---

NHRA: JEG'S Truck look strong on raceday

8 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

The sun beat down on the newly surfaced track at Atlanta Dragway all day long. The left lane proved to be the lane of choice throughout the day.

John Coughlin took on Time Freeman in the first round. John left the starting line first by .003 seconds. The two raced side-by-side as the Maskin/DART Horsepower charged down the left lane. The JEG'S machine turned on the win light by running a 7.635 at 176.74 mph. He won by .074 seconds.

"We made a good run," said John. "We did not get lane choice, but the two lanes get closer with each run."

Mike Coughlin faced off against Steve Farr in the opening round. Farr turned on the red light and put the win light on for Coughlin. Mike ran a 7.628 at 176.74 mph.

"We set out to get lane choice and we did," stated Mike.

The second round put Mike and John Coughlin head-to-head. The two yellow and black JEG'S Mail Order Chevy S-10's pulled up to the starting line together. Mike was in the left lane and John was in the right. John left the starting line with a .034 second advantage. The two brothers raced side-by-side to the finish line. John won on a hole shot. He ran a 7.665 at 173.74 mph to Mike's 7.646 at 176.19 mph.

"We knew that we would have a the JEG'S colors in the semifinal round," noted Mike. "It was a good race between us."

"I knew that it was close all the way down the track," explained John. "On our team we win and loss as a team, so this is kind of a bitter sweat win."

In the semifinal round John faced Bob Panella. John and his JEG'S Mail Order S-10 took the starting line advantage by .056 seconds. The two Chevy S-10's raced to the finish line side-by-side. Panella took the win light by .027 seconds. John ran a 7.670 at 174.14 mph.

"We had a great weekend," said John. "There were only two other drivers who had a better one at this race. Our program has really stepped up lately and we are back on track as a team."

John Coughlin moved up to the No. 4 with 318 points in the NHRA Winston Championship and Mike is 5 points out of the top ten and has 210 points.

Text provided by Scott Woodruff

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