NHRA: Jeg Coughlin become 6th most winning Pro Stock driver in NHRA history
17 April 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Every driver and team wants to play on the quarter mile play ground on raceday. A total of thirty-six Pro Stock drivers battled through four qualifying sessions to be among the elite sixteen. The JEG'S Mail Order Racing Team took up two of the sixteen available spots.
Troy Coughlin was the first of the two JEG'S Mail Order Olds Cutlass' to roll up to the starting line. Troy was in the third pair of cars. After seeing two cars run in front of him move around in the left lane the team put more wing in the car to help create more downforce on the rear.
"Our car had the performance to win that race." Troy added, "I gained more qualifying points in the Holley Pro Stock Dominator Duel. We will head back to the shop and get ready for the Moto1.com Nationals in Virginia."
Jeg watched Warren Johnson get beat from the seat of his JEG'S machine. Before the team ran the first round they knew that the opportunity door was wide open. Jeg came into this race with a 49 point lead over WJ.
Coughlin's yellow and black JEG'S Mail Order Cutlass was lined up under the tower and ready to take the left lane. After seeing just about every car in front of them struggle with the left lane, the men in yellow and black added more wing to the car and moved over to the right lane.
The first round put Mike Thomas and Jeg head-to-head. Thomas fouled out with a .386 reaction time and the win light automatically came on for Coughlin. The car blasted off of the starting line and rocketed down the middle of the groove. Jeg had a .418 reaction time and ran a 6.901 at 199.70 Mph.
"The guys made a great decision on the lanes and it proved to be the right call." Jeg continued, "This car runs so straight down the lane it's like a slot car."
NHRA points leader Jeg Coughlin faced off against Kurt Johnson in round one. There was a lot of pride on the line when the two drivers rolled into the starting line beams as their teams filled the starting line area behind them. Kurt took a small starting line advantage. However, Jeg was out in front at the 330' foot clock and cruised to the big end. Kurt got out of shape and was forced to watch the JEG'S Mail Order machine take the win light and advance to the next round.
"That was a great lap and we got lane choice for the semifinal round." Jeg went on to explain how the run felt from the drivers seat, "The car hooked up with the track immediately as it left the starting line. The car flew down the middle of the groove to the big end."
In the semifinal round Jeg and Darrell Alderman faced off. Coughlin had lane choice and took the right lane. No games on the starting line this time for Alderman, he goes into the stage beams first and Jeg follows close behind. The Jegster blasts down the middle of the groove and put the win light on. He ran a 6.927 at 198.85 Mph.
"This car is responding great to the set up." Jeg added, "The car and track are working well together."
The final round put Jim Yates and Jeg Coughlin on opposite sides of the track. The JEG'S machine lined up in the left lane. Coughlin charges out of the starting line beams with an impressive .434 reaction time, Yates followed with .499 light. Coughlin never left the middle of the groove on his journey to the his 4th win this season. Jeg ran a 6.905 at 199.29 Mph and won by more than a car length at the stripe.
"This team is awesome! My hat goes off to everyone, they made this happen." Coughlin noted, "We will continue to work as hard as ever and go after the Championship with everything that we have."
This victory made Jeg Coughlin, Jr. the sixth most winning Pro Stock driver in NHRA history and has a 143 point lead. He is 4 for 4 in final round appearances this session and has won 14 of 19 professional final rounds in his short career behind the wheel of a "factory hotrod."
Text provided by Scott Woodruff
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