CIV Starting 2023 Season with NASCAR Whelen Modified Opener
2/6/2023
Troutman, NC - 2023 is bringing veteran driver Joey Coulter back to the track in his number 02NC SRI Performance, AIRSHOK, Race-Fan, Molecule, Fury Chassis Modified. With just 16 modified races under his belt, Coulter has taken home 2 trophies already. With an average finish in the single digits, it’s clear that competitors need to take him seriously when he pulls into the pits.
The 2023 season will be spearheaded by veteran crew chief Harold Holly, who has worked with Coulter since 2009. They’re a well oiled machine who know how to communicate with each other to have the best setup at each track.
Coulter will be taking his tour type modified to select NASCAR Whelen series races, starting with the season opener at New Smyrna Speedway on February 11th. Coulter will then compete in the entirety of The World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway February 13th-17th and plans to run for the SMART tour championship in 2023 as well.
He found victory lane at Caraway Speedway in the SMART Tour in June of 2022, to tack onto his first Modified victory that came at Florence in 2020! He hopes to add more wins to those 2023.
He, along with Rum Runner Racing are also very excited to welcome all of his 2023 partners and hopes to take them to victory lane again this year: SRI Performance, PFC Brakes, Draco Springs, AIRSHOK, Race-Fan, Molecule, DriveRefine, Simpson, Stilo, Wiles Driveshafts, Torch Eyewear, Earnhardt Technology Group, Fury Racecars, Hellraizer Jacks, Buzze Racing, and Dirt Wrap.
When asked about how he feels about the upcoming season, Coulter had this to say, “It's been a few years since I have raced this much so I feel like I can say that I am “excited” like everyone else is this time of the year. Last year we struggled with some of the mechanics of these Modified races especially when it came to qualifying and live pit stops. The car was fast in race runs from the start and we showed that right out of the box. Over the course of last season, we just kept getting everything better. It's hard not to think big expectation wise this year because I truly believe we can win races on the NASCAR Whelen Tour and in the SMART Modified Tour and ultimately make a run for the SMART Modified Championship at the end of the year. We’ve got so much so much support from our partners and even from Haiden Cowen, our new Rum Runner Racing dirt late model driver and his crew chief Heath Henry, who are going to be at New Smyrna turning wrenches with us. Harold and I have always been on the same page but this year I feel like he and I are down to the same letter in the same words, finishing the same sentence, and historically that's trouble for our competition.”
For up to date information on CIV and the entire Rum Runner Racing team, follow Joey on Facebook: Joey Coutler 4, Instagram: @joeycoulter_2, Twitter: @joeycoulter and visit www.joeycoulter.com