NHRA: One down and 23 more to go for Jeg Coughlin

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

The open round put Jeg and Jim Yates head-to-head. These two drivers are always on the top of their game when they face each other. The two drivers sat with their pre stage lights on with the engine rpm's battling back and forth a couple of times. Yates rolled in first. Jeg paused and then followed quickly. The reaction time advantage went to Jeg (.421 to .470). The two cars rocketed side-by-side to the finish line.

The win light came on for Team Jeg's. Jeg won on a hole shot by .018 seconds at the stripe. He ran a 6.934 at 198.73 mph to the quicker 6.903 at 199.76 mph run of Yates.

"The heat has really changed the track by the minute. Team Jeg's did a great job reading the track and getting the right set up of the Jeg's machine," said Jeg after winning the first round.

Troy faced number one qualifier Bruce Allen in round one. Like Jeg, Troy was also in the right lane. There wasn't much game playing out of this pair. Both drivers turned on their lights with out much hesitation.

The advantage off of the line went to Bruce Allen by .053 seconds (.468 to .521). The two darted down their respective lanes. The win light came on for Bruce Allen. Troy ran a 6.953 at 197.51 mph and was defeated by a 6.902 at 199.61 mph.

"The guys did a good job with the car. It drove straight down the middle of the groove like it should," noted Troy. "Bruce was certainly there for the taking. I just wish that I would have taken advantage of it a little better."

In the second round Jeg faced off against WJ. Lane choice went to WJ and he took the left lane. The Jeg's machine left the starting line first out of the undesired lane by .020 seconds (.446 to.466). Jeg ran a 6.946 at 198.64 mph and lost by .023 seconds at the finish line.

"When I put the car into second gear it pulled the engine down. From that point on we were playing catch up," explained Jeg. "We got our problem sorted out that was plaguing us during qualifying. The guys did a great job this weekend and our Oldsmobile Cutlass' were capable of winning."

Jeg added, "Although we didn't win this race like we wanted to. We have 23 more races to make up ground for the 2001 NHRA Winston Championship."

Team Jeg's will head straight to Phoenix with the Pro Stock trailer and then fly home to continue working on the two Chevy Cavaliers. The cars are expected to make their competition debut at the Mac Tools Gatornationals in Gainesville.

Text Provided By Scott Woodruff

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