Under pressure, Jeg Coughlin hopes to please (NHRA/JEG'S)

NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
NHRA Pontiac Performance Nationals
National Trail Raceway
Columbus, Ohio  
May 19-22nd
 
 
Pressure is a part of drag racing. There is the pressure of lining up your  
car against the best drivers in the world. There is the pressure of keeping 
your  engine program up to par with the other teams. There is the pressure of  
maintaining your focus through a 23-race season. There is the pressure of  
traveling and being away from home.
 
But perhaps the biggest pressure of all is the one that will be faced by  
three-time series champion Jeg Coughlin when he brings his Jeg's Mail Order  
Dodge Stratus R/T to National Trail Raceway for the 41st annual Pontiac  
Performance NHRA Nationals ‑ the pressure of racing at home.
 
Every drag racer has to deal with it at some point. For Coughlin, a race in  
his backyard means a pit-full of old high school and college friends, the  
massive extended Coughlin family, and hundreds of employees from Jeg's Mail  
Order, who all live in the greater Columbus area and support their favorite  
driver with gusto.
 
"It's always a great deal of fun because this is the race all your friends  
and family come out to and they're always fired-up for the event," Coughlin  
said.  "There is a certain level of pressure that comes with that because,  
although you want to win every race you enter no matter where it might be, you  
tend to really push yourself extra hard at home because you want everyone to  
have the best time possible."
 
Coughlin came through big in 1998 when he scored his first hometown win as  a 
professional in his first full year behind the wheel. He followed that 
victory  up with a strong runner-up showing the following season.
 
"We know what it takes to win here," Coughlin said. "My crew chief, Bob  
Glidden, has nine wins at this track, way more than anyone else in any  
professional category so it'll be a big advantage to lean on his expertise and  
experience.
 
"Both of our team cars are running really strong now. Richie [Stevens, his  
teammate at Don Schumacher Racing] and I have both had our moments this year 
and  we couldn't be happier with where our program is at the moment. You have to 
 remember, this group was assembled in a very short amount of time in the  
off-season. We're still growing.
 
"Will I feel some pressure this weekend? You bet. But I've always prided  
myself on being able to turn that pressure into a positive driving force."
 
 
The Coughlin name has been synonymous with winning at what  the family and 
local fans describe as their "home track".  The  four Coughlin brothers have 
combined to win 8 NHRA national event titles at  National Trail Raceway.

 
Qualifying begins Friday with sessions beginning at 4 and 7 p.m.