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NHRA: Jeg Coughlin wins ninth of the year; One step closer to a championship

2 October 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Troy Coughlin and his yellow and black Oldsmobile Cutlass was the first of the two identical looking team cars to take on the quarter-mile battlefield. He lined up next to Kurt Johnson in the first round.

The Jeg's machine left the starting line first by .004 seconds (.466 to .470). Troy launched and had excessive wheel speed, which hurt him early in the run. KJ turned on the win light by .037 second at the stripe. Troy ran a 7.014 at 196.76 mph.

"We really wanted that round win," said Troy. "We just were too aggressive for the track."

NHRA Pro Stock points leader and No. 1 qualifier went head-to-head with fellow Ohio driver Larry Morgan. Jeg took the starting line advantage by .003 seconds (.476 to .479) and never looked back. The Olds Cutlass rocketed to the finish line to take the win light by .056 seconds at the big end. He ran a quicker 6.964 at 196.33 mph.

"The chassis and engine are working well together in my car," explained Jeg. "We are making solid runs and gaining valuable data on the raceday track conditions."

In the second round Jeg was pitted against Scott Geoffrion. Coughlin had lane choice and took the left lane again. Jeg blasted off of the line first by .016 seconds (.447 to .463). He took the win light by .069 at the finish line and ran a 6.991 at 196.47 mph.

"The guys are doing a good job reading the track," noted Jeg. "We got a little too aggressive during the second round, but we got by with it."

In the semifinal round Jeg and WJ went head-to-head. Jeg had lane choice and stayed with the left lane for the third time today. WJ left the starting line first by .002 seconds (.459 to .461) and Jeg quickly followed. By the time Jeg got to the 60-foot clock first he was out in front to stay. The win light comes on for Jeg as he passed the finish line with a 7.014 at 195.85 mph.

"That was a big win for us. We were rewarded with lane choice for the finial round and that always helps," commented Jeg.

Jeg and Darrell Alderman squared off in the final round. Jeg had lane choice and keep the left lane. Alderman took the starting line advantage by .015 seconds (.456 to .471). The yellow and black Jeg's machine came on strong and rocketed to the finish line. Jeg turned on the win light with a 7.022 at 195.36 mph compared to slower 7.083 at 194.58 mph in the other lane.

This is the second time in Jeg Coughlin, Jr's career that he has qualified No. 1 and won the race. In addition, it was the second time in the last three races.

"What a day! The men in yellow and black did their job and helped to bring home our ninth NHRA Pro Stock win of the season," said Jeg. "I told myself that I wanted to qualify No. 1 here and win the race. To do it the way you had it in your head is an awesome feeling. My hat goes off to everyone on our team and all of our dedicated associates at Jeg's Mail Order."

Troy is in the No. 6 spot in the NHRA Winston Championship with 957 points. Jeg increased his lead to 425 points over his closest competitor. The next race is this coming weekend in Memphis, TN at the Memphis Motorsports Park. Jeg needs to leave Memphis with a 415 point lead to officially be crowned the 2000 NHRA Winston Pro Stock Champion.

Text Provided By Scott Woodruff

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