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NHRA: Team JEG'S Looks To Get Back On Track

12 May 1999

The last couple races for the JEG'S Mail Order Racing Team have been less then desirable for the Championship caliber team. The team has been plagued with DNQ's and poor qualifying positions. NHRA's largest all-family professional team will head to Atlanta and looks to get back on track.

Team Advisor/Father Jeg Coughlin, Sr. noted, "We have simply made some poor decisions as a group. All decisions that are made concerning the setup of any vehicle in our program is a team effort." The team spent the time between races tearing down the cars and trucks in an effort to determine what has been hurting their performance and consistency. Monday the team headed to National Trail Raceway to test the cars and trucks. The Pro Stock Trucks tested Monday, while the Pro Stock cars tested both Monday and Tuesday. "Our goal was to get the cars and trucks to the 330' foot clock going straight and quick," said Coughlin.

Troy Coughlin is now a member of the elite Speed Pro Federal-Mogul 200-Mph Club. In addition, Troy is one of a select few who is a member of both the Holly 6-Second Club and the Speed Pro Federal-Mogul 200-Mph Club. "Breaking the 200-Mph barrier is something I have always wanted to do. Going fast is something that really puts a smile on my face," said Coughlin. Troy and his #24 JEG'S Mail Order Olds Cutlass are currently in the number three spot with 330 points. Troy trails Warren Johnson by 157 and series leader Kurt Johnson by 252 points. "This season is far from over, we have 16 point earning races left in our season. A lot can change in that time," said Troy.

"Having two DNQ's back to back and slipping to the number six position in the NHRA Winston points is not where I pictured I would be right now," said Jeg. "We struggled the last two races with the setup of my car." Jeg Coughlin has 294 points and is resting in the number six spot. Jeg is a mere 20 points from Allen Johnson, 25 behind Jim Yates and trails his older brother Troy in the number three position by 36 points. "We need to go out and have consistent qualifying runs, be in the top half of the ladder and the rest will take car of itself."

The yellow and black JEG'S S-10 of Mike Coughlin is holding down the number eight position in the NHRA Winston Pro Stock Truck points. "We brought my newly built Jerry Haas S-10 to Richmond. I like the truck a lot and I am looking forward to making more passes with it. The team is learning more about what the truck wants in a setup with each run," said Coughlin. Mike is within striking distance of the number six spot. Tim Freeman is in the number seven spot and has 202 points. While Todd Patterson has 212 points, which is a 24 point defect for Mike and his JEG'S machine. "My first victory is right around the corner. Richard and his staff at DART Machinery have a great handle on the horsepower and the new truck has some aerodynamic advantages over my previous truck built by Jerry Haas."

Pro Stock Truck "rookie" John Coughlin took the weekend off racing his #31 JEG'S Mail Order S-10 in Richmond, but still spent the weekend racing. John was in Indianapolis racing his #33 JEG'S Super Stock Pontiac Grand Am at the Division 3 Federal-Mogul event in an effort to clinch a spot in the Annual Federal-Mogul All-star Race, which is held during the Pontiac Excitement Nationals at his home track (National Trail Raceway). "Parking my Pro Stock Truck for the weekend was a hard decision for me to make. I simply felt that I needed to focus on making that all-star race," commented John. His effort paid off; John will join a long list of sportsman all-stars to participate in this unique race, which have included his brothers (Troy, Mike & Jeg, Jr) in past years. "I will be racing my brother Mike's former Pro Stock Truck in Atlanta. Both trucks were built by Jerry Haas, which will enable us to share more data between both trucks. I am really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of a Pro Stock Truck again."

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