Longer Race Favors Rookie Stock Car Racer Cody Coughlin

NEW SMYRNA, Feb. 20, 2011: Rookie racer Cody Coughlin finished the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing Friday night with a strong sixth-place result in his JEGS.com Chevrolet Impala. The 15-year-old was competing for the sixth time in the last week in the Crate Late Model class at New Smyrna Speedway.

"I got a week's worth of great experience and I think I used it all last night," said Coughlin, the son of two-time drag racing champion John Coughlin. "I started 14th and managed to drive all the way up to sixth so that was the best run I've had in this class.

"Compared to the other races this week last night's race was pretty uneventful and that allowed me to get into a nice driving rhythm and just race. There were few crashes but nothing major."

Coughlin was quick to credit driving coaches Gary St. Amant and Landon Cassill, who helped him through the week. He also spoke favorably of new crew chief Rich Lushes.

"I'm really lucky to have such a talented group of people around me," he said. "Plus my mom, dad, and sister Kennedi were here with me and that made the week really special."

On Saturday, Coughlin was able to watch the Nationwide Series event at nearby Daytona International Speedway, where Cassill finished third and Coughlin's favorite driver, Tony Stewart, took the trophy.

"Tony is sponsored by JEGS so we were able to go into the Winner's Circle and take a bunch of pictures with him and his crew," Coughlin said. "What a perfect start to the Daytona 500 weekend."

With the conclusion of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, Coughlin will now switch his attention to the 12-race JEGS Champions Racing Association All-Stars Tour presented by GM Performance Parts, which starts in late April in Toledo, Ohio.