Cody Coughlin ready to begin JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour
TOLEDO, Ohio (April 21) -- The inaugural season of the JEGS/CRA All-Stars
Tour presented by GM Performance Parts begins this Saturday at Toledo
Speedway with the much anticipated VR-12/Easter Bunny 100 presented by JEGS.com,
the first of 11 championship races in the new series.
Among the challengers set to race around the half-mile track is
15-year-old Cody Coughlin, the son of drag racing champion John Coughlin and his wife
Diana and grandson of Hall of Fame drag racer Jeg Coughlin Sr. Paving a
new and exciting road for fans of the yellow and black to follow, Cody
Coughlin has been turning left for most of his brief driving career, winning the
USAC .25 Midget Heavy Mod championship in 2009 before stepping up to his
current ride, a 450-horsepower full-bodied Late Model Chevrolet Stock Car.
"We're ready to race," Coughlin said. "The whole family is here to support
me -- mom, dad, and my sister Kennedi, who is my biggest cheerleader --
along with my cousin T.J. (Troy Coughlin Jr.) and Landon (Cassill), who is
offering his expert advice, so we're anxious to get started.
"The car has been perfect since we rolled it out of the trailer. It's a
night and day difference from how it was in New Smyrna (Fla.) earlier this
year and it was running well then. The guys have done an excellent job. My
thanks to Rich Lushes, Gary and Bud St. Amant, John Szittai, Clay Filson, Dave
Holt, and Rick Rossiter.
Coughlin has been working with highly-respected crew chief and tutor
Lushes, who helped shape the careers of 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Raybestos
Rookie of the Year Landon Cassill, Nationwide pro Michael Annett, and
Stephen Light, among others.
"He's ahead of schedule," Lushes said. "He's got a great attitude and he's
a very focused young man. Each driver is different, but he's as good as
anyone I've worked with in the past. I'm still figuring out what motivates
him and what buttons to push but we're advancing well. I'm happy with his
progress.
"There's no pressure. We've been here (in Toledo) testing and we've talked
about this weekend's race. Our goals for Cody are to stay out of trouble,
drive smart, and get a top 10 finish. We'd really like to see him complete
every lap and get that experience."
Coughlin's goals are a little higher. "I'd like to win," he said. "Why
not? As a racer, you always want to win. The way this thing has tested this
week I think we'll have a chance.
"We've already had a lot of fun here in Toledo doing stuff with the
family. We went to a Toledo Mud Hens baseball game, had dinner at a 90-year-old
steakhouse one night, and the Spaghetti Warehouse the next. It's always fun
when we go on the road."
Fans can arrive at the VR-12/Easter Bunny 100 presented by JEGS.com as
early as 8 a.m. ET, Saturday. There is a practice session scheduled 12:30
p.m., with qualifying at 4 p.m. The track will host an Easter Egg Hunt and
Nickel/Penny Goldrush for the kids at 5:30 p.m. The racing action will begin at
6 p.m. and will include the VR-12/Easter Bunny 100 Presented by JEGS.com
and a 50-lap feature for the USA Modified Series.
More event information is available at
www.toledospeedway.com or
www.craracing.net.
Information regarding JEGS Mail Order can be found at
www.jegs.com and for media/fan resources checkout
www.teamjegs.com Media Contact:
Scott "Woody" Woodruff
JEGS, Director of Media & Motorsports
Office: 800.345.4545 (#3, ext 412)
Mobile: 614.595.1820
Fax: 740.362.5507
Email: jegspr@aol.com -or- scott.woodruff@jegs.com
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