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NHRA: Jeg Coughlin wins NHRA's biggest race, the U.S. Nationals

5 September 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Troy Coughlin gains points

In the opening round Troy Coughlin faced off against Rickie Smith. Coughlin had lane choice and took the left lane.

Rickie Smith turned both stage lights on quickly in an effort to gain an advantage. Rickie left the starting line first by .016 seconds (.461 to .477) Troy and his Jeg's Mail Order Olds Cutlass came on the strong as the two raced side-by-side to the finish line. Troy turned on the win light by running a 6.964 at 196.36 mph. He got to the finish line first by .024 seconds.

"We made a nice solid run and did not get too aggressive," explained Troy. "The change in the weather really worked into our game plan."

NHRA Pro Stock points leader Jeg Coughlin, Jr. lined up next to Mark Osborne in round one. Osborne took the left lane and Jeg was in the right.

Jeg grabbed the advantage off of the starting line by .045 seconds (.433 to .478). The yellow and black Jeg's machine charged to the big end. The win light turned on for Coughlin by .021 seconds. He ran a slower 7.017 at 195.14 mph and won on a holeshot.

"It was nice to put the first round behind us," commented Jeg. "We have made a lot of changes to my car this weekend."

In the second round Troy was pitted against Kurt Johnson. Lane choice went to Kurt and he took the left lane.

Kurt left the line first by .018 seconds (.470 to .488). The win light came on for Kurt Johnson by .054 seconds at the stripe. Troy ran a 6.961 at 196.27 mph. The crew found the oil pump belt to Troy's car on the track about 50-feet from the starting line.

"We gained some ground in the points and we are closer to regaining the No. 4 spot," said Troy. "We will head back to our shop and prepare for the race in Englishtown."

Jeg met up with Allen Johnson in the second round. Coughlin had lane choice and lined up in the left lane.

Allen Johnson launched from the starting line beams first by .023 seconds (.446 to .469). The two cars started off together. Jeg was gaining ground with each foot he went down the track. The win light came on for Jeg by .019 seconds at the stripe. He ran a quicker 6.950 at 196.27 mph.

"We felt much better about the run that we made during the second round," said Jeg. "The car is responding better to the changes that we have been making today."

In the semifinal round Jeg faced Mark Pawuk. Pawuk had lane choice and took the left lane.

Both drivers rolled into their pre-stage lights and sat there waiting for the other to finish rolling into the final stage light. After close to 30-seconds Pawuk rolled into the final stage beam. Jeg waited as Chief Starter Rick Stewart began counting than Coughlin rolled the rest of the way in.

The Jeg's Mail Order machine left the line first by .009 seconds (.430 to .439). The two cars were welded at the door handles as they battled down the quarter mile. Jeg turn on the win light by .019 seconds. He ran a quicker 6.981 at 196.33 mph.

"That's how I wanted to play my hand," stated Jeg. "The only problem about it was we sat there so long that that data recorder ran out of recording time."

The final round pitted Jeg Coughlin, Jr against Ron Krisher. Both drivers are from Central Ohio. Krisher had lane choice and took the left lane.

Jeg launched from the starting line first with a .414 reaction time and had an advantage of .045 when the yellow and black Jeg's machine blasted off of the line. It was door handle to door handle all the way down the track. Jeg turned on the win light with a slower 6.968 at 196.96 mph run.

"What a weekend," said Jeg. "To win from the No. 16 position shows how competitive that this class is. If you qualify you can win! Everyone on our team worked so hard this weekend. We were battling a problem with my car and the men in yellow and black came out on top."

Jeg increased his points lead with winning the U.S. Nationals. He has 1401 points and leads his closest competitor by 297 points, which is almost 15 round. Troy remained in the No. 5 spot. He is within striking distance of the No. 4 position. Troy is 103 points from moving into the No. 4 spot.

Text provided by Scott Woodruff

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