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NHRA: Jeg Coughlin Wins Third Of Season; Troy Gains More Important Points

10 April 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Troy Coughlin and his yellow and black JEG'S Mail Order Olds Cutlass took on Jim Yates in the first round. Troy had lane choice and rolled into the left lane. The two drivers were in the first pair, a position that no team smiles about before running.

The two cars rolled into the pre-stage beams together. Troy staged first and Yates paused while the JEG'S car waited. Yates took the starting line advantage, but Coughlin made up his ground quickly and rocketed straight down the middle of the groove. Yates got out of shape and was forced to watch Troy Coughlin and his Maskin/DART Machinery powered machine take the win light. Troy ran a 7.100 at 194.63 Mph, which was the 5th quickest run of the round.

"The guys have a great handle on what the track will take." Troy added, "We are running very consistent and that helps everyone on our team to tune these JEG'S machines and get the most out of them."

NHRA points leader Jeg Coughlin, Jr faced off against Mike Trumble in the first round, Coughlin took the left lane. Jeg left the starting line first and never looked back. The JEG'S Mail Order Cutlass blasted down the middle of the groove and put the win light on for team JEG'S. Coughlin ran a 7.075 at 195.59 Mph, which was the 3rd quickest run during round one.

"Both of our cars are running great, which is helping both of us to better tune the set up on each car." Jeg continued, "The guys on the team are doing their job, the car is doing it's job and I am doing mine; that is why we are winning."

In the second round Troy Coughlin took on No. 1 qualifier Ron Krisher, Krisher had lane choice and rolled into the left lane. The JEG'S Mail Order Olds Cutlass left the starting line first (.465 to .483). The two cars raced side-by-side to the finishline. Troy turned on the win light for Team JEG'S by winning on a hole shot. He ran a 7.075 at 194.72 Mph against a losing 7.064 at 195.90 Mph. The true margin of win was .007 seconds.

"My goal going into every round is to gain lane choice for the next round." T roy noted, "We did what our team set out to do and we were rewarded with lane choice and we made the quickest winning run of the round. That doesn't happen without great people working together."

Jeg and his yellow and black JEG'S machine lined up next to Jamie Yates in the second round. The JEG'S Olds pulled into the left lane. Once again, Jeg took the starting line advantage and pair lays it into a win light. Coughlin ran a 7.077 at 195.39 Mph, which was the second quickest winning run of the round.

"Our teams hard work is paying off and we continue to show the rest of the field that our team has a strong handle on our high altitude set up in both cars." Jeg added, "

Troy had lane choice for the semifinal round and took the left lane when he faced Warren Johnson. The two cars rolled into the starting line beams together. WJ took the advantage off of the starting line by .007 seconds (.465 to .458). The yellow and black JEG'S machine blasted down the middle of the groove. Both cars were side-by-side and looked like they were joined at the hip all the way down the track. The Maskin/DART horsepower was gaining as the two cars got closer to the finishline. The win light came on for WJ and the margin of victory was an amazing .002 seconds. Troy ran a 7.072 at 194.97 Mph to WJ's winning 7.077 at 195.62 Mph.

"That was the closest race I think that I have ever had in Pro Stock." Troy continued, "I put both hands on the steering wheel when I put the car into 5th gear and looked all the way down track. I kept my foot in it way past the finishline waiting for the win light to come on."

Jeg Coughlin and Mark Pawuk went head-to-head in the semifinal round in a classic battle. The JEG'S Mail Order Olds Cutlass took the left lane and stuffed Pawuk into the right. The advantage off of the starting line went to Pawuk (.470 to .443). However, by the time Jeg got to the 60' foot clock he was ahead to stay. Jeg took the win light and a ran a 7.071 at 195.11 Mph.

"That one was for all of our employees at JEG'S in Columbus, Ohio." Coughlin went on to say, "We won the round and we were rewarded with lane choice for the final. I can't say enough about how well that our team works together; that's what turns on the win light."

The final round put the No. 1 and No. 2 drivers head-to-head. Jeg had lane choice and took the left lane. The yellow and black JEG'S Mail Order Olds Cutlass left the starting line first and never looked back as he rocketed to the win light. Jeg ran a 7.072 at 195.56 Mph to WJ's loosing 7.100 at 195.51 Mph.

This was the third win in four races for Jeg Coughlin, Jr. He entered the SummitRacing.com Nationals with the points lead and left with it. Jeg currently has 406 points and is 47 points ahead of WJ going into the 5th race of the season next weekend in Houston.

"What a great weekend. The only thing that would have been better is for us to have both JEG'S Mail Order Olds Cutlass' in the final." Jeg added, "We are off to a good start, but the season is young. It is important that our team remains focused on the big picture of winning the 2000 NHRA Winston Championship, which we all have as a goal."

Text provided by Scott Woodruff

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