Catchfence

Coulter Motorsports Driver Development

No. 97STRUTMASTERS.com Toyota Tundra

Race Advance

Date:October 29, 2011
Event: Kroger 200
Track: Martinsville Speedway
Team: Coulter Motorsports

Lofton Believes Third Times a Charm at Martinsville: Having competed in a vast array of racing series during his career, Matt Lofton has made two starts in the illustrious NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), both at the historic Martinsville Speedway. While both races ended with less than anticipated results, Lofton fared well during his last attempt, running within the top-ten before being caught in a late race incident.

A Roxboro, NC native, Lofton often refers to Martinsville Speedway as one of his favorite tracks, not only due to the close proximity to his home (65 miles), but also because of the intricacy at traversing the half-mile paperclip. Lofton, who formerly competed in the NCWTS, ARCA and USAR Pro Cup under his own banner of Matt Lofton Motorsports, has since joined forces with Coulter Motorsports, christening the relationship earlier this summer at Iowa Speedway and later Kansas Speedway in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. Coulter Motorsports is owned by Joe Coulter, father to Richard Childress Racing NCWTS driver Joey Coulter (No. 22), who competed with the team in the ARCA Series several times throughout the 2011 season.

Lofton and Team at Martinsville: Lofton has competed twice at the famed facility, starting 21st and finishing 31st during the October 23, 2010 event and starting 25th before coming home 23rd in April 2, 2011. His Coulter Motorsports team, led by veteran crew chief and 2010 ARCA champion Jon Wolfe, has participated at Martinsville several times with Joey Coulter, running the Virginia is For Racing Lovers 300.

STRUTMASTERS.com Chassis Selection: Lofton will pilot chassis No. 030 this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Chassis No. 030 has a storied history, coming from the late Bobby Hamilton Racing. Lofton has piloted this Toyota Tundra during both of his NCWTS outings at Martinsville.

Previous Race Review: Lofton last competed in the Kansas Lottery 98.9 at Kansas Speedway in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. After a qualifying mishap forced the 26-year-old Lofton to start from the rear, he charged through the field in his No. 16 STRUTMASTERS.com Chevrolet Impala SS, to claim a 6th-place finish.

Matt Lofton on Martinsville Speedway:

Seeing how this is only your third NCWTS race, what are your thoughts / goals?

“I have been fortunate enough to be able to compete in various levels of racing with some really competitive series, which I believe have all helped prepare me for the tough grit competition of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Even though the results don’t show it, I’ve run really well at Martinsville before, and I look to build on that this weekend and run successfully in the top-15 and/or top-ten. I know my Coulter Motorsports crew has been hard at work on our Stutmasters.com Toyota Tundra and I look forward to working with them to earn a good finish.”

STRUTMASTERS.COM:

Strutmasters builds automotive struts and springs for cars and SUVs equipped with air suspension. They also provide both replacement air ride suspension parts, including air springs, air struts, compressors, air bag suspension and dryers, and conversion kits that, convert your car to high quality passive suspension systems. Air shocks, air springs, air struts and other air ride suspension parts wear out. Strutmasters give you the option of replacing them with top quality passive suspension parts engineered to fit your specific application. They have been designing and building suspension kits and conversions since 1999 when they produced their first Lincoln air suspension kit. Strutmasters also maintains a fleet of test cars that they try out new products on.

- Coulter Motorsports Press Release