Coughlin keeps spot in quickest field ever (NHRA/JEG'S)

NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Ameriquest Mortgage NHRA  Nationals
Route 66 Raceway
Joliet, Ill.
Oct 1, 2005  
 
 

Jeg Coughlin - JEG'S Mail Order / Mopar  - Dodge Stratus RT (Pro Stock)
Saturday  Qualifying Summary 

Coughlin keeps spot in quickest  field ever

Jeg Coughlin successfully held onto his spot  in the quickest Pro Stock field 
ever assembled Saturday as unfiltered sunshine  and slightly warmer 
temperatures kept elapsed times and top speeds in check at  Route 66 Raceway. The 
three-time series champion will attempt to win his third  national event at this 
facility from the No. 14 spot after a best clocking of  6.695 seconds at 205.47 
mph in the Jeg's Mail Order Dodge.

"It's exciting  to be a part of the quickest field ever," Coughlin said. 
"Especially in this day  and age where there are always more good cars at each 
event than there are spots  in the field. We feel very fortunate whenever we 
qualify for a national  event."

Coughlin was rock steady Saturday during the second and final day  of 
qualifying for the fifth annual Ameriquest Mortgage NHRA Nationals. He opened  the 
day with a 6.704 and followed that up with a 6.725 in session No. 4.  

"We were the sixth quickest of the first round and eighth quickest of  the 
second round today so we've managed to pick up our performance in relation  to 
the rest of the field," Coughlin said. "We just didn't have our best run  
Friday night and that was the one where everyone made the field. The car was  
slowly expiring as I went down the track that round. If it had held together  we'd 
be in the top four right now."

The opening round of sudden death  eliminations will pit Coughlin against 
veteran racer and fellow Dodge driver  Larry Morgan, who qualified third with a 
6.668 at 206.67 mph. Due to his quicker  elapsed time, Morgan will have lane 
choice over Coughlin. The two men raced  earlier this year under similar 
circumstances with Coughlin taking the win when  Morgan fouled-out at the starting 
line.

"I feel pretty good about  tomorrow," Coughlin said. "Larry ran two 6.71s 
today, I believe, so we're right  there with him. It should be a good race. 
Obviously with this being the quickest  field ever, any one that's in has a great 
racecar and team and a great chance to  win the race."







TELEVISION:     

 
Sunday,  Oct. 2, ESPN2 will telecast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly news 
magazine show, at  11:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday,  Oct. 2, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations at 8 p.m.  
(ET).


Additional  information found at: _www.teamjegs.com_ 
(http://www.teamjegs.com/)    

Media Contact:

Scott 'Woody'  Woodruff
Director of Media & Motorsports
Office: 800.345.4545  (3.412)
Mobile: 614.595.1820
Fax: 740.362.4385
Email: _jegspr@aol.com_ (javascript:parent.ComposeTo('jegspr@aol.com');)  
-or- _scott.woodruff@jegs.com_ 
(javascript:parent.ComposeTo('scott.woodruff@jegs.com');)  
Web  Site: _www.teamjegs.com_ (http://www.teamjegs.com/)  -or _www.jegs.com_ 
(http://www.jegs.com/)