In a year where Cody Coughlin is doing many things for the first time in his racing career, he can now add a road course start to his impressive resume. The Joe Gibbs Racing Development driver can also add a top-10 finish as well. Coughlin finished sixth in the ARCA 150 at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ.
The 19-year-old from Delaware, Ohio started ninth in the ARCA Racing Series event and quickly moved up to the fifth spot by the end of the first lap. He hovered around the top five all day long as he toured the around the 2.3-mile, 11-turn road course.
[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_large”,”fid”:”4763″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”style”:”line-height: 1.538em; width: 480px; height: 360px; float: right;”,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]He ran as high as second late in the race after the Venturini crew gave him a good four-tire and fuel stop with 22 laps to go. Coughlin showed maturity and skill, as he was able to fend off tough battles on late-race restarts to turn another top-10 finish in ARCA.
“We were in the top five all day and the worse we ran was sixth, which is where we finished,” Coughlin said after the race. “It was a good effort and I am pleased with my first road course event. I can’t wait to get back going around in circles.”
Coughlin prepared for this event with the help of Chris Cook of the Bondurant/Chris Cook Performance Stock Car School in Chandler, Arizona. Cook, along with his spotter Scott Wimmer, helped guide Coughlin around to this top-10 finish.
“Chris helped a ton; both he and Wimmer had great things to tell me on the radio with what I needed to do and how hard to push the car,” explained Coughlin. “I was really pleased with their communication all weekend as we got faster and faster.”
Cook was impressed with Coughlin on his first start.
“Cody showed an incredible ability to utilize excellent road course technique specific to a stock car,” exclaimed Cook. “Here is a young driver in his first road course race and to show such maturity and driving ability this early on in his career makes for an epic performance.”
Along with Cook, Leiner, Wimmer and the Venturini team, Coughlin is thankful for his other Team JEGS members, Kevin Hamlin (Team Manager) and Dave Holt (crew member).
Crew Chief Dave Leiner and Venturini Motorsports prepared the fine ride for Coughlin’s first road course race.
“You exceeded my expectation, more than you think out there,” Leiner said on the radio. “I am very proud how you stayed focused and brought the car home in one piece. You did an outstanding job in your first road course race.”
His initials road course venture was also shared with his family that included his parents, John & Di and his sister Kennedi, who is fresh off a class trip to Washington D.C.
“My family continues to support me no matter what I do and it was great to have them with me today for my first road course race,” said Coughlin. “This is something we will always remember together as I continue to climb up the racing ladder.
“I also have to thank God for having the right people involved in my continued growth in my career. He has brought together a talented group of people to help us make days like this successful for all of us. I also have to praise him for a safe race today.”
Coughlin will make his first start of the 2015 season in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour this Saturday night in the Mercy Master of the Pros 144 at I-44 Speedway in Lebanon, Missouri.
For more information on Cody Coughlin and Team JEGS, visit www.teamjegs.com and follow Cody on Twitter, @cody_coughlin. You can also follow Team JEGS on Twitter, @TeamJEGS and “Like” JEGS Performance on Facebook.
Contact: Bob Dillner, Executive Director, Cody Coughlin / Team JEGS – bd51sports@gmail.com