Race Results
GMS Racing Race Report
Joey Coulter Finishes Ninth at Michigan International Speedway
Joey Coulter and the No. 21 Allegiant Travel Chevrolet team finished ninth in the Careers for Veterans 200 at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday afternoon after battling handling issues during the 200-mile race. Taking the initial green flag from the ninth position, the Miami Springs, Fla., native was three-wide during the opening laps of the 100-lap event. As the yellow flag waved for the first and only time, Coulter immediately alerted crew chief Jeff Stankiewicz that the Allegiant Travel machine was loose around the two-mile track in the center and off, so under caution on Lap 11, Stankiewicz called Coulter to pit road for fuel and a track bar adjustment. Coulter restarted in 13th position on Lap 14, and the 24-year-old dropped as far back as 16th before the GMS Racing pit crew could work on the truck’s handling during the scheduled four-tire green-flag pit stop on Lap 51. After the stop, Coulter began working his way toward the front of the field and settled into the 11th position – at times running faster lap times than the leader. Green-flag pit-stops cycled through again, and Coulter moved into the ninth position with 20 laps remaining, but Coulter had to visit pit road for a final time on Lap 88 to take on fuel and a chassis adjustment. He returned to the track in 12th position, and during the course of the next 10 laps, Coulter maneuvered through the field and improved his position to ninth, before crossing the finish line at Michigan International Speedway. With this top-10 finish, Coulter remains ninth in the Camping World Truck Series driver championship point standings.
Start – 9 Finish – 9 Laps Led – 0
Joey Coulter Quote:
“We had a lot of great things going for us at Michigan this weekend for our No. 21 Allegiant Travel Chevrolet team. The truck was fast, the pit stops were good, but the race just didn’t fall our way. I am really proud of our top-10 finish and look forward to continuing our progress at GMS Racing for the rest of the season.”
Spencer Gallagher Finishes 13th in the Irish Hills
Spencer Gallagher and the No. 23 Allegiant Travel Chevrolet team rolled out of the Irish Hills and Michigan International Speedway this weekend with their third top-15 finish of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. The Las Vegas native secured a solid 13th-place finish in the Careers for Veterans 200 at the Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, August 16 after starting the blue and orange Chevrolet in the 12th position for the 200-mile event. After the drop of the green flag, the No. 23 Chevrolet was shuffled back to the 14th position in the first laps and Gallagher promptly radioed to crew chief Ryan “Pickle” London that the GMS Racing machine was tight. Under caution on Lap 11, London instructed the 24-year-old driver to bring his Silverado in for a fuel-only pit stop with a chassis adjustment. Gallagher restarted in the 15th position on Lap 14, but slipped back to 17th within six laps. However, he made progress as green-flag pit stops cycled through, and Gallagher was scored in the 11th position at the halfway maker in the 100-lap affair. The No. 23 Chevrolet had acquired a tight-handling condition, making it difficult for Gallagher to run his preferred line, prompting the London-led crew to execute a track bar adjustment on the next pit stop to combat the ill-handling truck. On Lap 50, Gallagher pitted for four tires with an air pressure adjustment, chassis adjustment and fuel. The adjustments improved conditions for Gallagher, and over the next 40 circuits at the Brooklyn, Mich.-based facility, he remained a fixture in the top-15. As the last round of pit stops occurred also under green-flag conditions, teams employed a variety of strategies, so the No. 23 team made its final pit stop on Lap 90 for fuel only. After returning to the track, he was able to improve by one position, to 13th, before the checkered flag waved.
Start – 12 Finish – 13 Laps Led – 0
Spencer Gallagher Quote:
“That was not the finish our GMS Racing team was looking for as we had a fast Silverado throughout the weekend. “Pickle” (Ryan London, crew chief) and the entire Allegiant Travel team put together a solid Chevrolet. I enjoyed getting back in the No. 23 Allegiant Travel Chevrolet and we’ll take a 13th-place finish. I can’t thank the whole GMS Racing team enough for all of their hard work this weekend. I had a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to our next NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race later in the season.”
Grant Enfinger Takes Home Third-Place Prize at the Illinois State Fairgrounds
Grant Enfinger has proved this year he can be fast and racy on the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards’ circuit. On Sunday he also proved he’s versatile on any surface when he’s behind the wheel of his No. 90 Motor Honey/Casite, Allegiant Travel Chevrolet. A week after his victory at Berlin Raceway, Enfinger started second and finished third, and also lead the most laps on the one-mile clay oval at the historic Illinois State Fairgrounds for the SuperChevyStores.com 100. It was just his third ARCA Racing Series career start on dirt. Due to poor track conditions officials canceled qualifying at the Springfield, Ill., facility, so the lineup for the 30-car field was set by the owner point standings. Once the green flag dropped, Enfinger stayed consistent and clicked off lap after lap on the slick racing surface. Under caution on Lap 29, crew chief Ryan “Pickle” London called the 29-year-old to pit road for four tires and fuel. Enfinger was blocked into his pit stall and as a result, he had to reverse. Shortly after, he took the lead for the first time on Lap 46 – Enfinger led a total of 33 laps. Enfinger’s No. 90 Motor Honey/Casite, Allegiant Travel Chevrolet proved to run well on old tires running multiple grooves. He remained up front until Lap 52 when he was passed in a battle for the lead. Under a caution on Lap 59, London made a strategic call to stay out and not pit and when the restart occurred on Lap 62, Enfinger regained the lead. The race stayed green for the last stretch, and across the next 26 laps he maintained position. Near the end, his position allowed the GMS Racing driver to race into the top three during the final laps and cross the finish line third. Following the 100-lap event, Enfinger is second in the ARCA Racing Series driver championship point standings.
Start – 2 Finish – 3 Laps Led – 33
Grant Enfinger Quote:
“I knew “Pickle” (crew chief Ryan London) would give me a good car. In practice I didn’t offer him much feedback, I just was content to let him set up the car.
“I’ll take third place for sure. Everybody at GMS Racing gave me another really fast race car. The No. 90 Motor Honey/Casite, Allegiant Travel Chevrolet was better than I was, but I learned a lot and we were in contention for a lot of the race. Thanks to everyone that busted their tails at the shop and at the track to get us here, and also thanks to Motor Honey/Casite, Allegiant Travel, and WURTH USA. I’m looking forward to Madison and then returning to the dirt at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds a week later.”