---

NHRA: Jeg and Troy Coughlin go out in the second round

17 July 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

A total of 25 drivers battled over four qualifying session for the 16 available qualifying position for raceday at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals. Only .068 seconds separated the No. 1 spot from the No. 16 position. Jeg started his day from the No. 5 slot and Troy from the No. 8 position.

In the first round Troy faced off against Allen Johnson. The reaction time advantage went to Allen Johnson by .072 seconds (.409 to .481). The Maskin/DART Machinery horsepower was too much for the Dodge. Troy took the win light by .008 seconds at the stripe and moved into the No. 4 spot in the NHRA Winston Championship points with his round win. He ran a 7.319 at 187.29 mph.

"It is never fun to be the first pair out, especially after an oil down," explained Troy. "While we waited to run the clouds went away and changed the racing surface for everyone. That was an important win for us and it moved us into the No. 4 spot in the points."

Jeg went head-to-head with Tom Martino in round one. The two drivers turned the pre stage lights on in their respective lanes and waited. Jeg rolled into the final stage light first and Martino followed. The advantage out of the starting line beams went to Martino by .035 seconds (.406 to .441). The familiar yellow and black Cutlass' rocketed down the track to the big end. Jeg turned on the win light by .016 seconds. He ran a 7.332 at 187.29 mph.

"We could have been a little bit more aggressive in the first round," said Jeg. "The most important thing that happened was the win light coming on so that we could advance to the second round."

In the second round Jeg was the first of the two JEG'S Mail Order Olds Cutlass' to pull into the water box. Jeg lined up next to Ron Krisher. The advantage off of the line went to Krisher by .004 seconds (.427 to .431). The two cars were side-by-side racing down the track. The win light favored Krisher by .021 seconds. Jeg ran a 7.336 at 186.48 mph.

"We left the mountain with the points lead and will focus on the rest of the West Coast swing," noted Jeg.

Troy took on Kurt Johnson in the second round. The JEG'S machine grabbed the advantage off of the line by .001 seconds (.452 to .453). The two drivers battled to get to the finish line first. The win light came on in the other lane by .034 seconds. Troy ran a 7.349 at 186.69 mph.

"We have only one of the three races of the West Coast completed," said Troy. "Our team will focus on getting back into the winner's circle in Seattle and Sonoma."

Text provided by Scott Woodruff

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.