Photo Courtesy R & S Racing Photos
CRA Press Release – Salem, IN (April 17, 2016) – 20 year old Cody Coughlin powered his way to the front to get his second career ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS victory on Saturday afternoon at Toledo Speedway. Coughlin’s win comes in just his second race with new crew chief Jack Smith, a three time winner with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour last season. Coughlin passed Chad Finley for second, then powered by two time defending event winner Brian Campbell on lap 65 to take the lead, then fought off Finley again on a restart on lap 72 to get the win.
“This win just feels great,” remarked an excited Coughlin in victory lane. “We struggled at the beginning of the year and we decided to make a couple changes and brought Jack Smith on. He and my team have really worked great together and so have I. This gives me a huge confidence boost. In my first ARCA/CRA Super Series win at Winchester in 2014, I lead every lap, so now I know I can pass cars to win and race with proven racers like Chad Finley and Brian Campbell. I want to thank my crew and my family for this great opportunity I have to race!”
Saturday’s 7-UP 200 featured the 100 lap ARCA/CRA Super Series and ARCA Midwest Tour event and a 100 lap ARCA Gold Cup Outlaw Late Model event that was won by veteran racer Steve Needles on a gorgeous spring afternoon in front of a great crowd of race fans.
Finley battled Coughlin for several laps on the lap 72 restart after the events only yellow came out when Campbell spun in turn three hitting the foam barriers and wall very hard. Campbell was running second at the time but lost his brakes coming into the turn. Campbell walked away from the hard hit, but the car was heavily damaged. Finley would go on to finish second.
Senneker Performance Rookie of the Year contender Dalton Armstrong finished in third and continues to be the series points leader after picking up his first ever series victory last weekend at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville. Three time series Champion John VanDoorn came from his 10th place starting position to finish fourth. Jerry Artuso finished in fifth place.
Brandon Oakley was the EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier and drew a five for the invert placing Armstrong on the pole. Armstrong won his second straight Senneker Performance Rookie of the Race Award. 2015 series Champion Grant Quinlan was the Hamner Racing Engines Hardcharger Award winner, coming from his 18th starting position to finish eight, his crew picked up the PitBoxes.com Pit Crew of the Race Award. Coughlin picked up the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award for his pass of Campbell. VanDoorn and Quinlan picked up the Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Awards.
The next ARCA/CRA Super Series event will be on Saturday, May 7th at Anderson Speedway. More information on all the CRA Series is available at www.cra-racing.com.