CRA All-Stars - Rookie Of The Year Coughlin Enjoys Awards Ceremony In Indiana

FISHERS, Jan. 16, 2012: JEGS.com Chevrolet driver Cody Coughlin was awarded the Howie Littow Rookie of the Year Award for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour during the Championship Racing Association awards ceremony at the Fishers Banquet Center.

"We had a good time with all the drivers," Coughlin said. "I made a little speech, and it was fun to be able to get the award and hear some compliments from the other drivers. That was a lot of fun."

Coughlin earned the series' top rookie honor after posting four top-five and seven top-10 finishes in 11 races. The 2011 season was Coughlin's first full year in a full-bodied stock car, after racing .25-midgets and other open-wheel cars earlier in his career.

"It was a good year," Coughlin said. "It was a good learning experience, especially jumping from .25-midgets to a Late Model. That's quite a jump. To be able to win Rookie of the Year and have some top-fives and lead some laps and finish sixth in the points, I think it was a pretty successful year."

Coughlin, 16, was running at the finish of all but one race – the first of the year. He posted a top-five in the third race and finished in the top 10 in six of the last seven events of the season.

Now coupled with three-time champion crew chief Butch VanDoorn, Coughlin looks forward to a successful 2012 season.

"Getting some laps and hopefully getting some respect from the other drivers will pay off for this year," Coughlin said. "I'm extremely thankful for everything the Lord's blessed us with. I would've liked to have won the championship, but we'll go for that this year."