Coughlin crushes rivals, grabs No. 2 spot in field (NHRA/JEG'S)

NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
NHRA Lucas Oil  Nationals   
 
 
 
Brainerd International Raceway
August 12th
NHRA - Pro Stock
 
Turning in his best qualifying performance of the  2005 season, Jeg Coughlin 
has positioned his Jeg's Mail Order Dodge Stratus R/T  in the No. 2 spot at 
the halfway point of professional qualifying for the 24th  annual Lucas Oil NHRA 
Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. Coughlin used  the cooler 
evening session to clock a track-record 6.739-second pass at 204.82  mph, which was 
later bettered by just one other racer.

"We made two solid  runs and we're right near the top of the charts," 
Coughlin said. "We're pretty  happy. After the first session we were No. 9 with a 
6.79 and we knew there was  room for improvement. We wanted to get the car to 
repeat but also to go quicker.  Bob [Glidden, crew chief] made some 
non-traditional changes and it liked it. I  mean the No. 1 guy is just two hundredths 
better than us at this  point."

Proving his Don Schumacher-owned racecar is ready for  competition, 
Coughlin's teammate Richie Stevens backed up Coughlin's performance  in his 
mirror-image Mopar Dodge Stratus R/T, running a 6.749 at 204.39 mph to  put himself in 
third place overall.

"The track was absolutely gorgeous in  both lanes," Coughlin said. "The air 
is always good here and it was cool enough  today. We're not jumping up and 
down but we're pretty happy in this pit right  now, on both sides."

Things could change dramatically in the final two  qualifying rounds, which 
are schedule for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday. The  weather forecast calls for a 
slight cooling trend, placing a premium on the  morning session.

"I think we'll see a bunch of cars in the 6.60s,"  Coughlin said. "We run at 
10 a.m. and it should be perfect. I want us to improve  by at least five 
hundredths. If we do, we'll be right there in the mix. This is  pretty exciting for 
the fans. They're getting their money's worth  today."


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