Cody Coughlin is eager to raise the bar even higher in his third full season of Late Model competition. After much success in his first two years, 2013 is expected to be a breakout season of Pro and Super Late Model racing for Coughlin and Team JEGS

The 17 year-old will compete for the championship in the CRA/JEGS All Stars Tour in the Midwest, as well as during Florida Speedweeks and several other major events around the country.

Just two years ago Cody was the 2011 Howie Lettow Rookie of the Year in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour. In 2012, he did not race in any one particular series. Instead, Cody competed in a variety of events to help continue his quick learning curve in circle track racing. He has set fast time in prestigious races in the Midwest and the Southeast, the two hotbeds of Late Model racing. He’s also been a consistent threat for victory just about any time he and his JEGS.com team has hit the track.

The team has enlisted noted short track driving champion and current crew chief and chassis expert Freddie Query to build a new Hamke chassis racecar, as well as to serve as a consultant to Coughlin and his crew. Longtime Midwestern car builder and crew chief Chad Wood will take the reigns as Crew Chief for Coughlin’s efforts, while veteran NASCAR crew chief Kevin Hamlin will continue in the role of Team Manager for a second season. Longtime NASCAR driver Scott Wimmer will serve in the important role of Spotter for the second consecutive season and veteran Late Model racer Bubba Pollard will act as Cody’s Driver Coach. In the pit area, Team JEGS an A-class crew which includes Dave Holt, Jeremy Wilbert, Rick Rossiter, John Klock and Tony Collier.

“I’m really looking forward to this year because we have assembled the best team possible for me as a driver,” said Cody. “Freddie will be able to teach me so much because he is a legend in our sport and guys like Chad, Kevin, Scott, Bubba and the team continue to help me progress as a driver.”

The Coughlin family is well known in the realm of drag racing, but Cody is attempting to be the first to pioneer the Coughlin name into the realm of circle track racing. Cody’s grandfather Jeg Coughlin Sr., his dad, John and uncles Troy, Mike and Jeg Jr. tasted drag racing success at the highest levels of the National Hot Rod Association.

Cody also has the support of his entire family. In addition to his father, Cody’s mother, Di, and sister, Kennedi are his biggest cheerleaders.

"It means a lot to have the support of your family and your faith," Coughlin said. "Racing has a lot of high times, but often has more low times. You need that support to help you rebound, get back up and keep going."

Cody dabbled in drag racing when he was younger. He raced a Junior Dragster before he decided to move to the circle track arena. He grew up watching NASCAR champions Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart and wanted to give stock-car racing a try.

Cody earned some of his racing stripes by advancing through the .25 midget ranks in USAC in the smaller, open-wheel cars that helped launch the careers of many Sprint Cup drivers. He moved from the Senior Rookie Class to Heavy Honda Heavy Mod in one year's time. Along the way, he chalked up five victories -- two in Senior Rookie, one in Heavy Honda, and two more in Heavy Mod -- and finished well enough in the other races to earn the Heavy Mod championship in 2009. That title made him the first of his generation of Coughlins to earn a series championship on the circle tracks.

Follow along with Cody Coughlin as he tries to become the first Coughlin to make his way to the top levels of NASCAR.