“It’s been an exciting year for all of us with Team JEGS,” said Coughlin. “We have worked hard and made a lot of changes in our Late Model program and it has paid off.”
One of those changes came after a difficult outing at The Rattler 250 at South Alabama Speedway in March. Team JEGS hired longtime friend, and veteran racer himself, Jack Smith as the crew chief for Coughlin.
The Coughlin-Smith pairing has worked wonders. Since their first race together at the Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville, Coughlin has yet to finish outside the top 10. In fact, Coughlin’s eighth-place run in the non-points North/South Super Late Model Challenge at Nashville is his only finish outside the top five since he and Smith partnered up.
“Jack, Kevin (Hamlin, Team Manager) and the entire team made some significant changes in the car and we have what we need now to challenge for race wins every time we show up at a racetrack,” explained Coughlin. Scott (Wimmer) does a great job as my spotter to guide me through the races and Dave (Holt), Cody (Smith) and Greg (Urbine) are there to pitch in with whatever needs to be done. Together, with my mom (Di), dad (John) and sister (Kennedi) behind me as well, we have a team that is stronger than its ever been. I definitely feel blessed to have the team I do.”
A smart and methodical approach to the CRA Super Series race at Toledo Speedway led his to victory in April; his first since the Labor Day 100-lap event at Indiana’s Winchester Speedway in 2014.
The Ohio native proved that win was no fluke by taking the checkered flag just a couple of weeks later on the high-banked quarter-mile of Indiana’s Anderson Speedway.
Two weeks after that, the Delaware, Ohio native came through the field to take his third consecutive CRA Super Series win of the season at Indiana’s Baer Field Speedway.
Most recently, Coughlin scored his first Pro Late Model win of the season when took the checkered flag on the high-banked half-mile Salem Speedway in Indiana.
As it stands now, Coughlin holds the CRA Super Series points lead by 15 markers over second-place. He is also atop the JEGS / CRA All-Stars Tour points by eight points over his crew chief, Smith.
In addition to Coughlin’s strong Late Model showings this year, he’s also made a few starts for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with a best finish of 12th. While Coughlin has yet to break into the top 10, he’s showing steady improvement each time he climbs into the JEGS.com No. 51 Toyota Tundra.
Coughlin will continue his quest to duel championships and race in several NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races throughout the rest of 2016.
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
