TEAM REPORTS (DELAWARE, OH.) - Coughlin named to AARWBA's All-America Race Team (NHRA/JEGS)

The accolades continue for recently-crowned Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. as the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) has once again named him to its prestigious All-America Auto Racing Team.

This is the third time Coughlin has been honored by AARWBA. He was also named to the All-America squad in 2000 and 2002, the other two seasons in which he won a POWERade championship in the Pro Stock category. "It's great to be recognized by the AARWBA," Coughlin said. "I accept this award on behalf of everyone at Victor Cagnazzi Racing and JEGS Mail Order. There's a lot of hard work that goes into a championship and many, many people helping to get it done.

"The All-America team is really neat because the reporters and on-air personalities that get to vote on this deal are the most knowledgeable people watching us every week. They know better than anyone how hard it is to win, in all forms of motorsport, so to get their collective attention and have them think enough of what we did to put our group on this team, well, it's special." With four victories in eight final-round appearances, Coughlin did the best job of adjusting to NHRA's new Countdown to the Championship playoff format, which pared the fields of drivers in contention for the championship to eight and then four racers. It was after that final cut-down occurred that Coughlin proved his championship mettle, racing to one win in back-to-back final rounds to clinch his fourth world title.

Although he's just 37-years-old, Coughlin also hit the 50-win mark this season (he ended the year with 51). Only 12 racers in the 56-year history of the sport have amassed 50 or more wins, with four of them getting the job done in 2007.

"I credit the team," Coughlin said. "Our owner, Victor Cagnazzi, had a vision to build the best Pro Stock operation the sport has ever seen. He's worked tirelessly to build an in-house engine program and chassis shop. He's searched for the best mechanical minds in our business to join the team. He's found the formula, and I'm as pleased as I can be to give him and his wife Brita their first, well-earned championship.

"This award should be enjoyed by everyone in this organization. Everyone has their role and they are all important to the final successes we see on the racetrack. I may be the face of this JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt team, but the people behind the scenes are every bit as important. We'll enjoy this together as a group."