Special Motorsports Event - Million Dollar Experience Beneficial To JEGS Team

MONTGOMERY, Oct. 24, 2011: It wasn’t the result either of them were looking for but JEGS Mail Order teammates Jeg Jr and T.J. Coughlin both described the experience of racing in this weekend’s Nitro Fish Million Dollar Drag Race at Montgomery Motorsports Park as both rewarding and educational.

Both Coughlin’s were brimming with confidence as they entered Saturday’s main event, which paid a whopping $175,000 to the winner, but in the world of high stakes bracket racing, where races are often won and lost by just a few thousandths of a second, the arithmetic did not fall in their favor and they both posted a round two finish. A pair of $20,000 to win companion events held on Thursday and Friday produced similar results while on Sunday, T.J. finally broke through for a very respectable semifinal showing.

“We both drove well and our cars were solid but we were just never able to get in a groove,” said Jeg Jr. “We both managed to win two or three rounds each day but we never got on that roll that you need to go the distance. I had a lot of good close races and I know T.J. did as well.

“Although it was a bit frustrating at times, we actually thought the weekend went well,” Jeg Jr. noted. “[Event promoter] Randy Folk did a great job. He had 175 cars for the Million [main event] and over 300 cars for the other races which I thought was very impressive. The event was organized and the people at Montgomery Motorsports Park were very friendly. Yes, we had high expectations that didn’t pan out but if we had the chance to do it all over again right now, we’d both get right back in line.”

Although T.J. Coughlin was competing in the Nitro Fish Million Dollar race for the first time, he was hardly intimidated by the huge dollar amount at stake or the quality of the competition. In Sunday’s final $20,000 event, T.J., reached the semifinal round along with bracket racing veterans Peter Biondo, Jason Folk, and Todd “Bones” Ewing. T.J. lost to Folk while Ewing went on to win the race.

“I almost managed to get it done today but I came up a little short,” said T.J. “It would have been nice to win that $20 grand but it was still a fun race. I feel the same as uncle Jeg. We both drove well but we just never found that rhythm that would get us to the late rounds every day. I still had a good time and this was a great experience. I’ve always dreamed of racing in the Million Dollar race and now I’ve done it. This is also great practice for all the Winter Series races coming up. I’m going to be doing a lot of bracket racing in the next six weeks so I’m happy to be able to make as many runs as possible.”