Defending NMCA champ Coughlin bringing relaxed attitude to Gateway (NMCA/JEGS)

Defending NMCA champ Coughlin bringing relaxed attitude to  Gateway

ST. LOUIS (Oct. 5) -- Reigning Pro Street world champion Troy  Coughlin is 
heading to Gateway International Raceway for this weekend's ninth  annual 
FuelLab NMCA World Street Finals featuring the GM Performance Parts LSX  
Shootout with a devil-may-care attitude as he looks to close out his reign in  
style.

Having missed the first event of the NMCA season due to a  scheduling 
conflict with his NHRA Pro Mod endeavors, Coughlin knew his title  defense would 
be long shot from the start. With two races left, Coughlin finds  himself 
ranked fourth, 1,065 points back of leader Chris Rini, making it  virtually 
impossible to catch him. All Rini needs to dethrone Coughlin is show  up and 
make a qualifying pass at each of the last two races.

"Whether  it's Chris, (second place) Joe Dunne, or (third place) Jeff Lutz 
that ends up on  top, my hat's off to them," Coughlin said. "I'm thinking 
it's going to be Rini  because he's run so well all year but you never know. 
All we know is our  championship run is most likely over for now so we'll 
have to ramp up our  efforts for 2011 and try to get it back.

"We really have a relaxed  feeling coming into Gateway. There's no pressure 
on us and I think we'll take  that and just go out there and have some fun."

Coughlin's last real  glimmer of hope to retain his crown ended on the 
starting line at the preceding  race in Milan, Mich., when his JEGS.com Pontiac 
GXP sprung an oil leak during  his prerace burnout and he was shut off by 
officials before making a  run.

"There was a little jet of oil squirting out of the overflow tank  and it 
cost us," Coughlin said. "Fortunately, it was an easy fix and (engine  
builder) Sonny Leonard walked us through some modifications we needed to make to  
rectify the problem. We're good to go now.

"We've read the weather  forecasts and it looks as though we're going to 
have nice, cool conditions this  weekend so we need to be ready for battle. 
I'd like to move up a few spots in  the points, if possible, but more 
importantly I'd like to win one or both of  these last two events. If we do that 
then we will move up in the  points."

The first round of pro qualifying begins at 6 p.m.  Friday.

--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   -or- scott.woodruff@jegs.com