CRA All-Stars Series - Rookie Cody Coughlin Has Best Race At Birch Run

BIRCH RUN, June 20, 2011: JEGS.com Late Model Stock Car racer Cody Coughlin earned a fifth-place finish Friday night in the Dixie 100 presented by JEGS.com at Dixie Motor Speedway, the best result of his rookie season in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Series.

The former .25 Midget Heavy Mod class champion qualified second on the grid, but started sixth because the top seven qualifying positions were inverted for the main event. He stayed in the front pack of drivers all night, moving up from sixth to fifth by the end of the night, completing all 100 laps with an unblemished racecar.

"This was a very successful race for us," the 15-year-old Coughlin said. "It really got the confidence of the team up. We're learning how to qualify well and we're learning how to race up front.

"I went into the race just hoping to gain some more experience and to bring the JEGS.com Chevrolet home in one piece. We did that, and we feel good about it as a team. My parents, my sister Kennedi, and the whole team put a lot of effort into making sure we are prepared and it's great to have some success for everyone."

There were 25 cars competing on the .4-mile, progressively-banked, asphalt racetrack and Coughlin said the action was tight all night.

"We had a very fast car but everyone seemed to be running good," Coughlin said. "It seemed most cars could hold that outside line so it took some work to get around people. At one point I probably went 20 laps side-by-side with another car before I could get past him. It was stressful at times, for sure.

"There weren't many cautions. I heard on the radio that there were wrecks happening behind me but I only saw one. Two cars in front of my wrecked and I almost clipped their cars going around them but we made it through. More good experience."

Coughlin and the rest of the pros in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Series will return to the track on Saturday, July 9, at Anderson Speedway in Anderson, Ind., and crew chief Rich Lushes says his young shoe is looking sharp.

"I'm very happy with the progression of Cody over the past couple months," Lushes said. "Friday at Dixie was the best race I have seen him drive yet and I know more exciting things will come in the future."