Coughlin Seeking Huge Win at Home Track of Columbus
DELAWARE, OH – Cody Coughlin heads home to Ohio as one of the hottest Late Model drivers in America. He has won three-straight ARCA/CRA Super Series races, his most recent just last weekend at Indiana’s Baer Field Motorsports Park.
Now Coughlin returns to the Pro Late Model ranks and the Buckeye State to seek a win at his home racetrack of Columbus Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 28 for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour.
The 20-year-old driver will be piloting the No. 1 JEGS.com Toyota Camry at Columbus for the final time in a Pro Late Model; the facility is scheduled close at the end of the 2016 season. Coughlin will have one more race at Columbus with the ARCA/CRA Super Series on June, 25.
Even with as much success as Coughlin has had recently, no race win would mean more to him than a win at Columbus on Saturday night.
“It would be huge,” said the Joe Gibbs Racing Development Driver. “Especially because this is the last year for that race track. There’s a lot of history at that race track for me personally and for a lot of my friends there. We’re going to give it our best effort like we always do.”
Even though Coughlin said a win at Columbus would be one of the biggest of his career, he also said it would be very bittersweet.
“I grew up racing quarter-midgets there,” Coughlin said. “It’s very sad that Columbus is closing. It’s a great race track and it’s meant a lot to me throughout the course of my life and I’ve always looked forward to racing there.”
The Delaware, Ohio native has four top-10 finishes at Columbus between the Pro and Super Late Models, with a best finish of second coming in the Super Late Model in 2014. With the success Coughlin has had this year, he has an excellent shot at beating his previous career best this weekend.
“Every time we go to the race track this year I know we can win,” said Coughlin. “Jack (Smith, crew chief) has given me a fantastic race car every single race this year. Kevin (Hamlin, team manager), Scott (Wimmer, spotter) and Dave (Holt, crew member) have worked so hard to make sure I have the best shot possible at winning every weekend, and I can’t possibly thank them enough for that. I also can’t thank my parents, Di and John, and my sister, Kennedi enough for all of their love and support. I have the best family anyone could ask for, and I’m truly blessed for that.”
Coughlin will take to the track for the first time this weekend on Friday, May 27 at 5 p.m. ET for open practice until 8 p.m. On Saturday May, 28, Coughlin will be on-track at 3 p.m. for practice. Qualifying will take place at 5:15 p.m., and racing will follow at 7 p.m. ET for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Memorial 100.
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/51 Sports