Joey Coulter ready to "launch" back into the top-10 in points at Michigan

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (August 12, 2013) - Nestled in the Irish Hills of the Great Lakes state, you will find Michigan International Speedway (MIS) in Brooklyn, the 12th stop on the 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) schedule for Joey Coulter and the No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) team.

Being No. 1 is the goal for any athlete and it's no different for NCWTS driver, Joey Coulter, who will be carrying the colors of FOX Sports 1 for the second consecutive race. Coulter, who is trying to make it to No. 1, is on the right path following two consecutive top-five finishes - in the Inaugural Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio and the Pocono Mountains 125 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. The KBM driver, who was 13th in the 2013 NCWTS driver's point standings, 17 points outside the top-10 and 50 points outside the top-five entering Eldora, is now 11th in the championship points battle a mere nine points outside the top-10 and 25 points behind fifth-place Ty Dillon entering this weekend's 100-lap event.

Coulter, who started first in the 2012 Truck Series event at MIS, has led laps at the 2-mile oval and has never finished outside the top-10 in two starts. With a consistent record in the Irish Hills, the FOX Sports 1 driver looks to continue his momentum in this weekend's event and hopes to be the first driver to cross the finish line in the first race on FOX Sports 1 - launching him back into the top-10 in points for this first time since April.

Joey Coulter, Driver of the No. 18 FOX Sports 1 Toyota Tundra:

This is a really big weekend for FOX Sports 1 and the Truck Series. What does this weekend's network launch mean to you?

"I may be a race car driver, but I'm a fan of many sports and FOX Sports 1 will have everything for the diehard sports fans - NASCAR, college basketball and football, soccer, UFC and even Sprint Cup Series races down the road. There will be something for everyone. I believe this is a great opportunity to introduce sports fans that aren't necessarily NASCAR fans to our sport and vice versa. It will be great for all involved and I'm so lucky to be able to represent America's new sports network on my No. 18 Tundra at Michigan."

You get a really cool opportunity to train with the Michigan National Guard this weekend. Is this something you are looking forward to?

"It's going to be really tough; I know that for sure, but a really neat opportunity. To be able to show America how hard these men and women train every day to protect this country will be an eye opener for most. Their sacrifice to this country is what allows us to be free - for me to race and for every NASCAR fan out there to enjoy coming to a race. It's an honor to be able to spend some time with them in their work environment and with them being the title sponsor of our race; they will also be able to experience mine. I can't thank them enough for the opportunity."

You have had some success at Michigan in the past. Are you looking forward to this weekend's race?

"Michigan is definitely a track that I enjoy going to. With the new pavement it's one of those tracks that are just fun to drive and it suits my driving style. It's a fast, multiple groove race track that makes for a good show for the fans and fun for me as a driver. With all that we learned there last year, I'm looking forward to getting back there this year. We have had a couple strong runs the last few weeks and these summer months have always been good for me, so I'm ready to get back to work and continue our momentum."

Harold Holly, Crew chief of the No. 18 FOX Sports 1 Toyota Tundra:

A year after the repave, what kind of racing can we expect at Michigan International Speedway this weekend?

"The track surface has a year of wear and weather on it now - not freshly paved like it was the last time we were there. Based on the last Sprint Cup Series race there earlier this year, the cars seem to be a little freer than what they were last year. The track has probably given up some grip and these trucks have so much drag that we have to somewhat set them up like we were going to a superspeedway. The draft and track position will be pretty important and you will have to run wide open all the way around the track. It will be interesting to see how seasoned the track is from last year."

Joey Coulter's No. 18 FOX Sports 1 Toyota Tundra:

Chassis KBM-14: Coulter will pilot KBM-014 in this weekend's Michigan National Guard 200 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. This Toyota Tundra was built new for the 2013 season and happens to be the same chassis Coulter piloted to a fourth-place finish at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway earlier this month and his season-best finish of second at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City in April.

Kyle Busch Motorsports