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NHRA: 40th Annual NHRA AutoZone Nationals Preview, JEG'S

26 January 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Background:

JEG'S Mail Order Racing is NHRA's largest all-family professional race team. The team competes in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Truck. The Pro Stock brother duo of Jeg and Troy Coughlin race identical looking Oldsmobile Cutlass'. Mike and John Coughlin carry the JEG'S banner in Pro Stock Truck, with Chevy S-10's as their vehicles of choice. Jeg Coughlin, Sr rounds out the Coughlin family affair as the teams advisor and father.

40th Anniversary:

JEG'S Automotive, Inc. will spend the year 2000 celebrating their 40th Anniversary. The company unveiled their 40th Anniversary logo, which will be used in a variety of fashions throughout the year. The logo will appear in advertising, catalogs, on the company website (JEGS.com) and will be part of the paint scheme on the race team cars, trucks and haulers.

Television:

ESPN2 Qualifying, Feb. 5, 9:30 -11:30 p.m. (est)
ESPN2 Eliminations, Feb. 6, 10:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. (est)
ESPN2 Replay of Eliminations, Feb 11, noon - 2:00 p.m. (est)

JEG'S Pro Stock Truck Teams Is Looking For Big Things In 2000

After a full season as a two-truck Pro Stock Truck Team the Coughlin Brother's are looking for big things in 2000. Mike Coughlin posted two wins during the '99 NHRA season and won his first NHRA national event. He finished a career best 4th in the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Championship. Older brother John scored his first NHRA professional victory in front of his hometown crowd at the Pontiac Excitement Nationals in Columbus, Ohio. John finished the '99 season 11th for his "rookie" year behind the wheel of a "factory hot rod".

Mike Coughlin will head into the 2000 NHRA season with the same Chevy S-10 that he finished the '99 season in. Mike said, "I think that we were really starting to get a stronger handle on the setup towards the end of the season. We have increased the size of our data bank and it will continue to increase with every run that we make, which is a position that we were not in last year at this time."

The learning curve continues to increase for this young team. Coughlin continued, "I have learned from some of the mistakes that I made last year and I am looking forward to turning some of those lessons into win lights."

The JEG'S Mail Order Racing Team took delivery of a new Chevy S-10 Pro Stock Truck for John Coughlin. "This is the first truck that has been designed specifically for me and it has the latest advances in aerodynamics and chassis improvements." The new S-10 will carry the familiar yellow and black JEG'S Mail Order paint scheme. In addition, the hood will sport the JEG'S 40th Anniversary logo.

"I think that having a full season under my belt will help me to have a stronger start to the season. Last year at this time I was still getting comfortable behind the wheel. This year I expect to be strong right out of the trailer", commented John.

Renowned engine builder, Richard Maskin and his staff at DART Machinery will return to deliver and tune the horsepower for the JEG'S Mail Order Racing Team exclusively. John explained, "Richard and his staff have continued to ma ke advances during the off-season with our engine program. I believe that our team will be as strong as ever when the 2000 NHRA season begins."

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.