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COLUMBUS, Ohio (July 29) -- Team JEG'S driver Mike Coughlin was among the seven champions crowned today at the second annual JEG'S NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals at National Trail Raceway in Columbus. In just his third competitive outing with his new Chevy Cobalt, Coughlin claimed the Top Sportsman title with a final round victory over Tommy Turner. Coughlin ran a 7.41-second elapsed time in the final round to earn his 10th career NHRA national event victory and his third at National Trail Raceway.
"It's taken me a little while to get comfortable in this new car but this weekend, I was very relaxed and focused," said Coughlin. "Our crew also did a great job of preparing the car, and making sure that it stayed consistent all weekend. Winning any race is great, but winning a race at your home track, with all of your family and friends with you, is the ultimate."
Other winners from the sportsman only event were Bo Butner (Comp), Chuck Gallagher (Super Stock), Donnie Beeler (Stock), David Tatum III (Super Comp), Sherman Adcock Jr. (Super Gas) and Rex Davis (Super Street).
Butner, of Floyds Knobs, Ind., drove his supercharged Chevy Cavalier past the dragster of Brian Browell in the final after Browell red-lighted.
Gallagher and Beeler claimed their first NHRA victories since the 1990 season with their wins in Super Stock and Stock, respectively. Gallagher, of Holly, Mich., last won the U.S. Nationals title in 1990. He defeated Jimbo Fields of Gallatin, Tenn., in today's final. Beeler, who resides in Elizabethtown, Ky., last won the Springnationals at National Trail Raceway 16 years ago. He ended his long dry spell by topping Johnny Fisher of Raleigh, N.C. in the final.
Tatum and Adcock travel together and are both members of the Valvoline Team. In Columbus, Tatum, of Palmetto, Ga., beat Mike Fuqua in the Super Comp final with a perfect 8.900 elapsed time. Adcock, of Columbus, Ga., drove his Chevy Corvette past the Oldsmobile of David Bishir to win the Super Gas title.
Super Street winner Davis, a local Columbus, Ohio racer won his final round match up against Steve Dillman of Indianapolis, Ind., with a 10.91 elapsed time.Coughlin wins first Top Sportsman title in Columbus
Coughlin wins first Top Sportsman title in Columbus
COLUMBUS, Ohio (July 29) -- Team JEG'S driver Mike Coughlin was among the seven champions crowned today at the second annual JEG'S NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals at National Trail Raceway in Columbus. In just his third competitive outing with his new Chevy Cobalt, Coughlin claimed the Top Sportsman title with a final round victory over Tommy Turner. Coughlin ran a 7.41-second elapsed time in the final round to earn his 10th career NHRA national event victory and his third at National Trail Raceway.
"It's taken me a little while to get comfortable in this new car but this weekend, I was very relaxed and focused," said Coughlin. "Our crew also did a great job of preparing the car, and making sure that it stayed consistent all weekend. Winning any race is great, but winning a race at your home track, with all of your family and friends with you, is the ultimate."
Other winners from the sportsman only event were Bo Butner (Comp), Chuck Gallagher (Super Stock), Donnie Beeler (Stock), David Tatum III (Super Comp), Sherman Adcock Jr. (Super Gas) and Rex Davis (Super Street).
Butner, of Floyds Knobs, Ind., drove his supercharged Chevy Cavalier past the dragster of Brian Browell in the final after Browell red-lighted.
Gallagher and Beeler claimed their first NHRA victories since the 1990 season with their wins in Super Stock and Stock, respectively. Gallagher, of Holly, Mich., last won the U.S. Nationals title in 1990. He defeated Jimbo Fields of Gallatin, Tenn., in today's final. Beeler, who resides in Elizabethtown, Ky., last won the Springnationals at National Trail Raceway 16 years ago. He ended his long dry spell by topping Johnny Fisher of Raleigh, N.C. in the final.
Tatum and Adcock travel together and are both members of the Valvoline Team. In Columbus, Tatum, of Palmetto, Ga., beat Mike Fuqua in the Super Comp final with a perfect 8.900 elapsed time. Adcock, of Columbus, Ga., drove his Chevy Corvette past the Oldsmobile of David Bishir to win the Super Gas title.
Super Street winner Davis, a local Columbus, Ohio racer won his final round match up against Steve Dillman of Indianapolis, Ind., with a 10.91 elapsed time.Coughlin wins first Top Sportsman title in Columbus
