Indianapolis Mike Coughlin Qualifying Notes

The Pro Stock Truck class, NHRA's newest professional class, ran the first two rounds of the 45th Annual US Nationals. The US Nationals is NHRA's most prestigious race to win.

Mike Coughlin of the JEG'S Mail Order Pro Stock Truck Team started the first round of elimination's today from the "lucky" number thirteen position. In the first round he and his JEG'S Mail Order machine took on Brad Jeter, who out qualified his and sat in the number three position. Both Jeter and Coughlin are known by their Pro Stock Truck peers to be among the best when it comes to reaction times. In this battle Jeter fouled away his chances of winning the US Nationals title. Mike and his JEG'S team ran an impressive 7.658 at 175.55 mph, which gave his lane choice for the next round.

Mike said, "Richard Maskin and his staff at DART Machinery were extremely busy in the dyno room in the weeks leading up to this race."

Pro Stock Truck "rookie" John Coughlin out qualified his brother Mike and started his day from the number seven slot. John went head-to-head with Scott Perin in round one, Coughlin had lane choice. Perin took a .008 second advantage on the starting line. Both Chevy S-10's were side-by-side all the way down the track. Coughlin's truck moved around a little down track, but he stayed with it. John ran a 7.686 and Scott Perin ran 7.683 and the win went to Perin.

John noted, "I was a little off my shift point coming out of low gear, but it was a great race for the loyal NHRA fans to watch who support our sport."

In the second round Mike faced Brian Self. Both trucks staged together, but Coughlin took a .015 second reaction time advantage off of the starting line and pair laid it for a win. Coughlin and his yellow and black JEG'S Mail Order Chevy S-10 picked up lane choice for the semifinal round. Mike will face Craig Eaton when Pro Stock Truck competition continues tomorrow.

Coughlin commented, "The guys really have a firm handle on the setup for the heat. The conditions that we ran our first two rounds in today will be very similar tomorrow."

In 1998 Mike lost in the semifinal round of Pro Stock Truck to Bob Panella. Mike said, "I feel very confident in our team and our overall program going into the semifinal round for the second year in a row. Our teams hard work and dedication is paying off!" Mike Coughlin won the Mopar Parts Nationals earlier this year in Englishtown, NJ. Coming into this race Mike and his JEG'S Mail Order Chevy S-10 held down the number five position in the NHRA Winston Championship.