NHRA: Momentum is with Team JEG'S
18 June 1999
NHRA's largest all-family professional race team comes to Gateway International. The JEG'S Mail Order Racing Team is looking forward to invading the Sears Craftsman Nationals and is filled with momentum. The last three races have yielded the team 2 Pro Stock Truck wins, 2 Pro Stock runner-up finishes and the team won the first Holley Dominator Duel race in Pro Stock. The team has had the familiar yellow and black JEG'S colors in at least one final round over the last three races, which speaks very highly of the team and there competitiveness.Last year at the Sears Craftsman Nationals Jeg Coughlin, Jr. left Gateway International as the Pro Stock runner-up. Coughlin is fresh off of a runner-up finish from the Pontiac Excitement Nationals, in front of his home town crowd. "We had a good weekend. The team seemed to have a good handle on the setup in the hot conditions. It was extremely hot last year at the Sears Craftsman Nationals so hopefully we got some hands on practice last weekend for this weekend," said Jeg. Coughlin moved to the number five position. He trails Richie Stevens by a mere 4 points and Jim Yates by 41. "Our team is working well and we are gaining ground with every race. We need to continue to make semifinal round appearances and the rest will take care of itself."
Troy Coughlin, the other half of the Coughlin Pro Stock duo, is looking forward to getting behind the wheel again. Troy is coming off of a DNQ in Columbus and he was the runner-up a week earlier in Chicago. Troy commented, "This class is so competitive, one minute your up and the next your down. Focus, dedication and determination is what gets you through the peaks and valleys." Troy has 474 points and slipped to the number seven spot. With a strong performance at the Sears Craftsman Nationals Troy can jump as high as the number three spot. Troy trails Mike Edwards by 11, 54 points separate Troy from his younger brother, Jim Yates is 58 points ahead and Richie Stevens is reachable with a win. "Our team has been gaining momentum lately and I intend on adding to it this weekend."
The '98 Sears Craftsman Nationals was Mike Coughlin's first race in a NHRA Pro Stock Truck. Mike has made a name for himself in the Pro Stock Truck class in just one short year. Coughlin picked up his first NHRA National Event win at the Mopar Parts Nationals in Englishtown earlier this year and has been a competitive force throughout the '99 NHRA season. Mike said, "I look back to a year ago and see a different driver. The learning curve which I have endured over the last year with the help of my father, brothers and teammates has gone very smooth." Mike is currently in the number five position in the '99 NHRA Winston points and trails Randy Daniels by 54 points. "The consistency of our performance has really taken a big step forward lately. Our entire team is focused on winning. Richard Maskin and his staff at DART are committed to putting our vehicles in the winner's circle."
John Coughlin is the latest brother to win a NHRA National Event. John won the Pro Stock Truck title at the Pontiac Excitement Nationals, which was the "rookie's" first final round appearance since joining NHRA's newest professional class. "My goal coming into the season was to win two national events in Pro Stock Truck and finish in the top ten. I think that the first win is the hardest one to get and now that I've been there I'll know how to get back again soon," said Coughlin. John moved up to the number twelve spot after last weeks performance and is 34 points away from the top ten. "With another strong performance the top ten is within my reach. Our team would like nothing more then to have both JEG'S Mail Order Pro Stock Trucks in the top ten."
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