Coulter, a 21-year old Miami Springs, FL native, started out the action packed weekend with practice on Thursday (4/14) where he was seventh fastest of the 39 cars entered, with a time of 52.221 seconds at 183.375 MPH. That same afternoon, Coulter, participating in Menards pole qualifying posted the time of 52.545 seconds at 182.244 MPH, landing him the seventh starting spot in the 3 Amigos 250. Crew chief Michael Chapman opted to participate in the ‘Happy Hour’ practice session Friday (4/15) to gain valuable drafting experience. Coulter, sporting his new ‘purple’ paint scheme for Rip It Energy Fuel’s G-Force Grape, finished the session with a time of 52.233 seconds at 183.332 MPH.
The green flag waved over the 39-car field early Saturday morning, and Coulter quickly worked his way to fourth place by lap 15, when the first caution was displayed. A spike in water temperature during the first 15 laps forced Coulter to pit road during the first caution to remove tape from the grill, a windshield tear-off and a full tank of Sunoco fuel.
After restarting 11th Coulter quickly began his charge to the front, while using his famed ‘cautiously aggressive’ driving technique. Coulter moved up to sixth by the day’s third caution at lap 44. Chapman once again called Coulter to pit road, this time for right side tires, fuel and to remove more tape. Coulter restarting 17th, was not deterred by his position and set his sights on the front once again. Through a number of ensuing cautions and some skilled drafting, Coulter worked his way up to 10th place for the races final restart on lap 86. He made last lap efforts to battle to the front, but without any drafting support from behind, he was unable to pass and finished 11th in his No. 16 Rip It Energy Fuel, Darrell Gwynn Foundation Chevrolet.
“Eleventh was definitely not where we had anticipated finishing in today’s race,” said a discouraged Coulter. “My Coulter Motorsports team provided me such a fast racecar, but unfortunately that doesn’t mean everything at these Superspeedway races, you have to get the right group to draft with. We made it work early in the race but everyone got spread out at the end and it didn’t work. I want to thank Rip It Energy Fuel and the Darrell Gwynn Foundation for all of their support and Lynam for being our special guests this weekend.”
Coulter and his No. 22 Richard Childress Racing NCWTS team will head out to Nashville Superspeedway this Friday, April 22. The Bully Hill Vineyards 200 will air LIVE on SPEED at 7:30 PM ET. Coulter Motorsports is currently working to secure a driver for the next ARCA race, the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 Sunday, May 1 at Salem Speedway.
- Coulter Motorsports Press Release
