NHRA: Coughlin Brothers Gain Ground In Points Battles
1 November 1999
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Troy Coughlin Gains Ground On Number Six Position In The Points
Jeg Coughlin Closes The Points Gap On Kurt
Jeg Coughlin Is Part Of The Quickest And Fastest Side-By-Side Pro Stock Run In NHRA History The first round put Mike Edwards and Troy Coughlin head-to-head, in a rematch of the Advanced Auto Parts Nationals final round in Topeka. The yellow and black JEG'S Mail Order Olds was in the left lane. The two cars left together, Edwards had a .008 second advantage off of the starting line. By the time Troy and his yellow and black JEG'S Mail Order Olds Cutlass got to the 60' foot clock he was in the lead. Coughlin took the win light to advance to the second round.
Troy said, "That was an important round for us to win. We are chasing Edwards for the number six spot and we came into the race 47 points behind him, so we picked up some ground with that win."
Jeg lined up next to Don Beverly in the first round, the JEG'S Mail Order machine was in the left lane. Jeg took a huge advantage off of the starting line and pair laid it into a win.
Jeg noted, "That win put us closer to the number two spot in the NHRA Winston Championship points."
In the second round Troy faced off against Rickie Smith, Coughlin took the left lane. The two cars had a bit of a battle on the starting line. Both cars sat with their pre-stage lights on and neither driver rolled into the stage lights. Troy puts an end to the battle by turning on his stage light. Smith took the reaction time advantage off of the starting line. Troy's #24 yellow and black JEG'S machine blasted down the groove toward the big end. The car made a move to the left 1000' feet out, but Troy stayed with it. The victory went to Rickie Smith by .005 seconds at the stripe.
Troy commented, "I felt like I was in front at the finishline, that was close. I picked up more points and will now focus on winning the Winston Finals and moving up in the points."
Troy Coughlin is within stricking distance of the number six spot, which is held by Mike Edwards. Troy trails Edwards by a mere 31 points going into the final race of the year.
Jeg took on Mark Pawuk in another battle of the Mail Order power houses. Jeg robs the starting line with a .065 second reaction time advantage. The JEG'S Mail Order Olds Cutlass is in the lead from start to finish and never looked back. Jeg took the win light and gets closer to Kurt and the number two spot in the NHRA Winston Championship with each win light.
Jeg explained, "I was ready for this race before it started. My destiny is in my hands and that's a position where I prefer to be right now."
The semifinal round put Jeg Coughlin and Tom Martino head-to-head in a rematch of the '98 Matco Tools SuperNationals final round, Coughlin came out the winner in that battle. The JEG'S Mail Order machine was in the left lane for this rematch.
Martino had a .012 second advantage off of the starting line. The two cars raced side-by-side toward the finishline in the fastest Pro Stock race in NHRA history (Jeg Coughlin=6.837 @ 200.77 mph -vs- Tom Martino=6.843 -vs- 201.22 mph). The JEG'S Mail Order Olds Cutlass was hooked up to the track as it traveled toward the finihline. The win went to Martino by .006 seconds at the stripe.
Jeg commented, "That was a great race. I am honored to be a part of the quickest and fastest side-by-side Pro Stock run in NHRA history, it speaks highly of our team and our program."
Jeg Coughlin now trails Kurt Johnson by 57 points going into the Winston Finals. The team will prepare for the challenge of taking over the number two spot in the NHRA Winston Championship at the final race of the year.
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