TOLEDO OH (5-21-09) - ARCA RE/MAX Series rookie Joey Coulter thought he'd get a little racing in on his Memorial Day Holiday Weekend off. In addition to the ARCA open test at Michigan Int'l Speedway Wednesday, May 27th, Coulter, who drives the no. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation-Tempest Cycles Chevrolet, will make a ‘pit stop' at Caraway Speedway this Saturday, May 23rd for the Pepsi 200.
Fresh off a career-best ARCA finish of seventh at Toledo Speedway, Coulter hopes to keep that drive going into this weekend as he visits the .455-mile Caraway paved oval in Sophia, NC located just outside of Asheboro.
"We have the weekend off from ARCA RE/MAX Series competition but that doesn't mean a vacation for me," said the 18-year-old Coulter. "Every chance I get I'm going to be in a race car somewhere whether it's an ARCA RE/MAX , Late Model Stock, or Super Late Model car."
Coulter's recent top-10 run at Talladega combined with his career-best finish at Toledo, has the Miami Springs, Florida driver climbing the ranks in ARCA RE/MAX Series championship point standings. Coulter is now ninth in points headed to the next event on tour - the Pocono ARCA 200 Saturday, June 6.
For additional information about this promising young driver, visit http://www.joeycoulter.com/. Vote for Joey Coulter as your most popular driver at www.ARCANation.com.
Kevin Belmont, driver of the no. 14 KB Letterin'-Belmont Racing Ford, is going ‘down on the farm' this Memorial Day Holiday Weekend. Kevin, who is the younger brother of series team owner Andy Belmont, owns & operates a 64-stall horse farm so his holiday weekend will be spent working on the farm. Kevin and his wife will also be hosting a horse show at the farm on Sunday.
Darrell Basham, driver of the no. 34 Anti Monkey Butt Powder Chevrolet, is doing the same thing he usually does with all his spare time - working on racecars. However, this time, the work he will do this holiday weekend will be for his oldest granddaughter Miranda who will be racing in the Hornet class at Thunder Valley in Salem, Indiana Friday. Darrell has to put in the seat and a few other things before she is ready to race. Miranda is 15-years-old and a student at Henryville High School. Other than that, Darrell will be working hard putting together another motor for his own stuff and the very busy month of June ahead.
Frank Kimmel, driver of the no. 44 Ansell-Menards Ford, says he doesn't have any big plans. "Probably will be catching up on some yard work and working on Frankie's Super Stock for Salem. For fun, I'll probably watch the Indy 500 followed by the Coca-Cola 600."
Bill Venturini, who co-owns the Venturini Motorsports team along with his wife Cathy, is heading to the racetrack. After that, he'll unwind on the Harley. "I'm going to Tri-County Speedway in Hudson NC to spot for Logan Ruffin, one of our drivers at the UARA race on Friday while my crew pits him. Then on Saturday I'm taking a long ride on my Harley."
Steve Arpin, driver of the no. 20 ESR Toyota, is heading for the big show at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "Steve and I will be spending the weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway for the Coca Cola 600," said Steve's wife Trina. "Friday, Steve will have a show car and will be signing autographs in downtown Mooresville for the 3rd Annual Race City Pit Stop."
Chad Beahr, driver #89 Herd Racing Dodge: "I will run a dirt modified at Virginia Motor Speedway Saturday night, and probably cook out Monday."
Randy Baker, GEN3 Motorsports #99 team: Randy and his wife Melessia will be down in the garage area for both the Nationwide Series Carquest Auto Parts 300 and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Coca Cola 600 this weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway. On Monday, he plans to spend the day fishing on Lake Norman.
Michel Disdier, driver of the no. 21 Bowsher Racing Ford: Michel left for his home in Nice, France after the Toledo race. He will spend his time there preparing for his move to the USA in order to compete in selected races of the ARCA/REMAX season. He will also be hoping for better weather so he might have a chance to actually qualify for the Michigan race. As a Frenchman, Memorial Day has special meaning for Michel because, "so many Americans gave the ultimate sacrifice during WWII so that my country would once again be free."
