Pro Street favorites include Troy Coughlin (NMCA/JEG'S)

Pro Street favorites include Troy  Coughlin
 
COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 3) -- Jeg's Mail Order racer Troy Coughlin will enter  
race day at the Jeg's NMCA Hot Rod & Muscle Car Nationals as one of the  
favorites after successfully qualifying his Jeg's Mail Order Chevrolet Cavalier  in 
the lofty No. 3 position. 
 
Coughlin had the fastest car in two of the three qualifying sessions  
Saturday in the Denso Spark Plugs Pro Street class and his best elapsed time and  
speed combination of 6.707 at 209.01 mph was good enough to place him third in  
the field of 16 racers.
 
"It was a long but rewarding day," said Coughlin, who received loud cheers  
each time he pulled up to the starting line at National Trail Raceway, the home 
 track for his race team and world-renowned mail order parts company that 
bears  his father's name. "It seemed slow for us, but it was slow for everyone. 
It was  so hot and muggy that it altered our tune-ups. It's weird how slow a 
6.70 can  feel when you're used to going 6.50s.
 
"I think this car has a 6.62 in it, which would be good in these  conditions. 
We're picking away at it and I'm confident we'll run strong  Sunday."
 
Aside from his run of record, Coughlin had a pair of 6.71s, making him one  
of the most consistent racers at the event. Perhaps more importantly, his  
average reaction time in qualifying was .027 seconds. Coughlin wanted to slow  his 
launches down at this race after red-lighting away wins in each of the first  
two NMCA races this season.
 
"I think we've got that problem fixed now," he said. "We certainly have  left 
some championship points on the table at the first two races but we have a  
ways to go this year so we can make them up quick. A win here tomorrow would be 
 a great start and I know we have the car and crew to get it done."
 
Eliminations in the Pro Street category are slated to begin at 12:30 p.m.  
Sunday.