Uncertainty Abounds As Five-Time Pro Stock Champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. Arrives In Texas|

A frustrating and dangerous weekend of elevate racing in St. Louis a fortnight agone has left the hunt for the Pro Stock championship in a state of disarray and v-time class champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. feeling a touch unsettled.

To avoid crashing at a racetrack that witnessed several catastrophic accidents due to a suspect track surface, Coughlin was forced to arrest his second-circular race well before the end line. NHRA officials immediately cancelled the remainder of the action in the grade but two days later decided to simply pick-upward the action where it left off during this weekend'due south 35th annual AAA NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex.

Because no qualifying had taken identify and that the track surface was literally coming apart, drastic pleas were made to redo the race in its entirety only they were ignored by NHRA brass.

As information technology stands, Coughlin, who led the points for half the season but has since fallen to 3rd place in his JEGS.com Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, can only look frontwards and do his all-time to finish the season strong.

"The result that's come up out of the St. Louis situation is unfortunate," Coughlin said. "Erica (Enders), Jason (Line) and our grouping were neck-in-cervix in the points and now information technology appears nosotros may not end up being a part of information technology all, depending on what happens hither.

"We are scheduled to have three more races — in Dallas, Houston and Las Vegas — so there'southward still a chance for others to stumble and for us to pull off some wins downwards the stretch. I certainly don't come across united states completely out of the game at this point."

Coughlin has recorded ii wins this yr at Pomona and the tertiary Indy race, and has a runner-up result from the get-go Indy event. Dating back to last yr's Dallas race, he's accumulated three wins in 6 final-circular showings in a span of nine races.

"It's been quite a run since last year's Dallas race, where we were runner-upwards," Coughlin said. "We've been to plenty of finals and had a good share of success. The last few races have been challenging, for sure, just the worm can turn at any time. Nosotros're optimistic information technology'll come dorsum to the states this weekend.

"St. Louis was a bad bargain only at this point we can only control what we do. I know I'll practice all I tin can to get these 1,500 horses down the rail every bit best I tin can every run."

As they've done every October for several years, Team JEGS will be all pinkish this calendar month to bring attention to Chest Cancer Awareness Month. All of the brilliant pinkish racecars, coiffure uniforms, firesuits and helmets will help promote the JEGS Foundation's long-continuing amalgamation with The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, including the Arthur Thousand. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Plant, as well as Nationwide Children'southward Hospital. The cars were wrapped by Dallas-area installer Mike Zick, with fabric provided by AGI and designed past Scott Dark-brown.

Joining in the fun volition be rookie Pro Stock driver Troy Coughlin Jr., who already has a concluding-round appearance to his credit this year after reaching the money round at the third Indy race, where he lost to his uncle Jeg Jr. He'll over again be driving a JEGS.com Elite Motorsports Ford Mustang.

"I enjoy Texas quite a bit so there'southward a lot of excitement heading to Dallas and Houston for the next 2 races," Troy Jr. said. "Texans dear drag racing and they honey to have a good time so information technology'southward always a smash when you visit the Alone Star State.

"The Texas Motorplex is a dream rail. Baton Meyer drag raced for many years so he built a identify racers love. It'southward e'er been a dream of mine to win a black cowboy lid (the traditional prize) so as long as they have 1 large enough for my head, I'll be racing hard for it."

This will mark Troy Jr.'s sixth start in Pro Stock but he's certainly non new to drag racing. He's won two Top Alcohol Dragster regional titles in the last two years and has viii national issue victories to his credit. To date, Troy Jr. has competed in Peak Fuel, Top Alcohol Dragster, Pro Mod, Super Comp, Super Gas, Top Dragster, E.T. Bracket cars and Jr. Dragsters.

"Pro Stock has been the most challenging," Troy Jr. said. "I'm still learning and so much only I'm having a blast. Working with Rick Jones, Mike DePalma, Robert Freeman and Eric Luzinski has been a real blessing and I'd love to keep them busy on race day and give them a win before the year is over.