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NHRA: Jeg Coughlin, Jr. rewrites NHRA Pro Stock history book

8 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Troy Coughlin faced off against Allen Johnson in the first round and took the preferred left lane. The JEG'S machine took the starting line advantage by .015 seconds. Troy turned on the win light and ran a 7.009 at 197.51 mph.

"That was a good run," said Troy. "It was only our second run on the engine since we changed it before the final qualifying session yesterday."

The two "young guns" went head-to-head in the opening round. Jeg had lane choice and took the left lane. Jeg and Richie left the line with identical reaction times. The Pro Stock points leader took the win light by .194 seconds and made the quickest run of the round. He ran a 6.941 at 197.71 mph.

"We knew that we had a strong set up for the heat," commented Jeg. "Once again, the men in yellow and black gave me the tools to do my job in the car."

In the second round Troy Coughlin went up against Kurt Johnson. Kurt took a .010 second advantage off of the starting line. The JEG'S machine was out in front by the time it got to the 60-foot clock. Troy never looked back. He took the win light and ran a 6.998 at 197.25 mph, which was the second quickest run of the round.

"The car hooked up great from the start," noted Troy. "The guys really have a strong handle on the track conditions."

Jeg Coughlin faced off against V. Gaines in the second round. Gaines grabbed the reactions time advantage by .043 seconds. However, it wasn't enough to hold off the Maskin.DART Machinery horsepower. Jeg ran a 6.945 at 198.09 and was rewarded with the win light.

In the semifinal round Jeg and Troy Coughlin lined up next to each other. Jeg had lane choice and took the left lane. Troy took the starting line advantage by .005 seconds. Both cars raced side-by-side. Troy's car ran into traction problems 850-feet from the starting line and was forced to shut off. That area of the track was an obstacle for drivers all week. Jeg took the win light with a 6.960 at 197.48 mph.

"We have had a JEG'S car in all seven Pro Stock finals this year," noted Troy. "We win and lose as a team no matter what happens."

"This car is so predictable right now," Jeg said. "It really makes it easier for everyone to do their job.

"We made the quickest run of the round again," explained Jeg. "There is so much synergy on this team."

The final round put Jeg Coughlin and Bruce Allen head-to-head. The yellow and black JEG'S Mail Order Olds Cutlass left the starting line first and never looked back. Jeg ran a 6.957 at 198.12 mph to Bruce Allen's losing 7.099 at 195.85 mph. The win made Jeg Coughlin, Jr. the first driver in NHRA Pro Stock history to win six of the first seven races.

"What a day," stated Jeg. "Our team is simply awesome. Everyone worked together as a team and did their job. The guys in yellow and black deserve more of the credit than me. They gave me the tools to win."

His closest competitor Warren Johnson got beat in the first round, which put an end to his points gathering at his hometown track. WJ's loss opened the door of opportunity for Coughlin and the men in yellow and black. Jeg now has a 289 point lead over 2nd place in the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. Troy Coughlin moved up to the No. 5 position in the NHRA Winston points and has 377 points.

Text provided by Scott Woodruff

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