JEGS team prepares for annual Indy assault (NHRA/JEGS)
JEGS team prepares for annual Indy assault INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (April 21) – The familiar yellow and black colors of the JEGS Mail Order Team will be prominent during this weekend’s North Central Division NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing series event at historic O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. Brothers John and Mike Coughlin will be joined by their nephew, Troy Jr., as they look for continued success at the traditional Division 3 season opener. John will make his first appearance of 2010 at Indianapolis, and will begin his title defense in the Spitzer Race Cars Top Dragster Series. John will also be making his debut in Comp Eliminator with his JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt in the C/Super Modified class. “It’s great to get back out here, especially as the reigning Top Dragster champion but I’m also really excited about racing in Comp Eliminator,�?? said John. “This car has a 5-speed transmission which reminds my of my old Pro Stock Truck days. We’ve already been testing twice; once in Florida and again in Bowling Green, and it was like riding a bicycle; It all came back to me very quickly and the car ran some very competitive numbers.�?? John’s Comp effort will be supported by four-time national champion and noted engine builder Jeff Taylor and Pro Stock crew chief Tim Freeman, who will assist regular Team JEGS crew members Rick Rossiter and Tony Collier. “I’m also pretty pumped up about Top Dragster this year,�?? John added. “ We took about 100-pounds out of the car and added 50-horsepower so it is much faster than it was in 2009. I ran a 6.50 at 210-mph in testing which is as quick and as fast as I’ve ever been. I also like the fact that both Comp and Top Dragster are 32-car fields so there are only five rounds of competition.�?? After suffering an early round loss in his most recent appearance at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, Mike is also eager to resume his pursuit of what could be his third Dart Top Sportsman Series championship in the last four years. His JEGS.com Cobalt also bears the No. 31, identifying Mike as the reigning Division 3 champion. “The race in Charlotte didn’t go so well for us so I’m anxious to get back out there,�?? said Mike. “We didn’t do anything wrong in Charlotte, but the track was cold and it just couldn’t take the horsepower of our JEGS.com Cobalt. We’ve always had a lot of success racing at Indy so I’m ready to go back there. John and I doubled up at that race in 2008 and I’d love to see that happen again. Maybe we can even have T.J. in the winner’s circle with us this time.�?? T.J. would be third-generation racer Troy Jr., who has established himself as serious threat behind the wheel of his JEGS.com Super Comp dragster. The winner of the NHRA national event in Las Vegas last fall, T.J. is once again looking forward to racing alongside his uncles. “I’ve had a couple of weeks off since my last race in Charlotte so I’m pumped up and ready to go,�?? said T.J. “I haven’t driven the car in a couple of weeks but that doesn’t mean I’m not prepared for this weekend. I’ve been hitting the practice tree regularly and I’ve tried to visualize a lot of my runs. I have found that really helps me focus when I get strapped in the car. I’ve also got [JEGS crew member] Kenny Underwood in my corner and he helps keep me calm and focused.�?? The Coughlin family has a rich history at the O’Reilly Raceway Park divisional event dating back to 1976, when Jeg Coughlin Sr. claimed a victory in the Pro Comp class. Jeg Sr. also won the Top Fuel class there in 1978 while all four Coughlin brothers, John, Troy, Mike, and Jeg Jr., are all past winners of the event. In addition to Mike and John’s double victory in 2008, Jeg Jr. and Mike also came close to a double in 1997 when Jeg Jr. claimed the Comp title and Mike posted a runner-up finish in Super Comp. All told, the Coughlin family has combined for eight wins and one runner-up finish at the Indianapolis divisional event. --30-- Information regarding JEGS Mail Order can be found at _www.jegs.com_ (http://www.jegs.com/) and for media/fan resources checkout _www.teamjegs.com_ (http://www.teamjegs.com/) . Media Contact: Scott "Woody" Woodruff JEGS, Director of Media & Motorsports Office: 800.345.4545 (#3, ext 412) Mobile: 614.595.1820 Fax: 740.362.5507 Email: _jegspr@aol.com_ (mailto:jegspr@aol.com) -or- _scott.woodruff@jegs.com_ (mailto:scott.woodruff@jegs.com)