Joey Coulter Overcomes Early Race Flat Tire with Top-10 Finish at New Hampshire

9/22/2014

Joey Coulter Overcomes Early Race Flat Tire with Top-10 Finish at New Hampshire

 

Joey Coulter, driver of the No. 21 Allegiant Travel Chevrolet, overcame a flat tire early in the race to finish ninth in Saturdayafternoon’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) 175-lap race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The 24-year-old was as far back as 22nd before he aggressively drove his way through the field in the remaining 125 laps of the event to claim the ninth spot when the checkered flag waved. Making his second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at the “Magic Mile,” Coulter and the GMS Racing team earned the ninth starting position for the UNOH 175. By Lap 20, Coulter was in the 11th-position, reporting to his Jeff Stankiewicz-led team that his Chevrolet Silverado had developed a tight-handling condition. By Lap 40, the No. 21 Chevrolet had a left-front tire rub from on-track contact with another competitor, and unfortunately the left-front tire went down on Lap 46. Stankiewicz called Coulter into the pits so the GMS Racing team could change the left-side tires, add fuel, and to pull out some of the damage on the left-front wheel area. Despite the quick pit stop by the Allegiant Travel crew, Coulter had gone two laps down. As the race continued under a long-green flag run, Coulter battled hard in his No. 21 Chevrolet to gain positions as green-flag pit stops began on Lap 65. Lap 70, he was scored in the 15th position once the field cycled through the first round of pit stops, but was lapped within 10 laps. Continuing to fight a tight Silverado, the Miami Springs, Fla., driver was running in the 13th position when the first caution of the race waved on Lap 102. Stankiewicz called Coulter to pit road on Lap 103 for four fresh Goodyear tires, and fuel.  The second caution of the race came on Lap 147 and Coulter reported to the team that he noticed a vibration. Coulter returned to pit road on Lap 149, and the team opted for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. The race restarted on Lap 152 with Coulter running one lap down in 16th position. A timely third caution came out four laps later and Coulter received the Lucky Dog and was back on the lead lap. He restarted 14th on Lap 159. Coulter continued to drive his way through the field as the race would see two more cautions before the race concluded. By Lap 170, Coulter picked up five spots and took over the ninth position, which is where he remained when the race ended on Lap 175.

 

Start - 9        Finish - 9         Laps Led - 0

 

Joey Coulter Quote:

“This weekend was somewhat disappointing for our No. 21 Allegiant Travel team just because we were so fast in practice but didn't have a lot of luck in the race. I am glad that we managed to come back from two laps down and still finish in the top 10. We have a really strong GMS Racing team and days like that show it.”