[coverattach=1]INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 6) -- Pro Stock point leader and defending world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. will enter eliminations for the 55th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil in a familiar position after rain once again shortened the qualifying rounds at an NHRA national event.
"We've lost so many rounds to rain this year," the 60-time national event winner said. "They told me that 13 of the first 17 races have been affected by rain and that seems about right. Just in recent memory, in the last three or four events, we've lost qualifying rounds to rain, so I guess you could say we're used to it by now."
With four of five rounds completed, Coughlin is 12th overall with a 6.650 at 208.04 mph in his JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt.
"We were hopeful we would get two shots at the track today and we got one. My pop (Jeg Sr) and Roy Simmons are looking over all the data and developing a race day game plan for this JEGS.com team."
"Race days have been very good for us all year and I don't expect this event to be any different. We'll need to be set on kill right from the start. I know we'll have our hands full every round, just like it's been all year."
Coughlin will start eliminations against Greg Anderson, who qualified 5th with a 6.635 at 208.20 mph.
"Greg is a tough racer and you can just about count on the fact he'll have a good light and make a good run," Coughlin said. "He'll be a strong test."
Entering this event with a 65-point lead in the Full Throttle points, Coughlin will need to win two rounds to secure the top ranking heading into the playoffs, which is worth 20 bonus points. Depending on what his rivals do he could lock up the top slot as early as Round 1.
"We've lost so many rounds to rain this year," the 60-time national event winner said. "They told me that 13 of the first 17 races have been affected by rain and that seems about right. Just in recent memory, in the last three or four events, we've lost qualifying rounds to rain, so I guess you could say we're used to it by now."
With four of five rounds completed, Coughlin is 12th overall with a 6.650 at 208.04 mph in his JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt.
"We were hopeful we would get two shots at the track today and we got one. My pop (Jeg Sr) and Roy Simmons are looking over all the data and developing a race day game plan for this JEGS.com team."
"Race days have been very good for us all year and I don't expect this event to be any different. We'll need to be set on kill right from the start. I know we'll have our hands full every round, just like it's been all year."
Coughlin will start eliminations against Greg Anderson, who qualified 5th with a 6.635 at 208.20 mph.
"Greg is a tough racer and you can just about count on the fact he'll have a good light and make a good run," Coughlin said. "He'll be a strong test."
Entering this event with a 65-point lead in the Full Throttle points, Coughlin will need to win two rounds to secure the top ranking heading into the playoffs, which is worth 20 bonus points. Depending on what his rivals do he could lock up the top slot as early as Round 1.
