By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer
After suffering a non-racing related left-ankle injury, John Wes Townley will not be behind the wheel of his No. 05 Jive Communications/Zaxby’s Chevrolet Silverado for Athenian Motorsports. In his place in the Striping Technology 350 at Texas Motor Speedway will be Cody Coughlin. Coughlin is a Joe Gibbs Racing development driver who usually competes in the No. 51 JEGS Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
Earlier this season, Townley was sidelined from competition in both NASCAR and ARCA due to a concussion. In the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Brady Boswell filled in at Eldora Speedway and Parker Kligerman filled in at Kentucky Motor Speedway.
For Coughlin, this is an opportunity for him to return to the site of his best career finish in the Truck Series. In the June Texas race, Coughlin finished 12th after starting 14th. So far Coughlin has competed in 11 NASCAR CWTS races.
Outside of NASCAR, Coughlin has earned the 2013 and 2016 JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour Pro Late Model Championship as well as the 2016 ARCA CRA Super Late Model Series Championship. Coughlin was the first driver to ever win both the CRA Pro Late Model and ARCA Super Late Model titles in the same year.
In 17 ARCA Racing Series starts, Coughlin has five top fives, 11 Top 10s, and two pole positions. His best finish in the ARCA Racing Series was a second at Talladega in 2015.
Coughlin was thankful for the opportunity and wished Townley a quick recovery.
“I want to wish John Wes a speedy recovery and hope he’s back at the track soon. I’m honored that Athenian Motorsports thought of me to drive their truck this weekend.”
Coughlin was also looking forward towards the opportunity ahead of him.
“I like Texas a lot. I had a lot of speed when I ran the truck race there this summer. I feel like I can really get around that place and Athenian’s trucks are fast. I think that’s going to make for a good weekend for us.”
Coughlin will now look to use the momentum he has coming off of winning two Championships to improve his best career finish and play the role of Chase spoiler.
