NHRA: Team JEG'S Has Turned The Corner
11 September 1999
The completion of the NHRA US Nationals is referred to by the professional teams as the "home stretch." There are six races remaining in the '99 NHRA season. By this point each driver and the teams know what they have to do and who the players are in their respective classes.The next race on the NHRA schedule is the True Value Keystone Nationals. This race is held at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, PA. The race track sits surrounded by trees and the sea-level like corrected elevation makes this race one that the Pro Stock teams look forward to with great anticipation.
The JEG'S Mail Order Racing Team is no different. Jeg Coughlin Sr said, "We know where we are in the points, we know where we want to finish the year and we know who's in the way." Jeg Coughlin Sr is the teams advisor and the father of Troy and Jeg Coughlin.
1998 NHRA "Rookie of the Year" Jeg Coughlin, Jr. currently sits in the number three position in the NHRA Winston Championship with 975 points. There are only two drivers ahead of him, Warren Johnson leads the pack with 1339 points and Kurt Johnson holds the number two spot with 1130 points. Jim Yates is in the number four position and trails Jeg by four points.
Jeg stated, "This is the time in the season where you look back and think of the mistakes that you made and where you would be if you hadn't made them." Coughlin was plagued by three straight DNQ's (Dallas, Richmond & Atlanta).
The '99 NHRA season has been filled with plenty of high points for Coughlin. Jeg has won, 3 national events, the Winston NO BULL SHOWDOWN, the Holley Dominator Duel, and qualified number one at the Winston NO BULL SHOWDOWN. "My goal is to win the Championship in Pro Stock. Mathematically it is still within our reach and our team will do what ever it takes to win."
Jeg noted, "Our program has been gaining strength. The guys on our team work together and feed off each other's energy. With every win our team gets stronger and gains more knowledge."
On the other side of the Coughlin Pro Stock coin, Troy Coughlin is having his best season in Pro Stock since he began driving in 1994. Although he remains winless in Pro Stock, he has been to the final round five times (Pomona, Phoenix, Chicago, Winston NO BULL SHOWDOWN and Denver). Troy also joined the Federal-Mogul Speed Pro 200-Mph Club this year. He is one of a select few, who are members of the Holley 6 Second Club and the Speed Pro 200 Mph-Club.
Troy Coughlin is currently in the number seven spot in the NHRA Winston Championship point battle with 724 points. Mark Pawuk is three points ahead of Coughlin and Richie Stevens is leading Troy by 97 points. Troy is within striking distance of the number five spot with a strong performance in Reading.
Troy noted, "I started the season with plenty of goals. One of my major goals was to become a member of the Speed Pro 200-mph Club and the other was to win a national event. We have six races left to win a Pro Stock race and I have the best group of guys behind me. If I'm in a position to win, I'm confident that we will before the end of the year."
Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.