Dover Advance
5/28/2013
JOEY COULTER
Miles the Monster's menacing snarl isn't the only thing that takes Coulter's breath away at Dover
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 28, 2013) - Joey Coulter, driver of the No. 18 Darrell Gwynn Foundation Toyota Tundra, admits that his 32nd-place finish in last week's N.C. Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway was a set-back in his hunt for the 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Driver's Championship. However, the 22-year-old Toyota Racing driver knows that a good poker player never shows their hand and although he may be down, he's definitely not out.
When you think about Dover International Speedway (DIS), you think of a unique dual-purpose facility designed to accommodate both motorsports events and horse racing. Since September of 2000, the NCWTS has made an annual stop at what is now known as the "Monster Mile." Although the one-mile oval may be intimidating to some, Coulter finds the high-banked concrete track and the high speeds it produces as a breath-taking thrill ride.
Making his third start at DIS this weekend, Coulter hopes to improve on his 2012 track-best finish of sixth and take a gamble on his odds in the sixth race on the 2013 NCWTS schedule - when you play big, you win big and the monster-sized trophy is worth the price to ride.
Joey Coulter, Driver of the No. 18 NCWTS Darrell Gwynn Foundation Tundra:
Describe the kind of feeling you get after a lap around Dover...
"Dover gives you that feeling you get when you are on a roller coaster, but as a driver, you have to convince yourself to make the roller coaster go that fast. It's really a different kind of track but it's a lot of fun once you get used to it. I remember the first couple of times I was there, in my mock-qualifying runs during practice and my qualifying laps, I literally held my breath. I think a lot of people think drivers are kidding when we say that, but for two laps you are just driving, not even thinking about it and once you get done you realize you should probably start breathing now. Dover is just a great place to race, so fast, there is no relaxing. You can't just sit back and ride, there is no way, it's just unbelievably exciting every lap."
You lost momentum after Charlotte in your championship battle. What are your expectations moving forward this season? Is the championship still in reach for you and the No. 18 team?
"Charlotte was without a doubt a step backwards for us. We made up a lot of ground at Kansas and felt really confident in our Tundra going into the Charlotte race. Falling back as far as we did in the points really changes the way we are going to approach the rest of the season. With the truck series schedule being so short, we have to be able to change our strategy very quickly and adapt to the hand we are dealt. From now on we are going for maximum points every week - we are focused on leading laps and winning. My crew chief Harold Holly and I are going to get more aggressive with our setups and probably gamble a lot more when it comes to pit calls to keep us up front all day and give us a shot to win every week. I don't feel like we are out of the championship hunt until the math shows we are, until then we are going to race every race with no regrets, all-in every lap."
Harold Holly, Crew Chief of the No. 18 NCWTS Darrell Gwynn Foundation Tundra:
Can you describe the unique difference in a concrete racing surface like Dover versus an asphalt track that we see at most tracks we visit on the NCWTS schedule?
"The manner in which the track accepts heat between concrete and asphalt is totally different. The surface of the race track can be a lot more abrasive on concrete because concrete has more of a texture and will ultimately grade the tire off, whereas asphalt is more porous and smooth. Usually, when you unload on asphalt your truck has more grip right off the truck. At Dover, from the time we unload until the time we race, the track will pick up one second by rubber being laid down on the racing surface. So, you have to be careful how you adjust your balance in the first part of practice until the track takes rubber. Once the track takes rubber, your tires are pretty much worn out so it can be a meticulous thing."
What kind of racing can we expect at Dover in the Truck Series this weekend?
"By the time the truck race starts on Friday night, there will be a lot of rubber on the track - unless it rains and washes the race track clean - so, it won't take long before the top grove comes in and I think you will see two and three-wide racing. Most teams will want to take four tires each stop at Dover because of how abrasive the racing surface is and because the sustained loads are so high - there is not much of a straightaway at Dover so you are in corner loads a lot. So, from a wear standpoint and a safety standpoint, you want to take four. However, at the end of the day track position is critical. For the first six to eight laps the leaders will pull out and if you get hung in traffic, the leaders will straightaway you and it's hard to make that time up."
Joey Coulter's No. 18 Darrell Gwynn Foundation Tundra:
Chassis KBM012: The No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports team will unload chassis No. 12 for this weekend's Lucas Oil 200 at Dover International Speedway. The Tundra has finished inside the top 10 in each of its four previous races, amassing an average start of 10.8, an average finish of 6.25, completing 100% of laps attempted (593 of 593) and 75 laps led, all by owner-driver, Kyle Busch at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway in 2012.
Date Site Driver Start Finish Laps Laps Led Status
10/13/12 Las Vegas Mayhew 3 9 146/146 0 Running
8/31/12 Atlanta Busch 4 2 130/130 75 Running
6/28/12 Kentucky Leffler 18 8 150/150 0 Running
6/8/12 Texas Leffler 18 6 167/167 0 Running
Notes of Interest:
Joey Coulter @ Dover:
• In two NCWTS starts, has compiled one top-10 finish, sixth (2011)
• Best start: second (2012)/Best finish: sixth (2011)
• Completed 100% of laps attempted (347/347)
• Spent 96.3% of laps attempted in the top-15 (334 laps)
• Average Start: 3.5/Average Finish: 8.5
• Has a driver rating of 98.8, ranked fifth overall
Joey Coulter NCWTS Performance Profile - Dover:
Series Date Start Finish Laps Laps Led Status
NCWTS 06/01/12 2 11 147/147 0 Running
NCWTS 05/13/11 5 6 200/200 0 Running
Joey Coulter 2013
• Ranks 11th in the NCWTS driver point standings with 137 points; seven markers behind 10th-place Darrell Wallace, Jr., 34 points behind fifth-place James Buescher and 65 points behind series point leader Matt Crafton
• Recorded a season-best second-place finish at Kansas Speedway
• In five starts in 2013, Coulter has led 15 laps en route to one top-five finish.
• Has completed 94.9% of laps attempted (812 of 856) and has an average start of 14.0 and an average finish of 16.8
• Third full-time season in the NCWTS
Joey Coulter 2012
• Earned first career NCWTS victory at Pocono Raceway (8/4/12)
• Captured three pole awards (8/18/12 @ Michigan International Speedway, 9/21/12 @ Kentucky Speedway and 9/28/12 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway)
• Collected eight top-five and 15 top-10 finishes en route to a third-place finish in the final point standings
• 749 driver's points accumulated over the final 20 races of the season were more than any other NCWTS driver
Joey Coulter Camping World Truck Series Career:
• In 52 starts, has compiled one win (Pocono, 2012), three poles (2012), 135 laps led, 14 top-five and 29 top-10 finishes
• 2011 - Earned Rookie of the Year award in the NCWTS after registering four top-five and eight top-10 finishes en route to a seventh-place finish in the final point standings
• 2010 - Collected 1 win ( 8/7/10 @ Berlin Raceway), 7 top-five and 10 top-10 finishes en route to an eighth-place finish in the final ARCA Racing Series point standings
• 2009 - Captured two poles (7/11/09 @ Iowa Speedway and 9/4/09 @ Toledo Speedway) and recorded seven top-five and 13 top-10 finishes en route to a fourth-place finish in the final ARCA Racing Series point standings as a rookie
Notes of Interest:
Kyle Busch Motorsports' No. 18 Toyota Tundra:
• In three previous starts at Dover, has collected one pole (Kyle Busch, 2010) and one win (Kyle Busch, 2011) and 300 laps led - all by owner-driver Kyle Busch
• Has registered an average start of 7.0 and an average finish of 9.3 across three starts at Dover since 2010
• This weekend's NCWTS event at the "Monster Mile" will mark the 14th annual event at the 1-mile concrete oval since 2000. In 13 starts there have been 12 different winners - Kyle Busch is the only repeat winner (2005 & 2011) and a Toyota has won the last five NCWTS events at Dover Motor Speedway
• In 2013 has an average start of 14.0, an average finish of 16.8 and has led 15 laps en route to one top-five finish (second, Kansas)
• Currently 14th in the 2013 NCWTS owner point standings
• Finished fifth in the 2012 NCWTS owner championship standings
• Over the final 18 races of the 2012 season, collected 683 owner's points, the most among Truck Series teams during that span
• Led the NCWTS with 17 top-10 finishes in 2012, including nine straight to end the season, while collecting seven top-five finishes and one win (Brian Scott 11/9/12 at Phoenix International Raceway)
• All seven drivers that made a start in 2012 posted a top-10 finish (Ku. Busch, Ky. Busch, Hamlin, Herring, Leffler, Mayhew and Scott) and six of the seven led at least one lap
• Since debuting in the Truck Series in 2010, has compiled 17 wins, 8 poles, 40 top-five, 57 top-10's across 76 starts
• Led the Truck Series in wins in each of its first two seasons: 2010 (8) and 2011 (8)
• In 2010, became first team since the NCWTS originated in 1995 to win the owner's championship in its inaugural season
Last NCWTS Event-SFP 250 at Charlotte Motor Speedway:
Coulter and the No. 18 Darrell Gwynn Foundation Toyota Tundra went "All In" for the N.C. Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway but "busted" just past the halfway mark in the 134-lap event when a right front tire blew on the frontstrech and forced the Kyle Busch Motorsports team to the garage for an extended period of time for repairs. After replacing the right front suspension on the 18 Tundra, Coulter returned to the 1.5-mile tri-oval scored 44-laps down in the 32nd position, which is where the third-year Truck Series veteran ultimately took the checkered flag at lap 134.
Darrell Gwynn Foundation File:
Following his first annual charity corn hole tournament benefiting the Darrell Gwynn Foundation (DGF), Coulter is closer to his goal of raising $18,000 by Homestead-Miami Speedway in November. Following a successful event, the Miami Springs, Fla.-native raised $1,200.00 through not only the tournament, but silent auction, raffle tickets and T-shirts sales. You can still buy your DGF/Joey Coulter T-Shirts for $18 at JoeyCoulter.com, all proceeds benefit DGF.