Seattle: Jeg Coughlin finals summary

Jeg Coughlin wins twice.

The fans and race teams had their eyes on the sky all day. The racing action was interrupted numerous times by mist and drizzle in Sunday. Team Jeg's set their sights on scoring the second win for Jeg of the year. In addition, a win at the Lucas Oil Products Northwest Nationals would mark the 50th win for the Coughlin family (John, Troy, Mike & Jeg Jr).

In the opening round Jeg Coughlin, Jr and his yellow and black Jeg's Mail Order Chevy Cavalier faced off against Bruce Allen. Coughlin had lane choice and took the preferred left lane.

Bruce Allen got the jump off of the starting line by .012 seconds (.432 to .444). By the time Jeg put it in second gear he was in the lead and never looked back. Bruce Allen ran into problems and was forced to shut off and watch from his front row seat. Jeg grabbed the win by posting an impressive 6.848 at 200.56 mph.

"We made the best run for the conditions that we had when we ran first round and that really says a lot about the handle that our group has on the track," explained Jeg.

The rain finally put a stop to the racing action on Sunday with two pair of Pro Stock car remaining from the first round. The first round was finished Monday morning with drastically improved conditions.

The second round pairing pitted Jeg against Greg Anderson. Anderson was one of the cars that had to finish the first round Monday morning and the improved conditions helped him get lane choice over Coughlin.

Coughlin launched first and never looked back (.439 to .467). He grabbed the hole shot victory by .0235 at the stripe and crossed the finish line with a 6.811 at 201.88 mph run.

"I have all of the confidence in the world in our team. We did not have lane choice and we kept our focus as a group," commented Jeg after second round. "The car started to fade to the right down track and go out of the groove. That is a good thing because we know that we left a lot on the table."

The semifinal round put current points leader Jim Yates and Jeg Coughlin head-to-head. Yates had lane choice in this classic match up and kept the left lane.

Coughlin took the starting line advantage by .039 seconds (.455 to .494) and pair laid it to the second hole shot victory of the day. Jeg ran a 6.824 at 201.52 mph and had a margin of victory of .0329 second. The run was good enough to be rewarded with lane choice in the final round.

"We really felt that the right lane was better in the semifinal round. We knew that their was more left in the car and it showed on the track," commented Coughlin.

Jeg Coughlin took on leading candidate for "Rookie of the Year" Mark Whisnant. Coughlin moved over to the right lane. Both drivers rolled into the pre stage lights and hesitated. Jeg rolled a little further and flickered the stage light and then rolled the rest of the way in. The auto tree started and turned the red light on for Whisnant and he never left the starting line. The Jeg's Mail Order machine crossed the finish line with an impressive 6.831 at 201.52 mph.

The NHRA made the decision to re-run the final round due to the miscue of the timing system. Team Jeg's was given time to go back to their pit area and service their Jeg's Mail Order Chevy Cavalier before returning to the starting line again.

Once again, Jeg Coughlin and Mark Whisnant returned to the starting line 45 minutes later to determine the Pro Stock winner. Jeg stayed with the left lane. The Jeg's Mail Order Chevy Cavalier grabbed the starting line advantage by .042 seconds (.453 to .495) and tripped the finish line clocks with a run of 6.864 at 200.14 mph.

Jeg Coughlin, Jr's win marked the 36th overall national event win and 25th of his professional career. He also remained 4th in the current NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Championship. Jeg became the 4th multiple event Pro Stock winner of the season. In addition, Jeg has won two of the last three event contested.

"Winning here in Seattle was special for a lot of reasons. Coming into the race Seattle was one of three tracks (Seattle, Sonoma & Dallas) that I have never won. We also scored our 50th family national event win and it marked my 25th professional victory in Pro Stock," said Jeg.

"I cannot say enough about the team that we have assembled. Everyone works great together and they all contribute to the success that we have achieved as a group."

-jeg's-