Cody Overton
Like in most professions, any racer who has a successful relative in the sport will always have to battle comparisons to that successful relative. And certainly, that will be the case for Cody Overton as his brother, Brandon, has made himself into one of the top Dirt Late Model drivers in the country. But at the same time, the younger of the brothers realizes that there is much to gain from that relationship.
Over the next two weeks, Cody Overton will be making his first series of starts in a Super Late Model as he drives a Longhorn Chassis machine owned by Joey Coulter and prepared by crew chief Harold Holly. This driver and team is set to take on the Ray Cook-promoted Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals tour across numerous tracks around the southeast with the intention of not only doing well but also gaining experience.
Overton, who has successfully raced Crate Late Models over the past three years, was looking to take a step up and the opportunity to pair with Coulter’s Rum Runner Racing operation proved to be a timely break.
“I had actually got a super motor for my car and then me and Harold had been talking here and there,” Overton explained in an interview with InsideDirtRacing.com. “As soon as I got my super motor they called me that week and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to do it by myself so I really needed to do this deal. I think it’s better that I’m with him(Holly). It just all worked out. I’m very grateful for this opportunity. I think it’s going to help me in the long run having somebody like him that knows everything and can do everything and can teach me what I need to do. My brother can teach me only so much because he’s on the road 24/7 so I don’t really get to see him that much.”
Obviously, seat time for the 23-year-old Evans, Georgia native is one priority. But Overton has higher ambitions.
“I hope to win one of these things,” he declared. “But no, I just want to run good and keep them happy. I want to show them that I can do it and I just need a little help. I just need a little backing and we’ll get there. These guys are really going to take me there and they’re full blown for me and they have faith in me.”
The seeds for driving the Rum Runner machine were planted a few years ago when Brandon Overton drove the car owned by the former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series racer.
“I built a relationship with Joey when Brandon was driving so me and him are pretty close,” Overton pointed out. “We chat here and there and he’s always kept up with me. Harold has even helped me on my own stuff so me and him are really close so we kind of knew what we were getting into together.”
So what of the comparisons to his highly successful sibling?
“I hear it all the time,” he answered with a chuckle. “Everybody asks me if I’m going to be able to do it like my brother. I don’t know about that but I’m going to try my hardest. He says I’m going to be better than him but that would be tough. He’s really good.”
Cody Overton(2) racing against veteran Dale McDowell
Brandon helped him get into his first car, a 602 Late Model. But perhaps more important was the time the younger brother spent on the road helping the older brother and learning the tricks of the trade.
“I think it made me better as a driver to learn it by going out on the road than to just jump out there and start trying to learn everything all at once,” Overton said. “I knew how to kind of work on the car somewhat and fiddle with the shocks when I first started helping Brandon. But now, I know a pretty decent amount to get me in the ballpark. I think it helped me a lot more to get out on the road and do that.”
Cody Overton has learned that there is much to be gained from the experience and talent of Brandon Overton.
“He definitely is supportive. He can be tough on me, but like anybody, he wants me to do good. I can go out and win a race and he’ll complain about everything I did wrong. I get it though. He just wants me to be the best and do the best. It’s only going to make me better the harder he is on me.”
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