Coughlin cut down by five-thousandths of a second (NHRA/JEG'S)

NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
NHRA AC Delco Nationals
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas,  NV
Oct 23, 2005 
 
Jeg Coughlin - JEG'S Mail Order / Mopar - Dodge Stratus RT (Pro  Stock)
Race Day Summary 

Coughlin cut down by five-thousandths of a  second

Following an unfortunate yet familiar pattern, Pro  Stock champion Jeg 
Coughlin was on the losing end of one of the day's closest  side-by-side races. The 
three-time Las Vegas winner was denied a shot at No. 4  in the quarterfinal 
round of the fifth annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals,  losing to good 
friend Kurt Johnson by just .005 seconds.

"We did a bad  job of preparing the car for that round," Coughlin said. "Kurt 
was there for the  taking, running a 6.870, and I had a great light 
(.006-second reaction time),  but we still came up short of winning the round. It's 
disappointing but it seems  like every time we have a close race this year we've 
been on the wrong end of  it."

Coughlin started the day with a big win over longtime rival Warren  Johnson. 
After leaving the starting line with nearly identical reaction times,  
Coughlin simply drove away from the six-time series champions to take the win by  a 
6.835- to 6.848-second margin.

"We were very encouraged after the first  round," Coughlin said. "It seemed 
like the guys really had a handle on this  Jeg's Mail Order Dodge Stratus R/T. 
I'm not sure what happened between rounds.  The conditions were very similar. 
It just didn't work out for us and we're all  disappointed. All we can do is 
get back to work and get ready for  Pomona."

Coughlin remains eighth in the POWERade Drag Racing Series  points standings. 
He can finish the year as high as sixth with a strong showing  at the 
season-ending 41st annual Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in  Pomona, 
Calif.


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