Jeg Coughlin gets quicker, eyes Round 1 showdown with old rival (NHRA/JEG'S)

NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
NHRA Toyo Tires Nationals   
Maple Grove Raceway
Reading, PA
Sept. 17th

Jeg Coughlin -  JEG'S Mail Order / Mopar - Dodge Stratus RT (Pro Stock)
Saturday Qualifying  Summary 

Jeg Coughlin gets quicker, eyes Round 1 showdown with old  rival
 
Mission accomplished. That's the general feeling in the Jeg's Mail Order  pit 
after Pro Stock racer Jeg Coughlin managed to improve his standing in  the 
field of the 21st annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals as the event turns to  
eliminations. Coughlin zoomed to a 6.764 at 203.71 mph Saturday morning in the  
third of four time trails at Maple Grove Raceway to place his yellow and black  
Dodge Stratus R/T 11th overall.
 
"We improved a little bit on the ladder and we improved even more on the  
performance sheets so we're very, very happy," Coughlin said. "I kind of have a  
number in my head that I like to stay within three hundredths of the No. 1  
driver. I feel like that's what you can realistically hope to make up on the  
starting line with a good light. Right now we're within that range so I feel as  
though we can be competitive."
 
The top racer at this event is Jason Line, who posted a 6.735 at 204.79 mph  
Saturday afternoon. Coughlin's first round opponent will be six-time series  
champion Warren Johnson, who ran a best of 6.748 at 204.23 mph.
 
"Let's face it, they're all good," Coughlin said. "If you want to win you  
have to get the most out of your car and take out whoever's in the other lane.  
That's the way it works. You might as well start against the all-time wins  
leader. Why not? You have to beat them all to win a race and that's the only  
result we're truly happy with at the end of the day."
 
This marks the 33rd consecutive event where Coughlin has managed to qualify  
for race day, the third longest streak in class behind back-to-back series  
champion Anderson (66) and his teammate Jason Line (46). Coughlin is one of just 
 seven racers in the Pro Stock category to successfully qualify for every 
race  this season.
 
Coughlin is a three-time series champion and two-time winner at Maple Grove  
Raceway. Overall, including his days as a sportsman racer and as a 
professional,  Coughlin has amassed 45 national event trophies.
 
Additional information found at: _www.teamjegs.com_ (http://www.teamjegs.com)