Chris Buescher, driver of the no. 17 David Ragan Fan Club Ford: " This weekend will be spent in the shop, preparing for the Mansfield ARCA RE/MAX Series race. Mr. Gary Roulo has given me a list of stuff to do to the car. It was a lot of fun in the #17 Roush-Roulo Ford at Toledo. We look forward to the next stop on the tour. Outside of that, I don't really have much planned for Memorial Day. I'll probably head out to the track on Sunday to watch the Coca-Cola 600 and spend the rest of the time back at the shop getting some cars ready for upcoming races."
Justin Allgaier, driver of the Verizon Dodge in the NASCAR Natiowide Series: "After the Cup race Sunday night, we are driving through the night back to Illinois for an autograph session at Macon Speedway for NASCAR night with Kenny Wallace on Monday (Memorial Day) and then another autograph session in Springfield, Illinois Tuesday. Then it's back to the south for some testing."
Alli Owens, driver of the no. 19 ElectrifyingCareers.com Toyota: "We have an extremely busy weekend ahead because D'Hondt Motorsports is relocating our shop to Denver, NC. Even though Eddie and everyone else says my 3500 Dodge Dually on a semi conversion set up is too big for me, they will be using my truck to move things into the new shop. Silly boys, let the girl supply the moving vehicle to get the job done. Ha-Ha! Not only are we moving shops, but I plan to be in the mix for the races in Charlotte this weekend. I have credentials for the Nationwide and Cup race, so I plan to go be a student of the game this weekend. A day spent at the races is a day spent learning something new to improve my game. I'm trying to convince some of the guys I hang out with from the ARCA scene to come over a cook for me and some of the girls on Memorial Day to return the favor of Holly Kimmel, Christen Poe (PR girl for Joey Coulter), and I for cooking a feast for Cinco De Mayo. Should be a fun relaxing weekend!"
Robb Brent, #36 JAM Motorsports: "After taking a couple final exams up at Northwood University on Wednesday, Elton John/Billy Joel Concert on Thursday. Then we'll probably play some golf with a couple of buddies, watch the Detroit Red Wings - win, the Indy 500 and of course the NASCAR races at Charlotte. I'm sure a family Bar-B-Q is in the works as it sounds like it will be a beautiful weekend in Michigan."
Chase Mattioli: Chase will be competing at Lime Rock Saturday, May 23 in the CT Koni Grand Am tour. Following the KONI race at Lime Rock, Chase will be competing in three races over the next four weeks, including a NASCAR Camping World East event at South Boston May 26. Also, on Friday, June 5, Chase and Nick (Mattioli) will compete in the KONI Grand Am event at Watkins Glen, with Chase doing double duty that weekend, returning to Pocono to compete in the Pocono ARCA 200 Saturday, June 6, a prelude to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pocono 500 June 7. Additional information is available on the Mattioli Cousins is at http://www.chasemattioli.com/.
Patrick Sheltra, No. 60 Buffalo Wings & Rings Dodge Charger: "We're just playing it by ear right now. I'm sure I'm going to do some relaxing and have some fun at the same time. It's been raining a lot here in Florida this week, so if it clears up, maybe I'll get on the water with the airboat or something. There are plenty of races this weekend so I'll be keeping my eye on them. Riding out of the long weekend is the Michigan test and as a team we're looking forward to next Wednesday."
Bryan Silas, No. 11 Rockingham Speedway-Oasis Outsourcing Ford: "I don't have too much in the way of plans. I'm going to Orlando (Florida) with my mom for a couple days and I'm really looking forward to that. Other than that, it's just hanging around town and enjoying myself.
Barry Fitzgerald, driver of TheBusPlace.com Ford for Wayne Peterson Racing: My wife and I will be enjoying time with friends eating delicious Maryland steamed crabs with corn on the cob before attending sprint car races at Lincoln Speedway in New Oxford, PA on Saturday night. Sunday is cookout day with friends and watching races. Monday actually will be a day to catch up on a few house details.
Grant Enfinger, no. 83 Beasley Allen Ford Fusion - Grant Enfinger Racing: "Memorial Day weekend should be a fun weekend, we are not jammed up at the shop. We are going to go to the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Like everyone else, we will be cooking out and relaxing a little bit," Enfinger said.
