Special Motorsports Event - Jeg Coughlin Jr.'s Return Picked As Mopar's No. 1 Moment of 2011

DELAWARE, Jan. 2, 2012: The New Year is a time to both look back on the past and look ahead to the possibilities the next 12 months can hold, and it appears Mopar had those thoughts in mind when it compiled a list of 2011 highlights.

For its No. 1 moment of the year, Mopar selected its November announcement detailing a new NHRA Pro Stock alliance with five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr and JEGS.

"In all honesty, I was shocked and honored when I heard the news. Mopar-backed cars won a lot of races and championships in many racing series during 2011, so I'm humbled that they think so highly of what we're doing with the JEGS.com Dodge Avenger," said Coughlin

The announcement marks a return to the Pro Stock class by Coughlin after a one-year hiatus. It's also a return to the Mopar fold for Coughlin, who has a long history with the brand. Coughlin captured the 2004 U.S. Nationals Mopar HEMI Challenge event win driving a 1968 Plymouth Barracuda, raced a Mopar HEMI-powered Dodge Pro Stock car during the 2005 NHRA season and currently owns and competes in Sportsman events in a Mopar Challenger Drag Pak.

"I can't wait for what this NHRA season will bring," Coughlin said. "Pro Stock is as tough as drag racing gets, but with the support of everyone here at JEGS, at Mopar and, of course, the fans, 2012 can’t help but be a success."

Coughlin returns to the track in the JEGS.com Dodge Avenger at the Feb. 9-12 NHRA Winternationals from Auto Club Speedway in Pomona, Calif.