Toledo Speedway

TOLEDO, Ohio (4-16-16) – It was no simple thing getting the lead, but once Cody Coughlin got there, the Delaware, Ohio driver pulled away over the final 20 laps by four seconds over runner-up finisher Chad Finley to win the first half of the ARCA/CRA Super Series 7-UP 200 double-header Saturday afternoon at Toledo Speedway.

Coughlin, in the No. 1 JEGS Toyota, started third and followed leader Brian Campbell for much of the way with Finley right behind before Coughlin made his move inside Campbell in turn three to lead the 66^th lap. From there, it looked like a Sunday drive to the checkers.

“I thought I was on a Sunday drive,” Coughlin said. “I knew our stuff was strong. I was going as hard as I could without spinning the tires. If you can keep your tires under you here, it works good.

“I remember my first race here…I ended up in the wall over there (turn one), so this is a lot better than that. Thanks to JEGS…we couldn’t do this without their support, and thanks to Kevin Hamlin and all the guys that work hard on this deal. They made all the right adjustments today…this thing was rocket ship.”

Campbell had a “rocket ship” for much of the race too, leading the first 65 laps of the 100-lap race before giving it up for good. Campbell also had a left-rear brake issue that left him with no rear brakes heading full speed toward turn three on the 72^nd lap. Campbell’s No. 47 Senneker Performance Chevrolet broke loose and slid up the banking, making heavy contact with the safer barriers.

“We’ve hit without the barriers and we’ve hit with the barrier…neither one is any fun,” Campbell said. “We won’t know for sure until we cut it apart tomorrow…it’s a rear clip for sure. We know now the left brake caliper line was broke…we pumped out all the (brake) fluid. No brakes.”

Chad Finley, in the No 42 Auto Value Bumper to Bumper-Air Lift Toyota, had been working over Campbell for the second position right before Campbell’s accident. Once Finley was in second, he got to Coughlin’s rear bumper a time or two, but in the end fell back by 20 lengths.

“I thought we had a chance there toward the end, but I would have had to move him,” Finley said. “He was better than us today anyway, so it worked out like it should.”

Unlike the rest of the front-runners, the DeWitt, Mich. driver ran the second groove most of the way.

“I ran the same line two years ago here…first to go to the top then, so I thought we’d try it today. It works for about 15 laps, but not long enough.”

Prior to the crash, Campbell, Coughlin and Finley put on a spectacular wheel-to-wheel demonstration, racing in and out of lapped cars while going side-by-side and three-wide in traffic for position. Once things settled down, and with Campbell gone from the mix, Coughlin cruised home for the win.

Polesitter Dalton Armstrong finished third in the No. 4 Winfield-Baker Crop Insurance Ford ahead of Johnny VanDoorn in fourth in the No. 71 Lisa Thomas Salon Chevrolet. Jerry Artuso finished fifth in the 5 car.

ARCA/CRA Super Series champions Travis Braden and Grant Quinlan finished sixth and eighth respectively with Jordan Pruitt in between in seventh. Chris Koslek and second-generation ARCA racer Hunter Jack finished ninth and 10^th.

Brandon Oakley set quick time at 15:368 seconds, but pitted with an oil leak during the race and finished 17th.

Needles dominates in ARCA Gold Cup Outlaw main event

The Royal Truck & Trailer ARCA Gold Cup Outlaw Late Model 100-lapper served the 7-UP 200 as the second-half finale but with much less drama than the ARCA/CRA show-opener.

Still, it worked out well for St. Joseph, Michigan’s Steve Needles who pummeled the field Saturday in his own No. 18 Direct Detail car, winning by a wide margin over second-place finisher Brad Riethmeyer. Needles, who started fifth by inversion, was also the DTS Drive Train Specialists fast qualifier with a quick time of 15.009 seconds around the half-mile oval.

The first thing Needles mentioned from victory lane was to offer appreciation for the ticket buyers.

“I just want to thank all the fans that came out today…we really appreciate all their support,” Needles said.

“It’s great to be back in victory lane. We had a really good race car…it drove itself. It was awesome.”

Alex Rosenberry took the lead at the onset, only to have his car stall on lap six, bringing out the yellow flag. Rosenberry was unable to return to competition, and Needles inherited the lead. 

Despite a few cautions for spins that bunched up the field, Needles pulled away at will, building as much as a half-lap lead at times over his nearest competitor.

Brent Jack finished third, followed by Jeff Ganus, Dennis Strickland, Nick Bailey, Dave Stehouwer, Chris Benson, Joe Hawes, Jimmie Ward Jr., RJ White, Harold Fair Jr., Nick Grodi and Alex Rosenberry. Frankie Jiovani, Johnny Belott, Scott Pemberton and Will Sahutzke did not start the event due to mechanical issues. 

Don Radebaugh, dradebaugh@arcaracing.com