JEGS Preview - August 11, 2009

Jeg Coughlin enters this weekend’s NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd as the top ranked Pro Stock driver in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. He has claimed five wins in 15 events this season and currently holds a 60-point lead over second place Mike Edwards.

Jeg was the first racer to officially clinch one of the ten spots available in the Countdown to One phase of the NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock championship, a feat he accomplished with a round two finish in Norwalk, Ohio, on June 28. Jeg could elect to sit out the next three events and would still be guaranteed a spot in the NHRA playoffs, which begin at the Charlotte event, Sept. 17-20.

Jeg has scored three Pro Stock wins at Brainerd, claiming titles in 1999, 2002 and 2007. In 1999, he defeated Warren Johnson in the final and in 2002 and 2007, he beat Greg Anderson. Jeg’s 2007 victory in Brainerd was the 50th national event win of his career. Jeg was also the runner-up in Brainerd during the 1999 season.

As a sportsman driver, Jeg also claimed the Super Stock title in Brainerd in 1997, beating his then teammate Jeff Taylor in an all-JEGS Mail Order final round. That season, Jeg set an NHRA record by winning in four different eliminators (Pro Stock, Comp, Super Stock, and Super Gas).

In 15 events this season, Jeg has five wins, two runner-up, and four semifinal finishes to his credit. In addition to his victories in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Madison, Joliet and Englishtown, he was also a runner-up in Atlanta and Houston. Jeg’s round win record for the 2009 season is 38-10. By comparison, Jeg’s record was 23-13 at the same point in the 2008 season and he was ranked fourth in the points standings.

In 251 career Pro Stock races, Jeg has reached the final round 75 times, recording 46 wins. Including his 13 sportsman victories, Jeg has won a total of 59 times, good for tenth place on NHRA’s all time wins list. During his career, Jeg has appeared in 81 final rounds, 63 as a professional and 18 as a sportsman racer.

In addition to his five national event victories this season, Jeg also won the $50,000 top prize in the K&N Filter Horsepower Challenge held in Norwalk. Jeg defeated Greg Anderson in the final and has now won the specialty event three times in his career. His other wins came in 1999 and 2000.

In ten career appearances at Brainerd Int’l Raceway, Jeg has a career round win record of 20-7 in Pro Stock competition.

Jeg’s best qualifying position in Brainerd is third in 1999. He has qualified in the top half of the Pro Stock field five times at Brainerd Int’l Raceway and his average qualifying position is No. 8.

Jeg took over the Full Throttle points lead following his win in Las Vegas in April and has held it for the last 11 events.

Jeg has won at least on NHRA national event title at 21 different tracks. Currently, there are just two facilities where Jeg has not won, Norwalk Raceway Park and zMax Dragway, which have combined to host just four NHRA events.

Jeg is one of just two NHRA professional racers without a first round loss this season. The other is Top Fuel points leader Antron Brown.

With 46 career Pro Stock wins, Jeg ranks fourth all-time among Pro Stock drivers. Only Warren Johnson (96), Bob Glidden (85) and Greg Anderson (57) have more titles.

Jeg is the reigning NHRA Pro Stock champion. He has earned four NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock titles in his career, including back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008. His other titles came in 2000 and 2002. As a sportsman racer, Jeg also captured the Super Gas championship in 1992.