BROOKLYN, Mich. -- When you're talking debuting in the Nationwide Series at Michigan International Speedway, it doesn't get much better than being 23, confident and possessing a real fast race car on display in front of your family.

And, oh yeah -- two garages full of NASCAR's two top national tours.

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From the time I was racing late models, I thought it would be really cool to race in the Nationwide Series. The Cup Series is awesome, but the Nationwide Series is still racers.

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JUSTIN LOFTON

Meet Justin Lofton, whose meteoric 2009 appearance on the national stock-car horizon continued Saturday at MIS, where he backed up his impressive speed in Friday's practice by qualifying 19th for Saturday's Carfax 250, the first of a four-event collaboration with CJM Racing, whose other driver, Denny Hamlin qualified eighth.

"I'm looking to finish every lap so that when I move on to Lowe's [Motor Speedway, his next Nationwide event], Texas and Homestead that I've got the experience that I need, and actually get up there and run with these guys," Lofton said after walking back to his Eddie Sharp Racing hauler. "We're hoping to add two or three more [races], but that's the plan so far and we'll kind of see."

That he was sitting in his "home truck's" familiar surroundings after debriefing with ARCA Re/Max Series crew chief Mark Rette on pit road, made it all the more special for Lofton, whose car, which was last raced to 20th at Chicagoland by former CJM driver Scott Lagasse Jr., wore the colors of the family livestock concern, Lofton Cattle.

"The atmosphere in this [Nationwide] garage has been awesome and I'm really enjoying it here, because everyone's on the same agenda," Lofton said. "In ARCA, you've got the nine-time champion Frank Kimmel -- that's his series and he's not going to move up -- while younger guys like me and Parker Kligerman and Justin Allgaier are moving through and we might not always have the patience the older guys would like.

"Over here, everyone's here to race and go out and try to win to the best of their ability so I feel more at home here than I do in the ARCA Series. It's comfortable. I walked right in with the relationships I've gained over the last couple years, I know the majority of the people here and it's really cool -- it's where I've wanted to be for a long time.

"From the time I was racing late models, I thought it would be really cool to race in the Nationwide Series. The Cup Series is awesome, but the Nationwide Series is still racers. Guys like to race here and you can afford to race here."

Lofton's in just his fourth season racing stock cars at a touring division level after running a couple of off-road series and a season in the Whelen All-American Series at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.

Along with another youngster, Penske Racing development driver Kligerman, Lofton's dominated the 2009 ARCA Re/Max Series. Kligerman leads Lofton by 20 points -- a whisker under ARCA's point system -- and Lofton, who's won three races to Kligerman's five, has a league-leading 10 top-five and 11 top-10 finishes.

"The track time's the biggest thing I've gained from racing in ARCA, and racing on a wide variety of race tracks," Lofton said. "But just the total life experience, meeting Eddie Sharp and everybody I've met, and becoming good friends with Brad Parrott [Nationwide crew chief], Lorin Ranier and Mike Calinoff [Sprint Cup spotters]. Eddie's introduced me to a lot of awesome people and that's just made my career [move ahead] that much faster."

Choosing Michigan as his debut point was easy, considering he won his first career ARCA race here last June, and in 2009 led the first 39 laps from the pole before engine trouble left him 30th, 17 laps behind Kligerman.

Lofton said after qualifying he was right where he expected to be, and given his ARCA-leading four poles this season he had reason to be. Told he was making it look too easy he laughed, but quickly credited the collaboration between his ARCA owner and CJM Racing, with whom he has the four-race Nationwide deal this season.

"It's not bad, but what makes it really nice is I've got [CJM owners] Tony and Bryan Mullett, who have done a great job of making this the least nerve-wracking experience I've had," Lofton said. "And then having Mark Rette and everyone come from my ARCA crew has made it real seamless, and we just flowed right in and it's been a lot of fun."

Sharp, the stock-car veteran who's fashioned a wickedly effective multi-team ARCA Series operation, has been a priceless ally, Lofton said.

"Me and Eddie have an awesome relationship and he's totally supporting this," Lofton said. "He let us use the hauler and we're using all our own pit equipment and the whole crew -- everyone from the crew chief to the gas man."

And that's set the table for what, Lofton said he wasn't sure. He's making sure he's enjoying the moment. Judging by the demand for his autograph as he tried to leave pit road to head back to his hauler, he's already made an impact with the fans, but that's not all.

"It's really awesome to race in front of the Cup and Nationwide teams and owners, and like I've said I've gained a lot of great relationships," Lofton said. "I know Jack Roush and [Yates Racing co-owner] Max Jones and Robby Gordon, so they're watching me anyways -- it's no different but just a lot of fun because there's that chance that, 'Hey, we've got a spot open,' or 'Hey, we want to help you out.'

"It just makes it that much more fun coming out here racing -- not necessarily pressure, but just a lot more fun."

Lofton said he's trying to attend to business this season first before he gets too concerned about his future, which is currently uncertain, he said.

"I'm looking for a program for 2010," Lofton said with a laugh. "We've had a lot of good talks, good conversations with a lot of good teams and I've told everyone, 'Let me go do this four-race deal with CJM.' I don't have any ties with them and they're definitely looking at me; Yates, Robby Gordon and everyone have been poking their heads in and showing some interest.

"I've said, 'Let me go out and do it myself and if you like what you see, we can kind of talk, and do it.'"

Saturday was the start for the next step in the process.

"We're looking for a top-15 in the race," Lofton said, "and a top-10 would feel like a win for me."

Lofton almost achieved his goal, as he never ran lower than 25th and almost made it into the top 10, being scored in 12th on Lap 90 of 125, before he finally finished 16th. He unofficially was the third-best "rookie" competitor behind official rookie of the year candidates Justin Allgaier (seventh) and Michael Annett (13th).