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NHRA: Jeg Coughlin is runner up; Troy Coughlin goes out in the semifinals

5 November 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

The NHRA returned to the Texas Motorplex for the rain delayed event. Qualifying was scheduled for Friday and was canceled due to rain. For the first time in NHRA history the fields were set by point standings.

In the opening round Troy Coughlin faced off against Tom Martino. Martino left the starting line a little on the early side (. 376), which turned on the red light. Troy ran 7.015 at 195.48 mph and advanced to the second round.

"The car was loose from second gear on," said Troy after the run. "We got the win and gained more points toward the No. 5 spot."

Jeg Coughlin went head-to-head against Greg Anderson. Both drivers rolled into the starting line beams without delay. Greg Anderson left first by .011 seconds (.411 to .422). Jeg rocketed off of the line and headed straight down the middle of the groove. Anderson ran into problems and shut off. Jeg took the win light with a run of 6.964 at 196.67 mph.

"Our goal was to get lane choice for the second round and we accomplished that," commented Jeg. "We learned a lot from the first round and that should help both of the Jeg's machines."

Troy went head-to-head with WJ in round two. WJ left the line first and turned on the red light in the process (.385 to .455). Troy and his Jeg's machine went about their own business and ran a 7.018 at 196.16 mph.

"We have continued to get a better handle on the track with each pass that we make," said Troy. "We are not making mistakes and it shows."

In the second round Jeg faced off against Darrell Alderman. Jeg took the left lane. Both drivers left the starting line beams with identical reaction times (.437). Jeg and the Maskin/DART Machinery horsepower pulled away from the Dodge. Jeg took the win light by .079 at the stripe. He ran a 6.971 at 196.76 mph.

"We have been making good runs all day," explained Jeg. "The guys have been making great calls on the set up and it is paying dividends."

In the semifinal round Troy faced Kurt Johnson. Kurt had lane choice and took the left lane. Kurt left first with a .431 to a .460 reaction time. Both cars darted down the track. Troy started to spin and loose traction just after the 330-foot clock. He shut off and coasted to the finish line.

"This track has really turned into a one lane race track," said Troy. "We will get ready for Pomona."

Jeg took on Mark Pawuk in the semifinal round. Jeg had lane choice and decided to stick with the left lane. Jeg left the starting line first by .024 seconds (.413 to .437). The Jeg's machine rocketed down the left lane. Pawuk ran into traction problems in the right lane and he stayed with it too long. Pawuk crossed over into the left lane and hit the wall behind Jeg as he took the win light. Jeg ran a 6.967 at 196.53 mph.

"This track has really been a handful today. The entire track is concrete and when it gets cool and slightly damp it turns into a problem quick," explained Jeg.

Jeg faced off against Kurt Johnson in the final round. Kurt had lane choice and picked the left lane. Jeg did a long burnout to the 1000-foot clock to try to help the traction in the right lane. Jeg left first with a .421 to a .437 reaction time. Both cars were side-by-side until Jeg got 500-feet from the starting line where the problem area was. Jeg started to move around and wisely shut off.

"We won the Championship. The last thing in the world I wanted to do was push it too far and end up in the wall like Yates and Pawuk both did out of the right lane," said Jeg. "We have had a great season and we have nothing to complain about."

Text provided by Scott Woodruff

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