Cody Hodgson: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Race Preview
THE STORY
Cody Hodgson of Escalon, Calif., heads back to speedway racing when the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East heads to the New England 125 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H., on Friday, July 15. Hodgson sits 11th in the overall standings, just 12 points out of the Top-10, and fourth in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year race. After a nearly one-month layoff from competition, Dave Davis Motorsports heads back to one of its most successful tracks on the circuit, where it finished second in this race a year ago with driver Kevin Swindell.
THE FACTS
WHO: Cody Hodgson, Escalon, Calif.
TEAM: Dave Davis Motorsports No. 03 Ocala Gran Prix Dodge
CREW CHIEF: Robbie Harrison, Pownal, Maine
BEST CAREER NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY FINISH: N/A
LAST RACE AT NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY: N/A
WHAT: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East New England 125
WHERE: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H. (1.058-mile oval)
WHEN: Qualifying – 3:15 p.m., Thursday, July 14; Race – 5 p.m., Friday, July 15
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
LAST RACE: June 18, VisitHamptonVA 175, Langley Speedway, Hampton, Va. (15th)
NEXT RACE: July 23, JEGS 150, Columbus Motor Speedway, Columbus, Ohio (.333-mile semi-banked oval)
CURRENT POINTS POSITION: 11th
DID YOU KNOW?
Cody Hodgson finished 12th in both of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East races on speedways this season – at Richmond International Raceway in April and at Iowa Speedway in May.
Cody Hodgson has never been to New Hampshire Motor Speedway. In fact, he’s never even been to New England before.
In the last four races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Dave Davis Motorsports has two Top-5 finishes, three Top-10 starting spots, three Top-10 finishes and hasn’t finished worse than 11th.
Dave Davis Motorsports finished second in the New England 125 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last season.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
CODY HODGSON, Driver of the No. 03 Ocala Gran Prix Dodge, On heading to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the first time: “All I know about it is what I’ve seen – which is just a bunch online (laughing). I know (Dave Davis Motorsports) has got a good reputation of being fast there, and that boosts my confidence up. I’m looking forward to getting back to a big track. The first couple of races on the big tracks, I felt really comfortable.
“I really want to get out there and get up to speed right off in that first practice. I think our speedway program is better than our short track program right now, so it will be really good to get there this week.”
On having the long layoff since the race at Langley Speedway: “It was kind of a bad time to have a little bit of break for me. I wish I could have gotten into a car a little bit more. I’m sure a lot of the other guys spent some time testing, but (crew chief Robbie Harrison) and the guys have been working hard getting ready to get cars to test in the next few weeks.
“That’s something I’d like to do, just to keep in the seat and stay fresh. I hate to give up that kind of seat time right now.”
On Dave Davis Motorsports’ recent track record at New Hampshire: “It makes me feel good. Everywhere we go, the car is quick right out of the box on the speedways. It’s just a mater of fine-tuning and getting ready to go when we get on the track. It’s good for my confidence. Everybody keeps saying, ‘Oh, man, they’re always really good here.’ It puts a little pressure on me.
“It seems like (New Hampshire) has a lot less banking than Iowa did. I don’t really know what the transition’s going to be like. They say New Hampshire can be deceiving – it’s so big and so flat, but you can carry a lot more speed into the corners than you think you can. That will be biggest thing to figure out in the first practice session.
“I want to finish in the Top-5 and get that first win so bad. I’m going to drive the heck out of the thing.”
On racing during a Sprint Cup Series weekend: “It’s more exciting. When you go to the Greenville Pickens and other races where it’s just us, its like going to a regional Late Model race or something. But when you go to a big track like New Hampshire, it really seems like a national thing – the best of the best young guys are here.
“It makes you up your game when you go to these kind of events. The next day at the track, everyone knows who won the night before.”
UP NEXT
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East makes its inaugural appearance at Columbus Motor Speedway in Columbus, Ohio, for the JEGS 150 on Saturday, July 23… The track is a .333-mile semi-banked oval.