Coughlin Hoping to Sink Fangs Into The Rattler
Cody Coughlin’s Late Model season is about to kick off with one of the toughest Super Late Model races in the country. His first test will be the season opener for the Southern Super Series, The Rattler 250 at Opp, Alabama’s South Alabama Speedway on Sunday, March 20.
Coughlin and his Team JEGS racing team compete for wins at every race they head to, but an ignition issue in last year’s race brought their bid for the win to a premature end. The 20-year-old driver said the issues in last year’s race are exactly why he and his team want to head back this year.
“It’s a challenging race track, and it’s a track that gives us challenges,” Coughlin said. “Those aspects are a big part of why it’s appealing to us. We want to try and conquer this place that hasn’t been perfected by us yet.”
While this may be the first Late Model race of 2016 for Coughlin, he’s already been at the race track a couple of times this year. Coughlin made his first of 11 scheduled NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts for Kyle Busch Motorsports back in February at the Daytona International Speedway (FL). He also accompanied his KBM team to the second race of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway a couple of weeks ago to learn the team aspects of a NASCAR weekend.
The Delaware, Ohio native said he believes that he can win his first Late Model race of the year due to how strong his crew with Team JEGS is.
“I know that Nick (Easton, crew chief) and the guys (Kevin Hamlin, Scott Wimmer, and Dave Holt) will have an awesome car that I have the privilege of racing in Alabama,” Coughlin said. “I can’t thank those guys enough for all that they do for me, and of course, I can’t thank my parents, Di and John, for all that they’ve done for me as well. I’m excited to race the Late Model again. The Rattler is a great learning experience and hopefully the site of our next win.”
There’s a tradition at The Rattler that is unlike any other race in the country. In victory lane, a snake-handler will drape a live rattlesnake around the neck of the winner. Coughlin says if he wins that tradition may change a little.
“There will be no rattlesnake around my neck,” said Coughlin with a laugh. “I can guarantee that.”
Action gets underway on Friday, March 18 in Opp, AL with practice during the day. Saturday, March 19th will find more practice at South Alabama Speedway and Super Late Model qualifying at 3 pm CT. On Sunday at 1 pm CT fans will have the opportunity to meet Cody Coughlin at an autograph session before the 250-lap Rattler race at 2 pm CT.
For more information on Cody Coughlin and Team JEGS, visit www.teamjegs.com and follow Cody on Twitter, @Cody_Coughlin. Follow Team JEGS on Twitter, @TeamJEGS, and “Like” JEGS Performance on Facebook. Also, be sure to check out Cody’s new website, www.codycoughlin.com. Any other inquiries for Cody Coughlin can be sent to Bob Dillner via email at bd51sports@gmail.com.
Sources: Bob Dillner/Cody Coughlin Racing PR