Steve: So where does the next Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson come from?
Is Carl Larson on his way to stardom?
Well car owners work hard to find and develop talent.
Joe Gibbs Racing is no different.
Here's our Bob Donor with more on that story.
Bob: Well, Steve we could have the next Jimmy Johnson sitting with us at the hub here today.
18 year-old Cody Coughlin, the president of Joe Gibbs Racing JD Gibbs.
You're the son of a Super Bowl winning coach.
So I want to know what's the game plan for Cody right now.
JD: Well, we're going to start him off with working racing with Venturini.
And so hopefully just grows from there and expands you know.
He's got a great career ahead of him.
He's got a pretty neat family to.
Bob: Very funny family.
They've been entertaining all of us here on Race Hub today.
But Cody I want to ask you because for a lot of people listening to the show today.
They might hear the name Coughlin, and go, "Coughlin, I know that name.
The nephew of a five time NHRA Pro Stock champion."
And your uncles have all driven.
Your dad's driven as well, but why Oval Track racing compared to going straight lining in
the NHRA?
Cody: Man, I don't know.
Drag racing is obviously in my blood.
And I guess every time I go out to qualify and spin the tires a little bit.
I guess I got a little that in me.
But you know I don't really have an exact answer why I chose circle track, or oval.
But you know I enjoy being in the car longer.
It's just great and I love both of them, but oval track caught my attention and I love
it.
Bob: It's always a lot of fun to bump and bang with some people I'm sure.
But you heard Daniel Trotta tease up the fact that you guys are here.
And we want to ask you know what caught your eye about an 18 year-old kid that comes from
a drag racing family.
Why would you want to get together with him, and propel his career in oval track racing?
JD: We've had a lot of drivers come through JGR.
And you kind of notice what to look for and realize, "Hey, this guy has it.
This guy struggles."
And so we thinking Cody has it.
And we'll find out in next few years, and that's our hope.
And that what we're pulling for.
Bob: And of course I've spent some time with you Cody.
And you look at drivers and study them.
Who do you most want to emulate to try to propel your career?
Cody: Well at JGR there is a phenomenal group of drivers, with Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch,
Matt Kenseth.
Even Bubba Wallace, Sam Hornish, Junior, Drew Herring, and Elliott Sadler.
Everybody there is just phenomenal.
I think when I was growing up younger, I really looked at Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson kind
of as the guys that are clean cut.
Really good on the racetrack.
They know what to say in front of the camera.
So I looked up to them, but obviously everybody at JGR is a perfect role model.
So I think I'm in good shape.
Bob: Is that hard to do sometimes as you're trying to make a name for yourself.
To make sure and not only drive the car, but to say the right thing all times?
Cody: Oh, it's so important.
I mean on track performance is a lot of it.
But I think a lot of it as well has got to do with you know off track on the shows like
this, representing your sponsors well.
It's really a sport but it's also a business.
And I'm around great people at JGR, and also at Venturini Motorsports to have the right
grooming and everything like that to, you know, hopefully represent everything well.
Bob: I want to know you got a sharp-looking car behind you.
But that's a Series-A Super light model.
Okay, you tested recently in an Arca car, heavier stock car.
What are the opinions from both of you?
You in the car.
How was it?
And what did you think of that test JD?
JD: You know overall the guys at Venturini said he did a really good job, which is hard.
I was a pretty good race car driver back in the day.
Bob: You got fired right?
Sorry.
JD: That's what it was.
The guys that know say that he has a real gift.
And so hopefully that we can apply that, and go forward with it.
Bob: And what about you?
Cody: You know, well it was definitely experience that I wasn't used to driving a super light
model.
But really I think if you're a race car driver you kind of just enjoy getting in whatever
you can.
Whether it's a go kart, or an Arca car.
And it was a great experience.
It wasn't too much of a learning curve, but obviously as I start to get to racing with
people, I'll have to learn and adapt, but it was a great first time experience.
Bob: A couple weeks at Mobile Speedway down in Alabama.
You will make your Arca debut with the team.
Good luck this year, and we wish you the best.
Cody: Thanks, I appreciate it.
Bob: Cody Coughlin, one of the up and coming stars of our sport.
You're going to hear a lot about him Steve.