Coulter picks up first truck win at Pocono
Long Pond, PA (Sports Network) - Joey Coulter became the fourth first-time
race winner in the Camping World Truck Series this season with an impressive
victory in Saturday's Pocono Mountains 125 at Pocono Raceway.
Coulter took the lead after he charged from third to first on a restart with
seven laps remaining in the short 50-lap race at this 2.5-mile triangular
racetrack. The 22-year-old driver from Richard Childress Racing led only the
last seven laps for his maiden truck win in his 36th start.
"It seems like the whole time that I have been racing stock cars I've
struggled on restarts," Coulter said. "I've probably put more time into that
than just about anything. It's just so awesome to close the deal. We've been
so close."
Coulter, the 2011 rookie of the year in the series, became the ninth different
winner in 11 races this season. His previous best finish in trucks was third,
which came two months ago at Texas.
"I just can't say enough about (team owner) Richard (Childress) and everybody
at RCR," he said. "This is an opportunity of a lifetime to drive for these
guys."
James Buescher, who won the most recent truck race two weeks ago at
Chicagoland, crossed the finish line 1.2 seconds behind Coulter to take the
runner-up spot. Buescher remains the only driver with multiple victories this
season. He won at Kansas and Kentucky prior to Chicagoland.
Nelson Piquet Jr. started on the pole and dominated most of this race by
leading 33 laps. Piquet ran in front when the first caution came on lap 28 for
an incident involving Tim George Jr., who also drives for Childress.
After the race resumed on lap 34, Piquet and two-time series champion Todd
Bodine made contact heading into turn one. Bodine spun and slammed into the
wall.
"James (Buescher) was to my outside, and he passed me to the outside, so I
didn't even have time to tuck behind (Bodine)," Piquet said. "There's nothing
I could have done. I was never expecting something like that. The move he did
was a bit inexperienced."
In frustration, Bodine threw his helmet in the direction of Piquet during the
first caution lap.
"I'll take the blame for that whole thing just because I should have known
better than to trust an idiot to do the right thing," Bodine said. "I pulled
down to draft off of James, and I should have known that Nelson wasn't smart
enough to pull over with me and side draft me. If it was the last lap of the
race, I could see that. He thinks he owes me one anyway from Kansas I think it
was, but it's a shame."
Piquet placed third, while Bodine ended up finishing 26th.
Matt Crafton took the fourth spot, while Denny Hamlin, who was the only Sprint
Cup Series regular to compete in this race, completed the top five.
Ty Dillon, Parker Kligerman, John Wes Townley, Justin Lofton and Ross Chastain
finished sixth through 10th, respectively.
The third and final caution came on lap 39 for a multi-truck accident. Points
leader Timothy Peters was one of those involved in the incident. Peters came
into this race with a 23-point advantage, but after his 22nd-place finish,
his lead has been cut to just eight over Dillon.
"We had a bad day, but we made the best of it," Peters said.
Buescher now trails Peters by 15 points after being 35 behind.
"That's good, and that's what we needed to do," he said.
08/04 18:00:44 ET
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