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NHRA: Team JEG'S Looking For Impressive Weekend In Front Of Hometown Crowd

9 June 1999

The JEG'S Mail Order Racing Team competes at it's home track in front of it's hometown crowd this weekend at the Pontiac Excitement Nationals. Team JEG'S will compete in Pro Stock, Pro Stock Truck and Super Stock. Jeg and Troy will continue to fly the yellow and black JEG'S colors in NHRA's most competitive class. Pro Stock Truck's brother duo, Mike and John Coughlin will compete in NHRA's newest professional class. In addition to driving a Pro Stock Truck, John will be the Division 3 Super Stock representative in the annual Federal-Mogul All-star race.

Troy Coughlin is coming off of his third runner-up finish of the '99 NHRA season and currently is in the number five in the points. "Our entire team has been working extremely hard preparing for the races. My car has responded very well to the changes that we have been making to it," said Coughlin. Troy who was the Pro Stock runner-up in '97 at the Pontiac Excitement Nationals is hoping to get over the hump and post his first professional win in front of his hometown crowd. "I have won more rounds so far this year then I did all of last year. Our team members have been working side by side for over a year, which helps the consistency of our program. The team has also gone to every track that we race at together and we have data on each track that was generated together as a team." Troy is trailing Jim Yates by 36 points and Richie Stevens by 53, while the Johnson family is more then a race ahead. "If we have consistent semifinal round appearances or better the top spot will be within striking distance soon," noted Troy.

Jeg Coughlin, the '98 Pontiac Excitement Nationals Pro Stock defending champion would like nothing more then to repeat with a win in front of the hometown crowd. "Racing at your home track in front of our home town fans is as exciting as it gets. We had the largest winner's circle picture that I have ever seen. When you have your family, friends, fans and all of our co-workers at JEG'S wanting you to win you really feed from their energy," commented Jeg. Most recently the yellow and black JEG'S Mail Order Olds Cutlass was the winner of the '99 Holley Dominator Duel, which is a Pro Stock All-star race held annually at the Mopar Parts Nationals. The young and talented driver currently sit in the number seven position in the NHRA Winston Championship points with 431. The '98 NHRA "rookie of the year" trails Allen Johnson by a mere 3 points, older brother Troy by 30 points, Jim Yates is ahead by 69 points all of these positions are within striking distance with a repeat win.

Mike Coughlin became the fourth of the four Coughlin brothers to win a NHRA national event at the Mopar Parts Nationals where he was the Pro Stock Truck champion. The JEG'S Mail Order Chevy S-10 has been making a move toward the top of NHRA's newest professional class. The Pro Stock Truck class will race for the first time at National Trail Raceway this weekend. Mike said, "I am really looking forward to racing my JEG'S Mail Order S-10 at the Pontiac Excitement Nationals. I have raced more at this track through the years then anyplace in the country and I would like nothing more then to win here this weekend." Mike has 361 points and is in the number six spot going into the race at his home track. Tim Freeman is ahead of Mike by 47 points and 77 points separate the JEG'S driver from the number four position where Randy Daniels resides. Should Mike and his #28 JEG'S Mail Order S-10 have another strong finishing weekend both of these positions are within reach.

John Coughlin will be a busy man this weekend at the Pontiac Excitement Nationals. In addition to competing in Pro Stock Truck John will also be the division 3 representative in Super Stock for the annual Federal-Mogul all-star race. "This weekend will bring on additional challenges for me and our team competing in two classes. I am very confident that both myself and our team are up for the challenge," said John. John is coming off of two back to back strong finishes in the Pro Stock Truck class and is currently number fourteen in the point standing. John is 136 points away from the top ten and is within striking distance of the number twelve spot.

John is the fourth of the four Coughlin brothers to race in the annual Federal-Mogul all-star race, which is held this weekend as part of the Pontiac Excitement Nationals. The oldest Coughlin brother said, "I am honored to be a part of this great event and represent all the great drivers of division 3. Being the last of the four brothers to race in this event is very special to me and our family." The #33 JEG'S Mail Order Pontiac Grand Am will be a force to deal with this weekend when the team invades their home track. "We have done some testing here in the previous weeks and have had a lot of success. As a team we have more data and passes down the track and at this facility then any other in the country." The Federal-Mogul race puts the "best of the best" head-to-head in a unique point earning race. In each sportsman class all seven divisions are represented in this race as well as the previous years champion of this special race. The field of eight drivers is among the most elite in their respected classes.

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