Return to “The Tricky Triangle”
Cody Coughlin will return to the track they call “The Tricky Triangle,” Pocono Raceway, this Friday after a ninth-place finish there in June. Coughlin’s start at the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania tri-oval Friday will be his second at the track and his first return visit to a track on the ARCA Racing Series schedule. With his comfort level being at an all-time high in the No. 55 JEGS.com Toyota for Venturini Motorsports, as well as his experience already racing at superspeedways this season, a return trip to Pocono has Coughlin excited for what’s in store this weekend.
Change Is Good
In the world of motorsports, sometimes change is needed in order for a driver to reach their potential. Following an event earlier this season at Michigan International Speedway, Coughlin welcomed veteran ARCA Racing Series crew chief Dave Leiner to the No. 55 JEGS.com team. Since joining the team, Leiner has made changes, both big and small, to help Coughlin get better acclimated to the ARCA Racing Series. One of the bigger changes, a new seat in the No. 55 JEGS.com Toyota, has helped drastically in getting the Joe Gibbs Racing development driver comfortable in the racecar while racing at high speeds similar to what he’ll experience at Pocono Raceway this weekend.
Destination: Columbus
After the conclusion of the ARCA Racing Series Modspace 125 on Friday evening, Cody Coughlin will climb aboard a plane and return to his home state of Ohio to compete in the ARCA/CRA Super Series Bud St. Amant 174 at Columbus Motor Speedway Saturday night. Coughlin recorded fast time during the lone practice session held on June 28 before rain postponed the race until August 2.
Racing In Memory of Bud
When Cody Coughlin straps into his No. 1 JEGS.com Super Late Model at Columbus Motor Speedway on Saturday night, he’ll be racing in honor of a great family friend and former racer, Bud St. Amant. The race named in memory of St. Amant, who passed way earlier this year, has a special meaning to Cody and the rest of the Coughlin family. Bud’s son, Gary St. Amant, served as the 18-year-old Coughlin’s first career driver coach, crew chief and mentor. JEGS, a company owned and operated by the Coughlin family, also sponsored both St. Amants during their own racing careers.
Days of Thunder
Days of Thunder was on the shelves for nearly five years before Cody Coughlin entered this world, but that doesn’t stop the 18-year-old from calling the classic racing movie one of his favorites. Although Coughlin may not have the same mentality as Cole Trickle or Rowdy Burns when he gets behind the wheel of a racecar, he finds plenty of entertainment value in the movie.
Follow Cody
Cody Coughlin on Twitter: @Cody_Coughlin
Team JEGS on Twitter: @TeamJEGS
Joe Gibbs Racing on Twitter: @JoeGibbsRacing
Venturini Motorsports on Twitter: @VenturiniMotor