rebelracewriter Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 GMS Racing Race Report Joey Coulter Finishes Seventh in Thunder Valley Joey Coulter drove GMS Racing's No. 21 Allegiant Travel Chevrolet Silverado to a seventh-place finish in Thursday's 200-lap event at Bristol Motor Speedway. Coulter extended his top-10 streak in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competition to three consecutive races with the strong result from the UNOH 200 presented by ZLOOP. Coulter qualified in the 19th-position in his Chevrolet Silverado at the high-banked half-mile oval, he and his GMS Racing team worked several strategies to challenge for position. When the first caution flag flew on Lap 16, the No. 21 team stayed out, helping the Miami Springs, Fla., driver to secure a spot inside the top 15 by Lap 30, before reporting that his Silverado was tight on the top line at the 0.53-mile track. During the competition caution on Lap 53, crew chief Jeff Stankiewicz elected to bring the 24-year-old in for four Goodyear tires and Sunoco fuel. Coulter broke into the top-ten by Lap 70. Under the third caution period of the day on Lap 114, Coulter pitted for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment and reentered the race in 11th-position. By Lap 130, he had advanced to the ninth position. When the final caution flag waved on Lap 146, Coulter reported a free condition. The GMS Racing driver lined up 10th for the final restart on Lap 152. As the laps wound down the tensions on track picked up, and Coulter took advantage, advancing three positions, and when the checkered flag flew, he and the No. 21 Allegiant Travel team were able to capture a solid seventh place finish. This finish marks the sixth top-10 result in 13 starts this season for Coulter and the No. 21 GMS Racing team. Start - 19 Finish - 7 Laps Led - 0 Joey Coulter Quote: "It was a great day for us on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway and in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver point standings. It was very much a come-from-behind day for our No. 21 Allegiant Travel Chevrolet Silverado, and everyone at GMS Racing stepped-up to the challenge. The momentum that we picked up weeks ago still has us pushing forward and I expect it to stay that way through the end of the season." Max Gresham Earns a Hard Fought 12th-Place Finish at Bristol Motor Speedway In Thursdays 200-lap race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Max Gresham drove the No. 23 AmWINS Group Inc. Chevrolet Silverado to a 12th-place finish. The Milner, Ga., driver started 17th and immediately noted a loose-handling condition, and struggled with that loose-handling in the races early laps. Crew chief Ryan "Pickle" London worked to mechanically tighten up the truck under the NASCAR competition caution on Lap 53, changing four tires, filling the Chevrolet with fuel, and making a track bar and air pressure adjustment. These changes brought new life to the No. 23 on the Lap 57 restart. Gresham raced back into the 18th position by Lap 80 and 16th by the half-way point of the race. On Lap 115, Gresham came to pit road under caution for four tires, fuel, and chassis adjustments, and restarted 16th. Gresham was determined to battle his way into the lucky dog position and get back on the lead lap. Under caution on Lap 149, Gresham quickly pitted for only a track bar adjustment to tighten up his white and blue machine. He also benefited from a lucky dog free pass that returned him to the lead lap. The adjustments paid off as he immediately worked his way back into the top 15 by Lap 160. Gresham didn't let a brush with the wall around Lap 160 slow him, and he climbed to 14th by Lap 180. The 21-year-old continued to push, and gained two positions in the final laps, and when the checkered flag fell, he earned a 12th-place finish. Start - 17 Finish - 12 Laps Led - 0 Max Gresham Quote: I felt that Bristol Motor Speedway was a really strong showing for me. It was my third start of the year with GMS Racing and my second start at Bristol Motor Speedway which is not an easy undertaking. The rain messed up our game plan a little, and made me free for the first 100-laps, but after a couple pit stops Pickle (crew chief, Ryan London) got the No. 23 AmWINS Group Inc. Chevrolet turned around and we made up some ground. I am very happy with a 12th-place finish, after our beginning struggles to get the Chevrolet back to where it was at during practice. I felt like we had a seventh-place truck at the end, and just needed about 20 more laps. Broken Rear Gear Derails Grant Enfingers Day at Madison International Speedway A promising run in the Herr's Live Life with Flavor 200 on Sunday didn't produce the result Grant Enfinger was hoping for at Madison International Speedway. Enfinger, who spent 120 laps leading the 28-car field, had his powerful rally fall short when a rear-end gear broke, resulting in a 15th-place finish. The 29-year-old driver started the race in the second position after persistent rain showers forced the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards officials to cancel Saturday's qualifying session. Enfinger maintained the second position during the first 35 laps while battling a tight-handling condition on his blue and orange machine. The Fairhope, Ala., native commanded the lead on Lap 36 for the first time in the 200-lap event. The field was slowed for an ARCA Racing Series-mandated competition caution on Lap 60, affording the Ryan Pickle London-led team an opportunity to work on the handling, change right-side tires and add fuel to the Motor Honey/Casite, Allegiant Travel Chevrolet. The GMS Racing driver climbed back into the lead on Lap 70, remaining there until bad luck struck when he broke a rear gear on Lap 172 during a long green-flag run. His No. 90 Motor Honey/Casite, Allegiant Travel Chevrolet stalled going into Turn One, and the ARCA Racing Series threw the caution flag. Enfinger brought the car to the garage and his GMS Racing team worked to get him back in the race, and even with a few laps remaining in the Herr's Live Life with Flavor 200, GMS Racing crewmen remained under the car, thrashing to replace its broken differential gears. Ultimately, the No. 90 Chevrolet was not able to return to the track, so Enfinger would go on to finish the race in 15th-place, completing 172 laps. Start - 2 Finish - 15 Laps Led - 120 Grant Enfinger Quote: Well, that was not the way we wanted to leave Madison International Speedway. It was a great job by everyone at GMS Racing this weekend. Our 90 Motor Honey/Casite, Allegiant Travel team had a heck of a car, but we just had a part failure. However, it was fun to drive a car that was that good, so thanks to everyone at GMS Racing, Motor Honey/Casite, and Allegiant Travel. Now, we head back to the dirt at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. ### Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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