NHRA: Team JEG'S looks to continue winning momentum

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

April 17, 2001

Reigning NHRA Winston Drag Racing Pro Stock Champion Jeg Coughlin Jr and his new JEG'S Mail Order Chevrolet Cavalier will return to the rain delayed NHRA Mac Tools Gatornationals fresh off of a win.

Jeg won the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals for the second consecutive year and vaulted from the No .8 position in the points all the way up to the No 3 spot. Jeg has 269 point and is trailing Kurt Johnson by a mere 28 points. He is only 74 points away from reclaiming the top spot.

"We capitalized on an opportunity when we won in Las Vegas. It is early in the season and making up the ground that we did in the points did a lot for Team Jeg's," explained Jeg. "We are still learning what our new Chevrolet Cavaliers want. Jerry Bickel (chassis builder) helped point us in the right direction and get the Jeg's machine going straight from start to finish. Everyone focused on their job on raceday and that is why we won. I can see the harmony in our team coming back and that is probably the biggest part of winning."

The familiar yellow and black Jeg's Mail Order Chevrolet Cavalier will return to battle at the rain delayed NHRA Mac Tools Gatornationals. The qualifying order and pairings are set. Teams will have the opportunity to make two test and tune runs on Friday before raceday.

Jeg ran a 6.879 at 200.74 mph during the final qualifying session to grab the No. 7 position. He will face off against Tom Martino in the opening round of the Mac Tools Gatornationals.

"The two test and tune runs will be very important for everyone. I am sure that when we return to Gainesville the conditions will be a lot different then they were when we qualified for the race over a month ago," said Jeg. "It should make things very interesting for the fans and the teams. I think that we will see some of the best side-by-side racing of the year at the Mac Tools Gatornationals."

Team Jeg's will focus all of their resources on one car. Troy Coughlin was bumped out during the last qualifying session and will not return to Gainesville.

"Our entire program will be focused on grabbing our second victory when we return to the Mac Tools Gatornationals. Both of our Jerry Bickel built Chevrolet Cavaliers headed straight to Jerry's shop from Las Vegas for some changes. I think that our cars will be stronger then ever when they hit the track," commented Jeg.

Team Jeg's will spend a full day of testing before heading to Gainesville. Jeg and Troy will spend the day testing the new Cavaliers with the latest refinements. The team will then head straight to the Mac Tools Gatornationals and work toward winning their second race in a row. Jeg won six of the first seven races last season. Those early victories propelled him to win the teams first professional NHRA Winston Championship.

"We have not had too much success in Gainesville in the past. The Mac Tools Gatornationals is a race that I have always wanted to win. It is one of the premiere races to win in the Pro Stock class," stated Coughlin.

Text provided by Scott Woodruff

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