Team JEGS / Pre-race Notes NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals - Indianapolis

Delaware, August 25, 2010: Jeg Coughlin Jr. enters the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals on a high note after winning the Pro Stock title at the most recent NHRA national event, the Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, Minn. Jeg defeated Shane Gray in the final to win his fourth title of the season. He has been to the final round of the last three NHRA events, winning twice.

The U.S. Nationals marks the start of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, a six race playoff to determine the season champions. Coughlin begins the Countdown as the third-ranked Pro Stock driver, trailing leader Mike Edwards by just 40 points, which is equal to two rounds of racing.

Jeg Coughlin is the defending Pro Stock champion at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, NHRA’s oldest and most prestigious race. In 2009, he defeated Greg Stanfield in the final round. Jeg also won the Indy Pro Stock title in 2000 and 2002, defeating Ron Krisher and Jim Yates, respectively.

In addition to his three Pro Stock wins, Jeg has also won the U.S. Nationals as a sportsman racer, claiming the Super Gas title at the 1992 event.

In 11 career appearances in Indianapolis, Jeg has a round win record of 20-7 in Pro Stock competition.

When Jeg won his first U.S. Nationals Pro Stock title in 2000, he accomplished a rare feat by winning from the No. 16 qualifying spot.

Jeg’s best qualifying position in Indianapolis is second in 2003. He has qualified in the top half of the Pro Stock field six times at O’Reilly Raceway Park and his average qualifying position is No. 7.

In 17 races in 2010, Jeg has qualified in the top half of the field 15 times and has not been seeded lower than 12th at any race.

Jeg Coughlin Jr is a four-time NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock champion. He earned season titles in 2000, 2002, 2007 and 2008. As a sportsman driver, Jeg also claimed the NHRA Super Gas championship in 1992.

With 52 career Pro Stock wins, Jeg ranks fourth all-time among Pro Stock drivers. Only Warren Johnson (97), Bob Glidden (85) and Greg Anderson (62) have more titles.

During his Pro Stock career, Jeg has recorded 467 round wins while incurring just 212 losses. He has failed to advance past the opening round just 66 times.

In 277 career Pro Stock races, Jeg has reached the final round 83 times, recording 52 wins. Including his 14 sportsman victories, Jeg has won a total of 66 times, good for ninth place on NHRA’s all time wins list. During his career, Jeg has appeared in 102 final rounds, 83 as a professional and 19 as a sportsman racer.

Racing in the Top Dragster class, Jeg also won the NHRA O’Reilly Midwest Nationals earlier this season behind the wheel of his brother, John’s 200-mph JEGS.com dragster.

Collectively, the Coughlin family has won the U.S. Nationals seven times. In addition to Jeg’s four wins, his brother, Troy, won the Super Gas title in 1991 and brother Mike collected two wins in the Pro Stock Truck class in 1999 and 2001. In addition, John Coughlin won the U.S. Nationals as a car owner in 2005 when Brad Plourd drove his JEGS Mail Order dragster to the Super Comp title.

JEGS family patriarch Jeg Coughlin Sr. drove to two U.S. Nationals finals during his career. He was runner-up in Little Eliminator in 1959 and runner-up in Pro Comp in 1975.

This year, the JEGS Mail Order team will also include the Super Comp entries of third-generation racer Troy Coughlin Jr., and Jeg’s fiancée, Samantha Kenny. Both Coughlin and Kenny are former NHRA national event winners in the Super Comp class. Kenny claimed the win at the 2009 Norwalk race while Troy Jr., captured the title at the Las Vegas event last November.

The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals will feature the latest round in the Get Screened America Pro Mod series which features Jeg’s brother, Troy Coughlin. Currently, Troy is ranked fifth in the Pro Mod standings with his nitrous oxide-equipped JEGS.com Chevy Camaro.

Troy Coughlin is the only Pro Mod driver to have qualified for all seven events in the Get Screened America Pro Mod series in 2010.

There are three events remaining in the 2010 Get Screened America Pro Mod series and Troy Coughlin trails leader Von Smith by 147 points.