Progress. It’s what every good race car driver uses as a measuring stick for their race team. Cody Coughlin and the RIDE TV / JEGS.com No. 13 Toyota team for ThorSport Racing has battled through adversity many times this season, but it has never gotten them down. And now, while riding a streak of momentum, Coughlin has scored his first podium finish of his NASCAR career.
Coughlin scored a third place finish, a new career-best in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, on Friday night in the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix Raceway.
It was certainly a survival of the fittest in the Valley of the Sun. The 21 year-old missed three big crashes in the late stages of Friday’s race and found himself in a position to battle for his first career NCWTS victory with two laps remaining.
“The way it was going tonight you didn’t know if the top two guys would take each other out and we’d be in the cat bird’s seat,” said Coughlin. “After qualifying and the beginning of the race I didn’t think we’d end up in the top five at all, so I’m really proud of the adjustments the guys made to our Toyota Tundra. Everybody on the RIDE TV/JEGS.com Toyota worked great, and with our first top-five we are now looking forward to the finale in Homestead.”
The Delaware, Ohio native battled a tight handling race truck all day long. His crew, led by interim crew chief Rich Lushes, made a variety of changes to Coughlin’s machine to improve his handling.
After the race, Coughlin said he was extremely happy with the communication between everybody throughout the day.
“Rich did a great job. He called the right shots to put us in position to win the race and I couldn’t be more thankful for that. We all worked really well together today. From my crew guys to Terry Cook (spotter) helping me miss those wrecks, it was a total team effort. I’m very proud of what we accomplished today. Maybe next week it’ll be two spots better.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity that Duke and Rhonda Thorson has given me to drive their trucks at ThorSport Racing. God kept me safe and out of those wrecks and I’m thankful that everyone was ok as well. My Mom (Di) and Dad (John), plus Kennedi (sister) have such an important part in all of this as well. I’m really happy for everyone at JEGS.com and RIDE TV to get the finish we deserve.”
Prior to this podium finish, the Ohio native led laps at Talladega and finished sixth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (his previous best finish).
Coughlin has one race remaining on his 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series calendar. The season will conclude on Friday, November 17th at the 1.5-mile oval of Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. It will be Coughlin’s first trip to the facility.
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 Jessica O’Brien via email at jessica@edgehillmanagement.com. Any other inquiries for Cody Coughlin can be sent to Bob Dillner via email at bd51sports@gmail.com.
About JEGS Automotive, Inc.
In 1960, Jeg Coughlin Sr. founded JEGS as a small speed shop. It has grown into a high-performance powerhouse that includes a race team (Team JEGS), 250,000 square foot warehouse, retail store, mail order and website. The 350+ employees at JEGS still strongly believe and practice our simply business philosophy: Customer Care is #1. For more information about JEGS Automotive, Inc. visit JEGS.com.
About Ride Television Network, Inc.
Ride Television Network, Inc. is a privately held corporation based in Fort Worth, Texas. The company was formed in 2011 for the purpose of launching a 24-hour, high definition, television network. RIDE TV launched on October 1, 2014 in the United States and is now available internationally. The network features high-quality television programming showcasing both English and Western disciplines and lifestyles and includes live events, reality shows, talk shows, children’s programming, documentaries and more. For more information about RIDE TV, please visit www.ridetv.com.
About ThorSport Racing
ThorSport Racing, based in Sandusky, Ohio, is the longest-tenured NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. ThorSport Racing, which has competed in the NCWTS since 1996, will run the No. 88 Menards Toyota Tundra driven by two-time NCWTS drivers’ champion Matt Crafton, the No. 13 JEGS/RIDE TV Toyota Tundra driven by Cody Coughlin, the No. 27 Tundra driven by Ben Rhodes, and the No. 98 RIDE TV/Champion Power Equipment/Jive Communications/Curb Records Toyota Tundra driven by Grant Enfinger. For more information visit www.ThorSport.com.