NHRA: Jeg Coughlin wins second in a row and moves into second in the points

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

April 23, 2001

Reigning Pro Stock Champion Jeg Coughlin, Jr faced off against Tom Martino in the opening round of the Mac Tools Gatornationals. Lane choice went to Coughlin when the two drivers squared off.

The Jeg's Mail Order Chevrolet Cavalier rolled into the right lane. Both drivers rolled into the beams slowly. Jeg rocketed off of the starting line first by .070 seconds (.423 to .493). The yellow and black car made a quick move to the left in second and third gear. Jeg drove back to the center of the groove and took off to the big end. Team Jeg's took the win light with a 6.899 at 200.50 mph and the margin of victory was .1377 seconds at the stripe.

"We got a little aggressive in second gear in the first round and we got away with it. The Jeg's machine settled down from that point and took off for the win," said Jeg after the first round.

Jeg squared off with WJ in the second round. The match up put a Chevrolet Cavalier and a Pontiac Grand Am in the ring together to fight for the win light. Lane choice went to WJ and he took the left lane.

The starting line advantage went to Jeg by .006 seconds (.458 to .464). Jeg darted down the middle of the groove like the car was on a string. He quickly par laid the starting line advantage to a win. He crossed the finish line beams running a 6.892 at 200.29 mph. The margin of victory for Team Jeg's was .6703 seconds.

"The run that we made in the second round felt as good as it gets to half track. The car moved around a little down track and hurt our time a little. Our goal was to get lane choice for the semifinal round and we got it. Not to mention the Jeg's Chevrolet Cavalier made the quickest run of the round," commented Coughlin with a grin.

In the semifinal round Jeg had lane choice over Kurt Johnson. KJ left the line first by .012 seconds (.449 to .461). Both of the Chevrolet Cavaliers were side-by-side until Kurt ran into traction problems at the 330-foot clock and was forced to shut off. The yellow and black Jeg's Chevy Cavalier motored on for the win. Jeg ran a 6.947 at 199.49 mph and earned lane choice for the final round.

"The car made a quick move to the right at the 60-foot clock. The Jeg's machine jumped back into the middle of the groove for the rest of the run. The harmony of our team is back and that is a great feeling going into any round," explained Jeg.

In the final round Jeg Coughlin faced Mark Osborne, who he faced in his first NHRA professional final round in 1997 when he won his first race behind the wheel of a Pro Stock car in only his second start. Lane choice went to Coughlin and he took the right lane.

The starting line advantage went to the Jeg's machine by .032 seconds (.432 to .464). Jeg took off right down the middle of the groove to take the win light on a hole shot. Jeg ran a slower 6.935 at 199.40 for the win. The margin of victory at the stripe was .0251 seconds.

"Team Jeg's is back. I have always wanted to win the Mac Tools Gatornationals. We have a very strong relationship with Mac Tools and to win the Mac Tools Gatornationals is as good as it gets," stated Jeg. "We moved into second in the points and we have only just begun."

The win was his second of the season and his 22nd career professional NHRA victory. In addition, the win marked the 33rd win for the young talented driver.

Jeg moved into the No. 2 position in the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Championship. He is a mere 12 points from reclaiming the No. 1 spot in the points.

Text Provided By Scott Woodruff

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