Mechanical Woes Slow Coughlin's Slammers Ultimate Milk Chevy Cobalt

An electrical problem that soon became an engine failure led to Jeg Coughlin's earlier-than-expected exit as Sunday's Carquest Winternationals launched NHRA's 2007 POWERade Series season at Pomona Raceway.

"We had been running very well until then," Coughlin said. He had qualified the Slammers Ultimate Milk Chevy Cobalt sixth in the tight Pro Stock field and dispatched Jim Yates in the opening round with a 6.668-second time - second quickest of the round - at 207.27 mph. Yates trailed at 6.708, 2-6.10 mph.

"We had as great weekend, I can't complain a bit," said the Delaware, Ohio native. "We were very, very consistent, running 6.67, 6.66 and 6.66 seconds in qualifying. There's no question we were looking to improve that to a 6.65 or a high 6.64 (against Jason Line in the quarterfinals) but it just wasn't in the cards. The car wasn't accelerating and I knew about 60 feet out we had some sort of gremlin in there. We stuck with it, just trying to nurse it down through there. But it just didn't have enough gusto to get us form point A to B."

Line reached the finish line in 6.722 seconds at 207.28 mph while Coughlin limped home with a 7.240 at 149.08 mph.

"We'll throw some more Slammers in the engine, get it revived and get the car in tip-top shape before we go to our next race (at Phoenix, Feb. 23-25)."

Coughlin is fifth in series points with 54, one slot behind teammate Dave Connolly's 75.

Information on Slammers Ultimate Milk can be found at www.slammersracing.com. For information on Bravo! Brands Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: BRVO) to go www.bravobrands.com.

Information regarding JEGS Mail Order can be found at www.jegs.com and for media/fan resources check out www.teamjegs.com.

Dave Connolly Takes Positive Feeling from Semifinal Finish at Pomona

Dave Connolly sees nothing but positives coming from the performance of his TORCO/Slammers Ultimate Milk Chevy Cobalt following the season-opening NHRA Carquest Winternationals at Pomona Raceway.

He did, after all, qualify fourth (6.656 seconds) and advance to the semifinals for Team Cagnazzi. Jeg Coughlin, Connolly's teammate, qualified fourth and moved into the quarterfinals.

"Both cars were running pretty solid," said Connolly, of Elyria, Ohio. "We were second and third fastest in the first round and I had the second-fastest car in the quarterfinals. It was unfortunate we ran up against Greg (Anderson) in the finals."

Anderson, the No. 1 qualifier, did something many drivers don't do, leave the line first against Connolly. Anderson's .004 reaction time - coupled with a 6.651-second, 207.78-mph performance - ended Connolly's day. Connolly had a very good .025 reaction and pushed the TORCO/Slammers Ultimate Milk Cobalt to a 6.670 at 207.24 mph.

"We are definitely excited with the way the season started," added Connolly. "We'll be heading to Phoenix (Feb. 233-25) looking to improve our performances."

Connolly begins the year in fourth place (75 points), followed by Coughlin in fifth with 42.

Information on Slammers Ultimate Milk can be found at www.slammersracing.com . For information on Bravo! Brands Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: BRVO) go to www.bravobrands.com .

Information regarding JEGS Mail Order can be found at www.jegs.com  and for media/fan resources check out www.teamjegs.com .