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CRA All Stars - Cody Coughlin Headed For Circle City Along With Big Test


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CLERMONT, Sept. 29, 2011: After watching NASCAR star Kevin Harvick drive the JEGS.com Chevrolet in the Camping World Truck Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Cody Coughlin returns to the wheel of his JEGS Chevrolet this weekend in Indianapolis.

Coughlin will drive the JEGS Chevy in the McGunegill Engine Performance 100 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour event at famed Lucas Oil Raceway. The JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour race is part of a big weekend at LOR for the Championship Racing Association, as five CRA series will be racing at the .686-mile short track.

Coughlin, the Howie Lettow Rookie of the Year Award leader, watched Harvick finish third in the JEGS.com truck at New Hampshire. Along the way, he picked up some sage advice from a four-time Sprint Cup champion.

"That was really neat," Coughlin said. "Jeff Gordon told me to learn the data stuff about how much brake you're using and things like that. He said to learn as much as I could about simulations because that's the direction the sport is going.

"I usually don't look at the data because sometimes all the data can be overwhelming. I'd rather have it layman's terms at the moment. When I get more experience, I'll start learning the basics.

"Kevin was in the JEGS truck and did a great job. Watching him race with our colors was a bunch of fun."

Coughlin sits seventh in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars points standings after a disappointing race at Berlin Raceway. Still, he's had a solid streak of late, with two top-five and four top-10 finishes in the last five races.

"There's no question I'm hoping for a better weekend," Coughlin said. "The only way we can go from Berlin is up, so I'm definitely looking for redemption. I'm looking to get a win before the end of the season, so that's my priority."

Coughlin will be making his first stock-car start at Lucas Oil Raceway, though his family has been racing there for many years – just not on the oval. The Coughlin family has long been a part of drag racing at the adjacent quarter-mile strip, including at the U.S. Nationals.

"This is my first time racing the oval, but I've been around it on a golf cart lots of times. Dad and my family have raced at the drag strip for many years, so I've had time to go over there and look at it.

"I've watched a few races on TV from there. I have a general idea of what it's about, but of course nothing beats seat time, so I look forward to getting behind the wheel this weekend."

This weekend's JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour race is a two-day event, with practice at noon and qualifying at 4:15 p.m. Eastern on Saturday. The CRA race program is slated to begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

"Having faith in the Lord and the support of my mom and dad (Di and John) and my sister Kennedi mean the most to me," Cody said. "They're always there at the end of the race whether I win or lose."