Defending NMCA Champ Coughlin Working Against Time

MILAN, August 26, 2010: Troy Coughlin knows time is running out if he is to defend his NMCA Pro Street title in his JEGS.com Pontiac this season.

"Well, we're one round behind third place, but six rounds behind the leader and there are only eight (rounds) left this season, so mathematically we're alive," Coughlin said. "Obviously, it's going to be very difficult. We'd need a lot of things to happen and the way Chris (Rini) has performed this year you certainly don't expect him to drop off."

Heading into this weekend's fourth annual JE Pistons NMCA Muscle Car Nationals at Milan Dragway, Coughlin isn't going to give up without a fight.

"We'll do everything we can to win the last two races," he said. "The plan is to get down the track every run in qualifying and go rounds on race day. We can at least make if difficult on them."

Coughlin admits there are times when he's kicked himself about how the 2010 season has unfolded and put him in such a long-odds situation.

"It's that time of the year when you wish things had happened along the way," he said. "It would have been great to run that first NMCA race. It was just in direct conflict with a Get Screened America event so we had to make a tough decision.

"The Round 1 loss in Pennsylvania shouldn't have happened. That could have been a turning point. And let's give credit where it's due -- some guys have really stepped it up this year and run awfully well. They've earned every round they've won."

Coughlin said he expects Milan Dragway to work to his favor during the weekend.

"Milan has a great track," Coughlin said. "It's very smooth and well maintained. The weather looks like it will be a little cooler so we have a bunch of data to work from. The JEGS car should be flying."

Qualifying for the NMCA Muscle Car Nationals begins at 7 p.m. EDT Friday and continues Saturday afternoon. Eliminations begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday.