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COLUMBUS, Ohio - For Team Jeg's racers John, Mike and Jeg Coughlin, there really is no place like home. The Coughlin brothers will spend this weekend racing in the second annual Jeg's Northern SPORTSnationals at their home track, National Trail Raceway. Racing in four sportsman classes, the Coughlin's have plenty of reason for optimism since the Kirkersville, Ohio facility has been the site of many of their greatest victories. National Trail Raceway is not only the team's official test track, but the Coughlin's have also combined to win eight national event victories there since 1990.
"I think I can speak for all my brothers when I say that National Trail Raceway is a very special place for us," said John Coughlin, who has won a pair of national events in Columbus, Pro Stock Truck in 1999 and Super Stock in 2003. "Each of us has made literally thousands of runs down this dragstrip and we are very comfortable racing here. We've also got a lot of support in this community from our friends, families, and our associates at Jeg's Mail Order."
John Coughlin plans to race in Super Stock and Super Comp at this weekend's event while Mike Coughlin will enter Top Sportsman with his new Jeg's Mail Order Cobalt and Jeg plans to wheel his dragster in the Super Comp category. Troy, the fourth Coughlin brother, will miss the Jeg's Northern SPORTSnationals as he continues his pursuit of the NMCA Pro Street title at another event in Joliet, Ill.
In 2003, John and Mike gave their father Jeg Sr., a Father's Day gift he will long remember when they each reached the winner's circle in Columbus. John claimed the Super Stock title and Mike triumphed in Super Comp within minutes of each other.
Jeg Coughlin has also won three times in Columbus, including his first national event victory in Super Gas in 1990. His other victories have come in 1996 (Super Stock) and 1998 (Pro Stock).
Thus far, all of the Coughlin victories have come at the NHRA Pontiac Performance Nationals, which is traditionally held in May. The Jeg's Northern SPORTSnationals is a new event, which showcases NHRA's best Sportsman drag racers.
"Not only do we enjoy racing at National Trail Raceway, but we're also pretty fond of these [SPORTSnational] races," Mike Coughlin added. "I was fortunate enough to reach the final last year in Super Comp and even though I didn't win I consider it to be one of the best races I attended last year. I'm really looking forward to racing there again this year."
Qualifying for the second annual Jeg's Northern SPORTSnationals will begin on Thursday, July 27 at 10 a.m. Qualifying will continue on Friday, July 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and final eliminations are scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 30 at 10 a.m.
Coughlin Brothers return home for SPORTSnationals
COLUMBUS, Ohio - For Team Jeg's racers John, Mike and Jeg Coughlin, there really is no place like home. The Coughlin brothers will spend this weekend racing in the second annual Jeg's Northern SPORTSnationals at their home track, National Trail Raceway. Racing in four sportsman classes, the Coughlin's have plenty of reason for optimism since the Kirkersville, Ohio facility has been the site of many of their greatest victories. National Trail Raceway is not only the team's official test track, but the Coughlin's have also combined to win eight national event victories there since 1990.
"I think I can speak for all my brothers when I say that National Trail Raceway is a very special place for us," said John Coughlin, who has won a pair of national events in Columbus, Pro Stock Truck in 1999 and Super Stock in 2003. "Each of us has made literally thousands of runs down this dragstrip and we are very comfortable racing here. We've also got a lot of support in this community from our friends, families, and our associates at Jeg's Mail Order."
John Coughlin plans to race in Super Stock and Super Comp at this weekend's event while Mike Coughlin will enter Top Sportsman with his new Jeg's Mail Order Cobalt and Jeg plans to wheel his dragster in the Super Comp category. Troy, the fourth Coughlin brother, will miss the Jeg's Northern SPORTSnationals as he continues his pursuit of the NMCA Pro Street title at another event in Joliet, Ill.
In 2003, John and Mike gave their father Jeg Sr., a Father's Day gift he will long remember when they each reached the winner's circle in Columbus. John claimed the Super Stock title and Mike triumphed in Super Comp within minutes of each other.
Jeg Coughlin has also won three times in Columbus, including his first national event victory in Super Gas in 1990. His other victories have come in 1996 (Super Stock) and 1998 (Pro Stock).
Thus far, all of the Coughlin victories have come at the NHRA Pontiac Performance Nationals, which is traditionally held in May. The Jeg's Northern SPORTSnationals is a new event, which showcases NHRA's best Sportsman drag racers.
"Not only do we enjoy racing at National Trail Raceway, but we're also pretty fond of these [SPORTSnational] races," Mike Coughlin added. "I was fortunate enough to reach the final last year in Super Comp and even though I didn't win I consider it to be one of the best races I attended last year. I'm really looking forward to racing there again this year."
Qualifying for the second annual Jeg's Northern SPORTSnationals will begin on Thursday, July 27 at 10 a.m. Qualifying will continue on Friday, July 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and final eliminations are scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 30 at 10 a.m.
