NHRA: All-JEG'S Final Is In The Cards
22 August 1999
Brainerd International Raceway was the site of the first all-JEG'S final at a NHRA National Event. In 1997 Jeg Coughlin Jr. and teammate Jeff Taylor raced in the final round of Super Stock. Jeg won the battle of yellow and black, which wet the team appetite for the ultimate final round. Team JEG'S went in the day having both Pro Stock cars qualified and in the back of their mind wanting to be on opposite side of the ladder at the conclusion of qualifying.The conditions weather conditions did not improve today for the Pro Stock class. As the day went on the conditions got worse. The final day of qualifying failed to bring any major changes in the qualifying order. The cars that were in the quick sixteen continued to work on their race day setup, while the cars that were on the outside struggled to get into the field.
Jeg Coughlin / Pro Stock:
In the third qualifying session Jeg was in the right lane again. The car took off like a rocket down the middle of the groove to the big end. Jeg's run was one of the best looking runs of the session. The #2 JEG'S Mail Order entry did not improve and stayed in the number three slot with one session remaining to improve. Jeg said, "We could have been a little more aggressive with our setup after looking at the graph, which is good news." In the third session Jeg was the third quickest and fastest car.
Jeg was in the left lane and lined up next to his older brother Troy during the final session. The #2 JEG'S Olds Cutlass left the starting line and was following the middle of the groove. When the car got 250' feet out it ran into problems and Jeg let off. Jeg coasted to the finishline watching his older brother in the other lane and did not improve. Jeg remained in the number three slot and will go to battle with Richie Stevens in round one, Coughlin has lane choice.
Troy Coughlin / Pro Stock:
Troy and his #24 JEG'S machine lined up in left lane during the third qualifying session. The car left the starting line a little on the aggressive side. The car paddled the tires in low gear, which made the car unstable. Troy moved out to the left side of the groove 40' feet out and then drove back to the middle of the groove and continued his journey to the finishline. Coughlin noted, "We got a little aggressive in the can. Knowing the line that we crossed, it's easier to back off then to turn the wick up." Troy did not improve during the session and stayed in the number eight slot. He was the eighth quickest and fourth fastest of the third session. Jeg noted, "Our team is ready to do battle on raceday, this is what we came to Brainerd to do. With Yates not qualifying the opportunity for us to gain some ground exists, and we are ready."
During the final session Troy was in the right lane. The yellow and black JEG'S Mail Order machine launched and made a move toward the center stripe. The car was on the outside of the left side of the groove by the time it got to the 60' foot clock. Troy drove the car back to the groove and followed it to the stripe. Troy did not improve, but remained the number eight qualifier. Troy will face off against Greg Anderson in round one. Troy said, "I am looking forward to having a strong day tomorrow."
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