Ford that David Ragan will race on Sunday. Former Toledo Speedway Late Model Champion Brian Keselowski qualified Ken Schrader’s Chevrolet 18th. Both Ragan and Schrader plan to travel to Toledo after Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and will start Sunday’s ARCA RE/MAX Series race from the rear of the field as a result of the driver changes.