Coughlin Shows Some Peachstate Prowess at Atlanta
HAMPTON, GA – Cody Coughlin’s first career start at Atlanta Motor Speedway can be summed up in one word: Loose. Coughlin fought an extremely loose Toyota Tundra for all 130 laps of Saturday’s Active Pest Control 200 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series before eventually finishing in the 16th position, the same position in which he started the race.
Atlanta Motor Speedway is known for seeing vehicles slide around on its 20-year-old racing surface. The 21-year-old Coughlin only had one test session of experience on the slippery surface before the race weekend began.
“It’s a tough race track,” said Coughlin after the race. “We battled a loose-in and loose-off condition pretty much all race long, but I think that’s just what happens here.”
Coughlin, in his No. 13 JEGS.com Toyota, was scored as high as second at one point before the loose condition really set in.
Coughlin’s ThorSport Racing crew, led by crew chief Michael Shelton, fought hard all race long to improve the handling of the truck.
At the end of the day, Coughlin worked himself back up into the top-20 before he settled for 16th.
“My guys did a great job,” said Coughlin, a Joe Gibbs Racing Development Driver. “I just need to be able to put it all together over the course of the whole race and then we’ll be alright. I’m just really proud of Michael, Terry (Cook, spotter) and all of my guys from ThorSport. They worked so hard all weekend and I know we’ll be much better at the next race. I’m really thankful I get to work with all these guys and also really appreciative to have Duke and Rhonda Thorson and my family on my side.”
After two races in 2017, Coughlin has scored finishes of 11th (Daytona) and 16th (Atlanta). Coughlin currently sits 11th in the driver’s points standings.
Coughlin’s next race will be on Saturday, April 1 at Martinsville Speedway (VA) in the Alpha Energy Solutions 250.
For more information on Cody Coughlin and Team JEGS, visit codycoughlin.com and follow Cody on Twitter, @Cody_Coughlin. Follow Team JEGS on Twitter, @TeamJEGS, and “Like” JEGS Performance on Facebook. Follow ThorSport Racing on Twitter, @ThorSportRacing, and visit them online at ThorSport.com. If you need more information regarding ThorSport please contact Kate Fegley via email at kate.fegley@gmail.com. Any other inquiries for Cody Coughlin can be sent to Bob Dillner via email at bd51sports@gmail.com.