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NHRA: Coughlin wins; One step closer to winning the NHRA Pro Stock Championship

10 September 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

In the opening round Troy Coughlin was pitted against Darrell Alderman. Troy qualified No. 4 and had lane choice. He took the left lane.

Both drivers waited on the starting line with their pre stage bulbs on. Alderman turned on the final stage light first and Troy quickly followed. Alderman took the reaction time advantage by .014 seconds (.483 to .497). Troy ran a 6.967 at 198.67 mph.

"That was not the outcome that we were looking for," said Troy. "We will get everything ready for our next race at Maple Grove Raceway this weekend. That is a track that I have always enjoyed racing at."

NHRA Pro Stock points leader and No. 1 qualifier Jeg Coughlin, Jr. faced off against Kurt Johnson in round one. This was a match up that many people were looking forward to. Jeg took the left lane and stuck Kurt in the right lane.

When Jeg launched from the starting line beams the car had excessive wheel spin. Jeg grabbed the starting line advantage (.455 to .464). He stayed in the middle of the groove and rocketed to the big end. Jeg turned on the win light by .006 seconds. He ran a 6.967 at 198.00 mph and won on a holeshot.

"We needed that win. It gave us the opportunity to increase our points lead," explained Jeg. "Krisher and KJ both got beat in the first round and that put the ball in our court."

Jeg went head-to-head with hometown boy Tom Martino in the second round. Martino and Jeg both waited to turn the final stage light on in their respective lanes. Both drivers rolled in. The yellow and black Jeg's machine left first by .010 seconds (.469 to .479). Jeg turned on the win light by .787 seconds at the big end and was rewarded with lane choice for the semifinal round. He ran a 6.960 at 197.94 mph.

"We were in the second pair of cars and decided to switch lanes after watching one pair of cars go down the track. Knowing that there was an oil down in the left lane the run before Pro Stock made the decision easier to make," said Jeg. "WJ went out in the second round and our door of opportunity just got bigger!"

In the semifinal round Jeg had lane choice against Darrell Alderman. Jeg took the right lane. No games out of this pair on the starting line. Both drivers roll into the stage beams quickly.

Alderman left the line first by .004 seconds (.441 to .445). Both cars were side-by-side until half track. The Maskin/DART Machinery horsepower came on strong and Jeg slowly started to pull away from Alderman. Jeg turned the win light on at the stripe by .008 seconds. He ran a 6.947 at 198.12 mph and got lane choice for the final.

"The men in yellow and black are doing a great job today," stated Jeg. "Richard Maskin has been tuning this Jeg's machine every run. He really has a handle on the fueled delivery system this weekend."

The final round put Jeg Coughlin, Jr and Greg Anderson in the ring. Jeg had lane choice and stuck with the right lane. Anderson left first with an amazing .401 light. Jeg followed close behind with a .427 reaction time. By the time the Jeg's Mail Order machine got to half track it was out in front to stay. Jeg took the win by .019 seconds at the stripe. He ran a 6.943 at 198.41 mph.

"What a race," said Jeg. "We did what we had to do today. We are just one step closer to winning the first professional championship for Team Jeg's. None of his would be possible without the support of my family, everyone on Team Jeg's and the support of all of our associates at Jeg's Mail Order. This win was for all of them!"

Today was the first time that Jeg had qualified No. 1 and won the race. He won his eighth victory of the season and has 1519 points. He has a 381 point lead over his closest competitor. Troy remained in the No. 5 spot with 894 points.

Text provided by Scott Woodruff

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