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Coughlin has crucial first round matchup Sunday in Charlotte (NHRA/JEGS)

Coughlin has crucial first round matchup Sunday in Charlotte
 
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Sept. 18) – It doesn't matter how well you qualify, it  
matters where you finish, just ask Jeg Coughlin Jr., who has won an NHRA Pro  
Stock race from all 16 qualifying positions during his storied career.
 
"That's going to have to be our motto tomorrow, because we've struggled  
this weekend," Coughlin said. "We've been in this position several times 
before  during our career. It's not a place you want to be during the Countdown, 
but our  hopes are extremely high."
 
Coughlin and the JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt will have their fate in their hands  
during Sunday's first round of eliminations at the O'Reilly Auto Parts 
Nationals  at zMax Dragway. Coughlin qualified No. 15 in the field and faces No. 
2  qualifier and current points leader, Mike Edwards, in the first round of 
 eliminations. If Coughlin takes out Edwards, it would shake up the Pro 
Stock  standings considerably.
 
"Starting from the 15th spot you know you are going to have a bad dude  
first round no matter what," Coughlin said. "The top five or six cars typically 
 have their act together at all times. We'll have a tough run for our 
money, but  I'm optimistic about it."
Coughlin qualified with a best pass of 6.656  seconds at 207.82 mph, while 
Edwards' best effort was a 6.607 at 209.79 mph.  Coughlin said the team has 
been chasing mechanical gremlins all weekend, but it  looked like Saturday 
was a step in the right direction. 
 
"We changed the motor this morning," Coughlin said on Saturday. "The car  
was just wide open – it was ready to run. Our setup was too aggressive for 
this  newfound power. We've got a car that can run to the front tomorrow, 
there's no  question about that.
 
"It's the Countdown everybody is going to have their A-game going."
 
Eliminations for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Nationals begin at noon (EDT) from 
 zMax Dragway. ESPN2's coverage begin  coverage is scheduled to air at 7  
p.m., but ESPN3.com will provide live streaming coverage of all of Sunday's  
racing.
 

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