Coughlin Kia of Newark

Capturing Kia's first-ever GRAND-AM pole and second place qualifying positions, respectively, the No. 10 and No. 12 Infinity Audio Forte Koups set the pace for today's exciting Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSCC) season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway.

Andy Lally set a new Street Tuner class qualifying lap record in the No. 10 Koup to claim the pole position while Mark Pombo, in the No. 12 Koup, posted the second-fastest lap, making it an all-Kia front row for the starting grid.

With new driver pairings as well as a new red and white exterior paint scheme conceived by Kia's California Design Center, the Forte Koups are starting the 2012 season off in fine style.

2011 CTSCC Street Tuner Drivers Champion Nic Jönsson reunited with former co-driver and NASCAR 2011 Sunoco Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year Lally in the No. 10 Koup during Thursday's qualifying session. Lally played a critical role in Kia's 2010 "development year" and helped Kia earn its first-ever GRAND-AM podium finish last season at Daytona. In addition, decorated brothers Mark and Mathew Pombo join the third-year program to pilot the No. 12 Koup and strengthen Kia's chase for its first-ever manufacturers championship. The Koups anchor Kia's expanded motorsports activities in 2012, which will include two turbocharged Optimas racing in the Pirelli World Challenge and the all-new Rio 5-door competing in B-Spec events.

The 2.5-hour CTSCC race kicks off at 10:30 a.m. PT/1:30 p.m. ET, and the Koups will race on the famed 3.6-mile, 12-turn Daytona road course. Visit the Kia Racing Facebook Page (facebook.com/kiaracing) for live updates from the track or visit http://grand-am.com for live lap charts. The race will air on Feb. 4 at 9 a.m. PT/noon ET on SPEED so be sure to tune in to catch the action.

Five years ago, the lowly Optima ranked fourth in sales popularity among Kia's seven models. Competing family cars like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord were sales leaders for their brands. Then, Kia went to work, and the smashingly handsome Optima debuted in April. Nine months have passed, and we'll tender a verdict: The 2011 Optima should become Kia's top seller and give Camry and Accord shoppers a better choice. It wins Cars.com's highest award, Best of 2011.

As befits an age-old group, family cars generally have played it safe, even when the big fishes are redesigned. Like its platform sibling, the Hyundai Sonata, the new Optima did not play it safe. Its declarative stance will look good years from now. The cabin's wraparound contours recall pricier Saab and Audi interiors, and its upscale materials ? upholstery-stitched portions of the dashboard, for example ? are a far cry from what this segment usually delivers.

The Optima delivers an outstanding fuel efficiency and a good driving experience ? better on both fronts than the Sonata. The smaller Chevrolet Cruze was the strongest runner-up in our voting on this award, but the Cruze's impressive gas mileage comes with only one of its five trim levels. The fact is, the Optima's mass-market drivetrain ? a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and six-speed automatic ? renders 27 mpg in combined EPA city/highway ratings, and you can get that in the mainline LX and EX trims. That matches the most efficient four-cylinder competitors; you'd have to get a hybrid family sedan to beat it.

Speaking of which, Kia plans to offer an Optima Hybrid soon. There's also an Optima Turbo, whose 74 extra horses ring up an outstanding 26 mpg, but with no premium fuel needed. Spacious rear legroom, a large trunk and uncommon premium options ? cooled front seats, heated rear seats ? seal the deal. Despite the alternatives, family sedans remain a cornerstone of the market: More than one in seven new models sold in the U.S. is a member of this group. We've recognized cars that elevate what the segment can represent ? like last year's winner of this award, the 39-mpg Ford Fusion Hybrid. With its value, sharp packaging, outstanding fuel efficiency and lofty features, the Optima gives all family-car shoppers a shot at something far more compelling than the segment represents.

With strong entrants from the Soul to the Sorento, Kia's been storming the market for some time. We're certain the Optima will be another success, and we suspect it will be the biggest one yet.

Source: Cars.com

Hamster TV Commercial

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The Licking County Family YMCA's Western Branch is two thirds of the way to meeting its fundraising goals, almost assuring the facility will remain in Pataskala.

Through Jan, 20, the YMCA had raised $100,000 of the needed $150,000.

Pledges from Coughlin Auto Group and two anonymous donors, among others, enabled the non-profit organization to raise the money.

"I'm not worried at all (about raising the remaining money)," said Edward Bohren, executive director of the Licking County Family YMCA. "This helps us build momentum to get that final $50,000 we need."

Bohren and other YMCA officials kicked off the fundraising campaign late last year.

The organization sought to raise the $150,000 to replace a damaged roof at the Western Branch's facility at 355 W. Broad St. In addition, it wanted to repave the facility's rough parking lot, install an air-conditioner in the Wellness Center and add some equipment.

YMCA representatives announced at a November public meeting that if they could not raise the money to make the needed improvements -- on rainy days, buckets catch water in parts of the Broad Street facility -- they would have to consider leaving Pataskala. They set June as the fundraising deadline.

Western Branch Program Director Dana Ruble credited an anonymous grant writer with helping the YMCA secure $24,000 of the $100,000 it has raised to this point.

The grant came from the Columbus Foundation, and the act of kindness touched Ruble.

"(The grant) didn't come from us," she said. "Someone actually did this -- and writing a grant is not easy. I'm speechless."

The YMCA filled a void when it first located in Pataskala in 2000. The organization initially operated out of a trailer on Ohio 310 and used area churches and other sites for programming space. It later moved to the former Jersey Elementary in Jersey Township before buying its current site on Broad Street, which had been a manufacturing facility. A family's pledge of $1 million enabled the move.

Membershipwise, the Western Branch has grown from catering to dozens in its infancy to more than 1,200 today.

The facility offers numerous youth and adult programs, in addition to a Day Camp, before- and after-school care and a spacious Wellness Center, filled with workout equipment.

YMCA leaders undertook a larger-scale fundraiser close to four years ago, with the idea of raising millions to completely renovate the Broad Street facility.

While that campaign stalled and the YMCA had to return the money it raised, Bohren expressed hope the new campaign will help the organization make the needed repairs at its Western Branch, enabling it to attract more members and offer more programs.

Ruble, meanwhile, said people do not have to donate money to contribute to the Western Branch's restoration effort. Materials or labor also would help, she said.

"We definitely still have needs, but I'm really excited to be two-thirds of the way (toward our fundraising goal)," Ruble said.

*Source: Chad Klimack, http://NewarkAdvocate.com