Runner-up finish highlights busy weekend for Coughlin clan
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (July 27) – Team JEGS driver John Coughlin scored a runner-up finish in the Top Dragster class during this weekend’s North Central Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at National Trail Raceway. John reached the final round on Friday, during re-scheduled final rounds of the recent Norwalk event, which was postponed by heavy rain more than a month ago and completed in Columbus.
In the final round, John, who is the reigning Division 3 Top Dragster champion, faced off with last year’s second place finisher, Jeff Brown. Brown emerged the victor by running a 6.93 elapsed time on his 6.90 dial-in.
“I gave it my best shot but I just came up a little bit short in the final,” said John, who also drove to the third round of competition in Super Stock during Sunday’s National Trail event. “Obviously I wish I had won, but it was a good weekend for our team. The competition is so tough these days it’s hard to even reach a final round so I’m pretty happy with our result.”
Racing his JEGS.com Cobalt in the Top Sportsman class, Mike turned in a round four finish in the Norwalk re-run and then suffered a rare round one loss in the Columbus event on Sunday. Despite the loss, he is optimistic that he can defend his 2007 North Central Division Top Sportsman title.
“We are definitely not out of it by any means,” Mike said. “I managed to win some rounds on Friday and that helped us a bunch.”
The Columbus event also marked the debut of third-generation racer Troy Coughlin Jr., who drove a JEGS Mail Order dragster in Super Comp. Coughlin, 18, made a competitive run but was eliminated in the opening round of eliminations.
The next North Central Division event will be held at historic Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky., Aug. 22-24. John is the defending Top Dragster champion.
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/1/bio_john.jpg" alt="bio_john" align="right"borders="0"/>
COLUMBUS, Ohio (July 27) – Team JEGS driver John Coughlin scored a runner-up finish in the Top Dragster class during this weekend’s North Central Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at National Trail Raceway. John reached the final round on Friday, during re-scheduled final rounds of the recent Norwalk event, which was postponed by heavy rain more than a month ago and completed in Columbus.
In the final round, John, who is the reigning Division 3 Top Dragster champion, faced off with last year’s second place finisher, Jeff Brown. Brown emerged the victor by running a 6.93 elapsed time on his 6.90 dial-in.
“I gave it my best shot but I just came up a little bit short in the final,” said John, who also drove to the third round of competition in Super Stock during Sunday’s National Trail event. “Obviously I wish I had won, but it was a good weekend for our team. The competition is so tough these days it’s hard to even reach a final round so I’m pretty happy with our result.”
Racing his JEGS.com Cobalt in the Top Sportsman class, Mike turned in a round four finish in the Norwalk re-run and then suffered a rare round one loss in the Columbus event on Sunday. Despite the loss, he is optimistic that he can defend his 2007 North Central Division Top Sportsman title.
“We are definitely not out of it by any means,” Mike said. “I managed to win some rounds on Friday and that helped us a bunch.”
The Columbus event also marked the debut of third-generation racer Troy Coughlin Jr., who drove a JEGS Mail Order dragster in Super Comp. Coughlin, 18, made a competitive run but was eliminated in the opening round of eliminations.
The next North Central Division event will be held at historic Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky., Aug. 22-24. John is the defending Top Dragster champion.
