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NHRA: Troy Coughlin improves at US Nationals

3 September 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

The second day of qualifying began today for the professional classes. The "factory hot rods" had two qualifying sessions.

Jeg started the second day of qualifying sitting in the No. 6 spot. During the second session Jeg ran a 7.061 at 194.74 mph. The run was not an improvement and Jeg slipped to the No. 7 slot.

"This place can be tricky," explained Jeg. "There are so many cars that go down this track in a day it's amazing! Reading the track and anticipating what it will do is the key to being successful here more then most tracks." The was on the track all morning and it has gotten hotter by the hour.

Troy and his Jeg's Oldsmobile Cutlass started the day from the No. 8 position. No improvement for Troy in the heat of the day. He ran a 7.075 at 194.74 mph and moved down one position.

"The sun was on the track all morning and it has gotten hotter by the hour," said Troy. "We are continuing to learn more about the first 60-feet of this track."

Jeg ran a 7.022 at 195.48 mph during the third session. He did not improve and slipped to the No. 14 spot.

"We changed engines for the third session," said Jeg. "The car is just not responding well. We will look over all of our data and figure out what we need to do to eliminate what ever is upsetting the car."

Troy picked up during the third session. He ran a 6.996 at 196.64 mph and marched up to the No. 6 slot.

"We made a much better run," noted Troy. "We are learning more abut this tricky track with each pass."

Text Provided By Scott Woodruff

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