Coulter Motorsports-Rum Runner Racing 1-2 in Warrior 100
3/27/2023
Troutman, NC - The SMART Modified Tour took over Caraway Speedway this past weekend, after a rainout nearly two weeks earlier. Defending Caraway winner Joey Coulter, driver of the #02 Rum Runner Racing SRI Performance, Race-Fan, Draco Springs, Fury Modified and teammate Brandon Ward, driver of the #2 Kevin Says Yes, Coulter Motorsports and Randy Renfrow Racing LFR Modified took on the Warrior 100 and came home in positions one and two!
Ward put down the 3rd quickest lap in qualifying but redrew position 4 after the top 8 cards pulled for their starting spots. Coulter, who qualifying has been an achilles heel for this season, qualified 18th for the race.
During the race Ward pitted early as his car was on the loose side, while Coulter stayed out to gain track position that he would use to his advantage later in the race. He pitted on the off cycle, bolting on his new Hoosier RR as well as switching the left side Hoosier tires. Coulter restarted 19th after his pit stop but pit strategy worked to his favor when he stayed out during the caution at lap 68 and assumed the first position. He continued to lead until Ward caught him with 7 laps to go and he fell back to 2nd, where he finished the race.
Ward dropped back early in the race with his loose race car and pitted during the competition caution which dropped him back to a 16th starting position. He then managed to pick his competitors off one by one, until he saw Coulter’s Rum Runner Racing rear logo in front of him after the caution at 68. Ward pitted during the lap 68 caution, but due to his talented pit crew, he retained his 2nd place position until he passed Coulter on lap 93.
The checker flag waved at lap 100 with a one, two finish from the teammates. Coulter had the following to say when asked about his performance, “What an awesome night for Rum Runner racing and Coulter Motorsports as a whole. I felt like we were in good shape most of the day qualifying was a bit of a struggle but that's been normal for us lately. Once we got going in the race we were able to move up into the top 10 pretty quick and I was really happy with the balance even running as hard as I was running early on. Harold made a great pit strategy adjustment and brought us down pit road for tires earlier than normal but we felt like our car was balanced good enough to run the rest of the race with that new tire. When it came down to the last few laps, lap traffic was definitely a challenge, and ultimately that's what gave Brandon the opportunity to get to my bumper. From there on out it was good old-fashioned short track racing and it was an absolute blast. Really grateful for all of our partners SRI Performance, PFC Brakes, Draco Springs, AIRSHOK, Race-Fans, Bilstein, Molecule, DriveRefine, Simpson, Stilo, Wiles Driveshafts, Torch Eyewear, Earnhardt Technology Group, Fury Racecars, Hellraizer Jacks, Buzze Racing and Dirtwrap. and very grateful for Harold Holly and the entire Rum Runner Racing crew congratulations to Brandon Ward, Randy Renfrow and the entire number 2 team”.
Ward who parked it in Victory Lane for the first time this year with the SMART Modified Tour had the following to say when asked about his win, “It was a great night at Caraway and great to get a win early in the season. To have both team cars first and second says a lot for the Coulter Motorsports and Rum Runner Racing teams as well. Randy Renfrow prepared a great race car as always and the guys did a great job on pit road. It was very tough to get around Joey late in the race and a lot of fun to be able to race that hard for the win with him. Huge thank you to Joe, Susan and Joey Coulter for having me back in this car again this year as well as Randy Renfrow. Also have to thank Kevin Powell, Jeff Day, Kevinsaysyes.com and Precision Built Spindle for everything that they do for myself and this team. I’m looking forward to South Boston this weekend and trying to chase after another win.”