Pro Mod - Tried And tested, Troy Coughlin Unleashes New Car On Indy Field

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 3, 2011: Champion drag racer Troy Coughlin used the two-month break in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series calendar to perfect his new twin turbo-charged JEGS.com Pro Mod Camaro and the veteran racer says he's as ready as can be for this weekend's 57th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

"We've tested four different times and feel as though this car is about as ready as we can make it," said Coughlin, a past world champion in NMCA competition. "We started at Norwalk, went to Michigan, came over here to Indy, and then had one more test in Michigan and have sorted this thing out, we believe.

"Testing never fully replicates a national event. The track's are never quite prepared the same way and the pressure certainly isn't there, but you do the best you can do. The real first test will come in Round 1 of qualifying."

Aside from the distinctive JEGS team colors, Coughlin's new car bears little resemblance to one he raced in the first six events of the season.

"Jerry Bickel and his staff did an awesome job with this car," Coughlin said. "Having the bigger motor (504 cid big block) should put us up there with the top cars now. We've seen some incredible runs by the turbo cars this year and we hope to post a few of our own. We're feeling our way along but we're happy with the progress.

"We have an opportunity to do well here. Through all the testing we did I think we've developed a fairly solid baseline tune-up and we'll work from there. It's nice to have an extra qualifying session at this event because that will give us another look at the track. When you have a new car, every pass counts."