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NHRA: Mike Coughlin exits in semifinals; John Coughlin ends his day in the second round

5 November 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

The NHRA returned to the Texas Motorplex for the rain delayed event. Qualifying was scheduled for Friday and was canceled due to rain. Since there was no qualifying sessions that were run NHRA set the fields by using the current point standings as the qualifying order. This was the first time in NHRA history the fields were set without any qualifying.

Mike Coughlin faced Larry Seay in the opening round. Mike left the starting line first by .002 seconds (.410 to .412). Both Chevy S-10's raced side-by-side. Mike turned on the win light by .025 seconds at the stripe. He ran a 7.596 at 176.81 mph.

"We made a good run out of the trailer," said Mike. "We gained more points and got lane choice for the second round."

John Coughlin took on Todd Patterson in round one. John and his Jeg's machine left the line first by .004 seconds (.422 to .426). John turned on the win light with a run of 7.617 at 176.03 mph.

"We had a fresh engine in my truck for the opening round," said John. "We were pleased with the performance."

In the semifinal round Mike and John Coughlin faced each other. Mike had lane choice and took the left lane. John left the beams first by .027 seconds (.418 to .445). The two brothers raced side-by-side in the two identical looking Jeg's Mail Order Chevy S-10's until John ran into traction problems down track. The truck started moving around and got out of the groove, John wisely shut off. Mike took the win light with a 7.585 at 177.16 mph.

"A win is a win. I don't race my brother any differently than I would any other driver in Pro Stock Truck," commented Mike after winning the second round. "We knew going into the second round that we were going to have one of the Jeg's machines in the semifinal round."

"I gained more ground between myself and fourth place," said John. "We will be ready for battle in Pomona."

In the semifinal round Mike went head-to-head with Randy Daniels. Randy was in the left lane and Mike was in the right. Mike welded him on the tree with a .415 to .441 reaction time. Both Chevy S-10's were side-by-side until Mike ran into traction problems and was forced to shut off.

"I could hear and feel the tires chattering," said Mike. "I knew that it was better to put the clutch in rather than go back to our shop in Ohio to pick up a spare truck and head to Pomona."

Text provided by Scott Woodruff

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