LONG POND, PA – On a day that saw many competitors struggle to solve “The Tricky Triangle,” Cody Coughlin turned in a strong performance in his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Pocono Raceway. Coughlin started in the eighth position after qualifying was rained out and battled within the top-10 for much of the race before finishing 13th in Saturday’s Pocono Mountains 150.
The 20-year-old driver was better with each lap he turned during the caution-filled day in his No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports JEGS.com/Mishimoto Toyota Tundra. Coughlin did an admirable job avoiding all of the action as trucks spun near him seemingly all day long.
Between the action around him and his learning curve, Coughlin felt he had had a strong day while gaining plenty of experience in the Poconos.
“I’m pretty happy with how things went,” Coughlin said. “We ran in the top 10 throughout much of the day. I would have liked to have finished there, but that just wasn’t how things played out. Overall, I thought it was a good day for my first time here in a truck.”
The Joe Gibbs Racing Development driver’s next time out in the KBM truck is scheduled for August 27 at the Michigan International Speedway.
“I’m excited to be going to Michigan for our next race,” said Coughlin. “I’ve run a couple of ARCA races there and I think I have a pretty good idea of how to race that track, even though it’ll be very different in the truck. I can’t wait to get there because I know that Bono (Kevin Manion, crew chief) and all of the guys that work on our Kyle Busch Motorsports truck will give me another great Tundra.
“I can’t thank Kyle and Samantha Busch enough for the opportunity to continue to race their equipment. It’s a real honor to be able to do that. I also can’t thank my parents (Di and John) enough for their continued love and support, and of course my sister Kennedi for always coming with me to every race and being my biggest cheerleader. I have been truly blessed by God with such great supporters.”
Coughlin will be back behind the wheel of his Pro Late Model next weekend on August 6 at Spitzer Motor Speedway in Mansfield, Ohio where he looks to extend his JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour points lead.
