JEGS Crown Midget Super Nationals set for Saturday at Columbus Motor Speedway
JEGS Crown Midget Super Nationals set for Saturday at Columbus Motor Speedway COLUMBUS, Ohio (Sept. 16) -- The United States Auto Club returns to Columbus Motor Speedway this Saturday for the JEGS Crown Midget Super Nationals, the 28th of 34 races on the 2009 USAC schedule. This will mark USAC's second stop of the year in Columbus. The first JEGS Crown Midget Super Nationals took place April 4 with Darren Hagen winning the 40-lap main event. Based in the Columbus suburb of Delaware, Ohio, JEGS High Performance Parts is a natural to sponsor the high-profile event as it's in town where JEGS began 48 years ago. "It's a big weekend for JEGS and our 250-plus associates," co-owner John Coughlin said. "The spring race was a huge success and we're excited to be back for a second stop. The Nuckles family has owned the track since it's inception in 1945 and they did an outstanding job of branding for us last time. "The weather is supposed to be picture perfect and we're expecting a strong turnout. My son Cody is racing his JEGS hot rod in the Heavy Honda class also so we've got a lot going on. It should be a great time for everyone." Hagen enters the event tied for second in the USAC national points alongside Brad Sweet. The duo trails Brad Kuhn by 36 points. Bobby East, the top qualifier in April, is fifth in the rankings, 240 points off the pace. "The United States Auto Club is proud to have JEGS as a partner for this weekend’s JEGS Crown Midget Super Nationals at the Columbus Motor Speedway," said USAC President/CEO Kevin Miller. "We look forward to what should be an exciting and memorable event for our participants as well as our loyal fans. "Columbus Motor Speedway has never failed to produce spectacular racing and this weekend’s program will have a profound impact on the battle for USAC National Championships. Building on the successful debut of the JEGS Crown concept in April we expect nothing less than a stellar field of drivers and cars for what promises to be a signature event for all involved." Tickets for the JEGS Crown Midget Super Nationals are just $15 for adults. --30-- (Sidebar story) Cody Coughlin to compete at JEGS Crown Midget Super Nationals COLUMBUS, Ohio (Sept. 16) -- Third-generation racer Cody Coughlin will race his JEGS.com .25 Midget racecar in the Heavy Honda class at this weekend's JEGS Crown Midget Super Nationals at Columbus Motor Speedway. Cody is the son of JEGS co-owner John Coughlin and grandson of JEGS founder Jeg Coughlin Sr. and will be the company's most visible racecar driver at this weekend's event. "He's fired up, no doubt about it," John Coughlin said. "He moved up to Heavy Honda earlier this year and has been on a bit of a learning curve but he's coming off his best finish of the season last weekend at Mac-O-Chee Raceway at Lion's Park in West Liberty, Ohio, where he came in third so he's feeling pretty good." Racing in the Honda 120 class, Cody scored several podium finishes, prompting crew chief Tom McCauley to suggest the move to the Heavy Honda category. With help from crewmen Don Fleming and Chuck Longbrake, Cody and teammate "Nitro" Nate McCauley are ready to make a run at this weekend's title. "We switched to a new Eagle chassis and picked up our performance right away," John said. "We can see the leaders now. He's running within seven-hundredths of a second or so of the top guys now so it's encouraging. These are older, more experienced kids in this class and it takes time to get to the next level. He's doing really well." --30-- Information regarding JEGS Mail Order can be found at _www.jegs.com_ (http://www.jegs.com/) and for media/fan resources checkout _www.teamjegs.com_ (http://www.teamjegs.com/) . Media Contact: Scott "Woody" Woodruff JEGS, Director of Media & Motorsports Office: 800.345.4545 (3.412) Mobile: 614.595.1820 Fax: 740.362.4385 Email: _jegspr@aol.com_ (mailto:jegspr@aol.com) -or- _scott.woodruff@jegs.com_ (mailto:scott.woodruff@jegs.com)