Cody Hodgson: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
Bowman Gray Stadium Race Preview
THE STORY
Cody Hodgson of Escalon, Calif., resumes his quest to become NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Sunoco Rookie of the Year in the Army Strong 150 at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Saturday, June 4. This marks the series’ first visit to the historic quarter-mile track, though several teams – including the Dave Davis Motorsports entry for Hodgson – did test at the track last month. Hodgson sits fourth among rookies in the series standings through four races and 12th overall. Qualifying for the event takes place on Friday night, June 3, with the main event slated for the next night at the track known as “The Madhouse.”
THE FACTS
WHO: Cody Hodgson, Escalon, Calif.
TEAM: Dave Davis Motorsports No. 03 Ocala Gran Prix Chevrolet
CREW CHIEF: Robbie Harrison, Pownal, Maine
BEST CAREER BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM FINISH: N/A
LAST RACE AT BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM: N/A
WHAT: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Army Strong 150
WHERE: Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, N.C. (.25-mile)
WHEN: 8:30 p.m., Saturday, June 4
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
LAST RACE: May 21, Pork ‘Be Inspired’ 175, Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa (12th)
NEXT RACE: June 11, Slack Auto Parts 150, Gresham Motorsports Park, Jefferson, Ga. (.500-mile oval)
CURRENT POINTS POSITION: 12th
DID YOU KNOW?
Cody Hodgson finished 12th at Iowa Speedway for his best career finish on a track larger than a half-mile in length.
Cody Hodgson has two Top-10 finishes in the first four starts of his K&N Pro Series career.
Cody Hodgson lives with team owner Dave Davis during the week, working at the shop during the day and competing on the weekends.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
CODY HODGSON, Driver of the No. 03 Ocala Gran Prix Chevrolet, On how the recent test at Bowman Gray Stadium went: “It went really good. We were consistently all day in the Top-5, Top-10 cars, and we didn’t even get the chance to run on new tires. All my laps were pretty much on 150-lap old tires.
“I think we’ll be pretty good once we get on new tires, and once we get the brakes worked out a little bit. I think we’re gong to have a really good car.”
On how he sees the racing playing out at Bowman Gray: “It’s really hard to say how it’s all going to play out. During practice, there wasn’t a whole lot of room when you got around other cars. I think during the race it’s going to be pretty good, but you’re going to have to keep an eye on what’s going on around you.
“I think qualifying is going to be a big, big part of the racing – just qualifying up in that front group and being able to maintain your position all night is going to be a key. It’s definitely going to take some patience.
“On any terms, it’s so much different from what I’ve been doing with go-karts my whole life. With the track being smaller, you have to be more aggressive in your driving. That kind of relates to go-kart racing. But at the same time, the patience you have to have in these cars, it’s nothing like in go-karting. In karts, you could drive from five cars back to overtake a guy in a corner. Here, if you overdrive the corners at all, you just lose so much.”
On goals for the Army Strong 150: “I really want to come out of there with a Top-5. I’m really excited about it. I know Robbie and everybody has been working really hard. I’m sure it’s going to be really difficult (at Bowman Gray)at times, but I’m really confident going to all the different tracks now.
“For us, if we can get things squared away in practice and have a good qualifying run, I think we’re going to be really good in the race.”
UP NEXT
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East returns to Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, Ga., for the Slack Auto Parts 150 on Saturday, June 11… Dave Davis Motorsports sat on the pole and led 128 laps in this event a year ago with driver Kevin Swindell.