Coughlin not caught up in past success
Jeg Coughlin Jr. isn't letting past success get in the way of progress.
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The back-to-back Pro Stock Series champion leads the season points standings with 1,273 points, or 60 more than second-place Mike Edwards. Coughlin and Top Fuel leader Antron Brown have an NHRA best five wins this season. He also won the $50,000 K&N Horsepower Challenge.
Two-time defending Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. ignited off the starting line during Mopar Mile-High Nationals in Denver. Coughlin returns to BIR where he won his 50th career race in 2007.
"It's been really fantastic," said Coughlin. "Coming off a huge Countdown to One last season and winning the Full Throttle Championship, we had one goal in mind and that was to work extremely hard at putting ourselves into position to win some more rounds, more races and get into the top three for this year's Countdown. We were No. 3 last year and in 2007. That's a lucky spot for us, but we'd like to get a couple of notches higher.
"We could fall a couple of spots just as easily. The competition has been really, really good."
Jeg Coughlin Jr.
Category: Pro Stock
Hometown: Delaware, Ohio
Age: 39
2009 Car: Jegs.com Cobalt
Crew Chief: Roy Simmons
Career wins: 59
2009 wins/final rounds: 5/7
Current points standing: First
When asked to grade the Jegs.com Cobalt team, Coughlin gave it a "strong nine." The team has led the standings the last 11 weeks and up until Norwalk, Ohio, were in the finals six of the seven times.
Coughlin's first victory came in Phoenix with a win over Kurt Johnson. He topped Greg Stanfield in Las Vegas followed by a win in Madison, Ill., over Jason Line and a win in Joliet, Ill., over Mike Edwards.
He topped Edwards again at Englishtown, N.J. for win No. 5. Coughlin secured seconds in Houston and Atlanta.
Jeg Coughlin Jr. figures being third is nice - but so is second and first.
At Norwalk, however, Coughlin fell to Edwards in the quarterfinals. Jason Line was Coughlin's worst nightmare during the Western Swing as he fell to Line during the semifinals in Denver, the quarterfinals at Seattle and the semifinals in Sonoma.
"We went to Charlotte and worked on getting the car to accelerate better during the first 20 to 50 feet," Coughlin said. "If we've had any weak spots that's where it's been. Drag racing is all about accelerating and any mistakes you make early are certain to hurt you. We completed the testing and we think we have the best car we've had all year."
A scary thought since Coughlin heads into a venue where he's had success. Couglin owns four victories at Brainerd International Raceway, site of the Lucas Oil Nationals.
Last year, he lost to eventual winner Kurt Johnson. In 2007, Coughlin picked up his 50th career victory at BIR with a win over Greg Anderson. He also won in 2002 and 1999.
"We don't know exactly what to expect," said Coughlin. "We've won there four times, three in Pro Stock and once in Super Stock. I've been going there since the early 1990s.
"I always enjoy going to visit the fans. They are die-hard fans period. The people come out in groves and that makes it fun. The campground area is unique. Fans can get creative and show off their racing spirit and have a good time."
Coughlin was the first driver to secure a spot in the Countdown to the Championship. That was just a minor goal on the road to three-peating.
"We've won back-to-back and you watch some of these professional teams that have won three straight and they start throwing out the word 'dynasty'," said Coughlin. "We'd like to add our names to that.
"We've been working on getting more horsepower. We've worked on a few things on the car. Horsepower is going to be key. The changes we made to the car will hopefully allow us to tap into that horsepower a little sooner."
JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5856.