Catchfence

BROOKLYN, MI (6/17/2011) – Coulter Motorsports and veteran ARCA driver Joey Coulter, earned a hard fought seventh place finish in Friday evening’s (6/17/11) RainEater Wiper Blades 200 at Michigan International Speedway. Coulter, wheeling his No. 16 Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet, battled impending rain and a mid-race flat tire enroot to his top ten finish.

After reuniting with former Coulter Motorsports crew chief Harold Holly for the race, Coulter and team setout for the weekend’s lone practice session on Thursday (6/16). Sporting the newly designed Rip It Energy Fuel 3-Way scheme, Coulter spent most of the session working on race runs, forgoing a mock qualifying run. Even without the mock run, Coulter Motorsports ended the session eighth quick with a fast time of 39.157 seconds at 183.875 MPH. Menards Pole Qualifying was set for Friday morning, where Coulter steered his Chevrolet Impala SS to a tenth place starting position with a fast time of 39.126 seconds at 184.021 MPH.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards waved the green flag over the 40-car field Friday evening, with Coulter planning to use his “cautiously aggressive” approach for the first half of the race. By the day’s second caution on lap 29, the 21-year-old Coulter was up to seventh. He reported a “tight off condition,” while also “free under power.” Holly brought the No. 16 Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet to pit road for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.

After restarting seventh on lap 36, Coulter started running the high groove around the 2-mile track to aid in his tight condition. The day’s fourth caution flag flew on lap 51, and saw Coulter up to the fourth position, before quickly radioing to the crew he had a flat right rear tire. The Coulter Motorsports crew brought him to pit road for four tires, fuel and a windshield tear off, before restarting tenth on lap 56. Coulter, not deterred by the minor setback, immediately charged once again to the front, and on the lap 72 restart, he would gain the lead going into turn two. The Miami Springs, FL native would hold the lead until lap 76, until cars with fresh tires maneuvered past.

As the laps wore on, Coulter radioed how “unbelievably tight” his car had become and described the tires as “sliding through the center.” Holly used the lap 95 caution as a chance to bring Coulter once again to pit road for four tires and a wedge adjustment. Coulter restarted in 12th on lap 99 for the green/white-checkered finish. By the checkered flag on lap 100, Coulter raced his way into the seventh position with his No. 16 Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet Impala SS.

“While I know my Coulter Motorsports, Rip It Energy Chevy was better than a seventh place finish, it is a testament to this teams drive and hard work, as they never gave up, even after we had the flat tire,” commented Coulter. “It was a lot of fun getting to race in the ARCA Series again and I want to thank Rip It for sponsoring our No. 16 and giving us such a great looking car. I’m already looking forward to our next race at LRP (Lucas Raceway Park) in July (28th).”

- Coulter Motorsports Press Release