Catchfence

SALEM, IN (9/19/10) – Salem Speedway has typically displayed some of the tightest, fiercest battles on the ARCA Racing circuit, and this weekend’s ARCA Fall Classic 200 was no different. Joey Coulter, piloting his No. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation, Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet, found himself amidst many battles, including the most important one, for the lead, in Saturday night’s showdown. Coulter, a second year ARCA standout, kept the intense battle for the lead going all night, and eventually finished second, for the fourth time this season and the sixth in his 39-race career.

“ARCA has been coming to Salem (Speedway) for a long time now, and this track has some of the greatest fans around,” said Coulter. “They show up for the entire days activities and have really helped make this race what it is today. I always look forward to racing here and Harold (Holly) along with all of my guys have prepared me the best car.”

Coulter along with his Coulter Motorsports crew led by veteran Crew Chief Harold Holly, arrived at Salem Speedway early Saturday morning (9/18/10) to kick off the one day racing show. ARCA allowed the teams an hour and a half practice session around the high-banked facility, where Coulter ran more than 60 laps dialing in his car. Working closely off Coulter’s feedback, Holly made several minute adjustments during the days sole practice session. Coulter posted the seventh fastest time, at 17.700 seconds, pacing the track at 112.881 MPH.

Shortly after practice, the team began preparing for Menards Pole Qualifying. Coulter drew the 11th spot out of the 33 cars entered, earlier in the day at the drivers meeting, which concerned the team due to the sun affecting the handling of the car. In the two-lap qualifying attempt, Coulter ran a fast time of 17.596 seconds at 113.548 MPH, placing him 11th for the evening’s main event.

“Our qualifying effort was not what we were hoping for at all,” commented Coulter. “The sun really affected the track condition and made it more greasy, but I know once the track cools off tonight we will have a rocket ship. I am excited for the race and know we have a great shot at the win tonight.”

After wrapping up all of the pre-race festivities, ARCA staged the drivers and the field was ready to take the green flag. Waving the green flag shortly after 7:00 PM ET, the 33-car field kicked off the ARCA Fall Classic 200. Coulter settled in for the long run, knowing Salem’s tendency to create several wrecks early in the race. He slowly worked his way through the field, and after 40 green flag laps was up to eighth place. During the lap 50 caution, Holly immediately began formulating their pit stop strategy as Coulter radioed in that the car “needs more forward bite off of turns two and four.” Holly brought Coulter and his No. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation, Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet down pit road for two right side Hoosier tires, Sunoco fuel, an air pressure adjustment and took tape off of the grill.

As the race restarted on lap 57, Coulter found himself in sixth with well over half the race remaining. Coulter, sticking to his original “patiently aggressive” plan, stayed up front with the leaders during the ensuing long green flag run. The caution flew again on lap 105, and Coulter immediately radioed Holly saying his car was “snug in turns one and two and lacking forward bite.” Showing true Coulter style, he also let Holly know he was “overcharging the center of the turns, which may be causing my tight situation.” Holly brought the 20-year old Coulter to pit road for the final pit stop of the evening, giving him four fresh tires, fuel, an air pressure, and track bar adjustment.

Coulter restarted the race sixth on lap 112, and with over half the race complete, knew it was time to make his charge to the front. In less than ten laps, Coulter piloted his No. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet into second place, setting his sights on the leader over two seconds ahead. Caution on lap 124 brought the field back together, and gave Holly a chance to talk strategy with the Miami Springs, FL native. Coulter’s only feedback this time was relayed with enthusiasm saying, “this car is great and really hooks up well.”

ARCA gave the field the green flag for the final time of the evening on lap 129 with Coulter in second. Battling for the lead every lap, Coulter stayed glued to the leaders bumper through the remaining green flag laps. The two would set a blistering pace around the fast paced .555-mile track, lapping all the way up to the fourth place car. Lapped traffic was becoming a problem around the tight quartered track, forcing Coulter to maneuver his car thru many different grooves. Coulter constantly battled his way through the traffic and back to the bumper of the leader, but running out of time, the checkered flag waved on lap 200 and Coulter brought his No. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation, Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet home in second.

“Our car was absolutely phenomenal after that second round of pit stops,” exclaimed Coulter. “Harold (Holly) and my crew did a great job all night and this car really made the second half of the race a lot of fun. Second may not be the finish we were looking for, but we brought the car home in one piece and had a great race, so well take that any day. I want to thank my entire crew for all of their hard work, my family and fans, and of course my sponsors, Rip It Energy Fuel and the Darrell Gwynn Foundation. Without all of you none of this would be possible.”

Coulter and the team will enjoy their first weekend off since the Pocono race, July 31st, but will make a stop in Kansas City, KS first. ARCA will be holding an OPEN test at Kansas Speedway on Tuesday, September 21st in preparation for the tour’s next race at the speedway on Thursday, September 30th. You can tune into LIVE timing/scoring from Tuesday’s test and follow along with Coulter and his No. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation, Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet exclusivity on www.ARCAracing.com.

- Coulter Motorsports Press Release