Catchfence

DUQUOIN, IL (9/7/10) – Heading to the “Magic Mile” dirt track at the DuQuoin State Fair, Joey Coulter driving his No. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation, Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet was ready to showcase his dirt talent. The second year ARCA racer has shown his diversification at different tracks this year and Monday’s (9/6/10) Southern Illinois 100 was no different.

“When people think about ARCA cars racing on dirt, they usually have this bewildered look on their faces,” commented Coulter. “Then you explain it, or they come out to a race and they see just how good the racing is. I am proud to be part of the ARCA Series and look forward to racing on the dirt this Labor Day.”

Capping off the 2010 DuQuoin State Fair, ARCA set a one-day spectacle full of practice and qualifying, and then capped it off with a 100-lap battle on the dirt. The Coulter Motorsports crew, arriving at 5:30 AM Monday for the opening of the ARCA garage, prepared Coulter’s car for the events only practice session (9:00-10:00 AM). Coulter, completing the most practice laps (42) on the day, would record the second fastest time at 33.693 seconds, pacing the 1-mile dirt oval at 106.847 MPH.

With a quick turnaround before Menards Pole Qualifying, Coulter and Crew Chief Harold Holly went over all the practice notes to prepare for the afternoons race. Coulter reported the car was a tad free on the dirt where the rubber was sticking. Holly made several minute adjustments before qualifying to help rectify the loose condition. Coulter would go out fourth among 35 competitors in qualifying, laying down the third fastest time of the day at 33.595 seconds at 107.482 MPH.

“The car was dialed in during practice and felt like it was really stuck in the dirt,” said Coulter. “Harold (Holly) made some great adjustments and I am pleased with our third place qualifying effort. Everyone on this Coulter Motorsports team has worked so hard this year, and I am proud of all of my guys.”

With qualifying complete, the field was set for the afternoon’s Southern Illinois 100 and the green flag waved over the 35 car field shortly after 1:00 PM CT. Coulter rolled his No. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation, Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet off the grid third and set his sights on the checkered flag.

Shortly after taking the green, Coulter radioed Holly saying the car was extremely “free wherever there is no rubber on the dirt and the dust has rolled over the groove.” Holly made note of the condition and let Coulter know his lap times were as fast as the leader. Caution slowed the field on lap 18 allowing Coulter another opportunity to discuss the ever-changing track conditions with Holly. The 20-year old Miami Springs, FL native reported that the track had finally rubbered up, which in turn caused a tight condition in the center of the turns.

Going back green on lap 21, Coulter found himself in the fourth position, and immediately passed for third. Another caution on lap 29 allowed Holly to bring Coulter and his No. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation, Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet down pit road for their only scheduled stop. The Coulter Motorsports crew gave Coulter four fresh Hoosier tires, a tank full of Sunoco fuel, along with an air pressure and trackbar adjustment. Most teams chose not to pit, forcing Coulter to restart deep in the field in 20th when the race resumed on lap 33. He wasted no time working his way to the front however, and by halfway, he was back in the top-ten in eighth place.

A slew of cautions slowed the pace of the race considerably, but not Coulter’s momentum. He found himself in the top-five in fifth on lap 67 and kept a steady pace with the leaders for the next 20 laps, until another caution on lap 87 froze the field. Coulter radioed Holly that the car is “great in the rubbered up groove and I am really enjoying this dirt stuff.” The ensuing restart on lap 93 placed the field within ten-to-go, allowing for a single file restart, with Coulter in fourth.

After completing a pass down the front straightaway for third on lap 95, Coulter was tapped from behind entering turn one, sending him spinning around backwards. He managed to keep his car off the wall and righted it before ensuing any damage. He would however, have to restart in 22nd place with two laps remaining on lap 98. Showing his true grit and determination, Coulter wheeled his No. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation, Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet around his competitors as fast as he could, before crossing the finish line on lap 100 in the 16th position.

“Today’s outcome is obviously not one we were looking for or happy about,” exclaimed an aggravated Coulter. “We raced hard all day long and Harold (Holly) really got the car dialed in, making this race a lot of fun. We definitely were headed for a top three finish but got involved in a racing incident taking us from contention. I want to thank my entire team for their dedication and hard work, along with my sponsors Rip It Energy Fuel and the Darrell Gwynn Foundation and of course my family and fans. I am ready for Toledo next weekend.”

The next event on the ARCA Racing Series calendar will take the tour home to Toledo (Ohio) Speedway for the Northwest Ohio Ford Dealers 200 Sunday, September 12 at 2:00 PM ET. Make sure to tune in to LIVE timing/scoring and audio at www.ARCARacing.com to catch Joey Coulter and his No. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation, Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet.

- Coulter Motorsports Press Release