Phoenix: Team Jeg's Saturday qualifying

Jeg and Troy Coughlin began the final day of qualifying for the NHRA CSK Nationals focused on improving. Both drivers and their team worked toward being in the top eight qualifying positions. Jeg started the final day of qualifying in the No. 6 position and Troy was in the No. 13 spot.

Troy and his yellow and black Jeg's machine pulled into the right lane for the third session. He left the starting line and headed straight down the middle of the groove.

He ran a 6.945 at 198.67 mph. The run was not an improvement and Troy slipped to the No. 14 position. The run looked better then the numbers that came up on the board.

"The car left the line and hooked up like it should," said Troy after the third qualifying session. "I know that there is more left in it because I short shifted going into fifth gear. I felt the car starting to spin and wanted to calm the wheel speed down. Putting the car into fifth gear early just calmed it down too much. The track was just a little better then what we thought."

Jeg took on the left lane during the third session. The car blasted off of the line and started to favor the right side of the groove at the 330-foot clock. At the transition the car struggled for additional traction.

Jeg left his right foot on the floor and ran a 6.934 at 198.76 mph. The run was not an improvement and Jeg moved to the No. 7 slot.

"We made some changes in the clutch area before the run," explained Jeg after reviewing the data from the run. "We just were a little shy when we should have been a little more aggressive."

During the final qualifying session Troy was in the left lane. The Jeg's machine launched and took off toward the center stripe at the 330-foot clock. Troy quickly drove the car back to the middle of the groove and ran a 6.978 at 198.55 mph.

"We made some mistakes that bit us today," commented Troy. "We spend the time before the Mac Tools Gatornationals testing our new Chevy Cavaliers. I look forward to bringing the new Z-24 out and restarting my season in Gainesville in a couple of weeks."

Jeg lined up in the right lane for the final session. The car took off like a rocket from the starting line and hooked up all the way down the track. The run was the best looking that the car has made so far this season.

He ran a 6.901 at 199.49 mph. The run was an improvement over previous qualifying times and it moved him up to the No. 6 position. Jeg will have lane choice against Richie Stevens in the opening round.

"The car responded well to the changes that we made and that was the best feeling run that I have made so far this year," said Jeg. "Lane choice will be a factor tomorrow. The key to winning will be making solid runs and keeping lane choice. I would like nothing more then to put this old Cutlass in the winners circle before putting it to bed."

-Team Jeg's-