<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/J_Coughlin.jpg" alt="J_Coughlin" align="left"borders="0"/>
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 2) -- Pro Stock driver Jeg Coughlin Jr. will enter the first event of the Countdown to Four playoff race with a monster first-round date against season-long points leader Greg Anderson. The winner will automatically become the new POWERade points leader.
"It doesn't get much bigger than this right out of the gate," said Coughlin, who finished the regular season third in the points. "Our destiny is squarely in our hands and we're fully aware of the implications of this race. It's very, very exciting already. It's going to be special."
Coughlin carries the advantage of lane choice into his race against Anderson as his JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt was quicker than Anderson's Pontiac in qualifying. Coughlin qualified eight overall with a 6.675 at 206.01 mph, while Anderson topped out at 6.677 seconds. In all likelihood, the Coughlin/Anderson tilt will be the first one of the day in the Pro Stock category.
"They've struggled a little bit this weekend over there but we all know what they're capable of," Coughlin said. "Greg was the points leader for a reason. We've caught right up to him when the re-seeded the points for the Countdown to Four and it would be awesome to get this win and move into the lead.
"The main goal remains winning the race, because if you do that you'll leave town as the points leader regardless. We just have a great opportunity to put some distance between us and Greg right away, which would be a huge advantage moving forward."
By chance, Coughlin's teammate at Victor Cagnazzi , Dave Connolly, will face Anderson's KB Racing teammate in the first round as well. Connolly qualified third, while Line qualified 14th.
"It's no secret that our team and that one over there are battling for the championship very hard," Coughlin said. "If Dave and I can take care of business this could prove to be a very big weekend for the entire organization."
Championship implications already at a fever pitch for Coughlin
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 2) -- Pro Stock driver Jeg Coughlin Jr. will enter the first event of the Countdown to Four playoff race with a monster first-round date against season-long points leader Greg Anderson. The winner will automatically become the new POWERade points leader.
"It doesn't get much bigger than this right out of the gate," said Coughlin, who finished the regular season third in the points. "Our destiny is squarely in our hands and we're fully aware of the implications of this race. It's very, very exciting already. It's going to be special."
Coughlin carries the advantage of lane choice into his race against Anderson as his JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt was quicker than Anderson's Pontiac in qualifying. Coughlin qualified eight overall with a 6.675 at 206.01 mph, while Anderson topped out at 6.677 seconds. In all likelihood, the Coughlin/Anderson tilt will be the first one of the day in the Pro Stock category.
"They've struggled a little bit this weekend over there but we all know what they're capable of," Coughlin said. "Greg was the points leader for a reason. We've caught right up to him when the re-seeded the points for the Countdown to Four and it would be awesome to get this win and move into the lead.
"The main goal remains winning the race, because if you do that you'll leave town as the points leader regardless. We just have a great opportunity to put some distance between us and Greg right away, which would be a huge advantage moving forward."
By chance, Coughlin's teammate at Victor Cagnazzi , Dave Connolly, will face Anderson's KB Racing teammate in the first round as well. Connolly qualified third, while Line qualified 14th.
"It's no secret that our team and that one over there are battling for the championship very hard," Coughlin said. "If Dave and I can take care of business this could prove to be a very big weekend for the entire organization."
