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Good times keep rolling for Coughlin as he bags win No. 49
BRISTOL, Tenn. (July 8) -- Jeg Coughlin Jr. scored his 49th career victory Sunday by beating longtime racer Kenny Koretsky in the final of the seventh annual Thunder Valley Nationals. Coughlin had to chase Koretsky down Bristol Dragway after leaving the starting line last, but his JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt had the
horsepower to reel him in just before the finish line to earn him his 36th Pro Stock win by .002 seconds.
Starting the day as the No. 1 qualifier, Coughlin looked steady in wins over V. Gaines, Jim Yates, and Justin Humphreys. It wasn't until the final when he was really challenged by Koretsky's quick start. In the end, however, Coughlin's 6.809 at 203.22 mph was just enough to beat Koretsky's 6.839 at 201.82 mph.
"Wow, what a day, and what a win," Coughlin said. "Ol' Kenny was on his game today, killing the Christmas Tree every round, but luckily our Cagnazzi motors had the power for me to barely win that last round. And when I say barely, I mean barely, just two-thousandths of a second margin of victory is
nothing. He was right there next to me at the stripe."
"There's been a Cagnazzi Racing car in the last six finals and between me and my teammate Dave Connolly and we've each won two so that tells me the entire team has been working extremely hard to make us look good. Today they gave me a flawless car. I was slow letting the clutch out a few times; that was the only
issue we had. Otherwise everyone was totally on their game. They picked me up today."
For his career, Coughlin has 49 wins in 75 career finals. His record in Pro Stock is 36-21. The rest of his wins and final round totals were accumulated in the sportsman ranks.
Entering this event, Coughlin was 167 points behind leader Greg Anderson. Now, considering his win and Anderson's Round 1 loss, Coughlin is just 86 points back. Each round of competition is worth 20 points. There are also points awarded for qualifying position.
"We're sneaking up on Greg in the points and it's gonna get really exciting when they reset them at the U.S. Nationals in September," Coughlin said, alluding to the Countdown to the Champion format that will reduce the championship field down to eight cars in early September. "KB Racing has been a
picture of consistency the last four years and they have the championships to show for it. To see our team come this far along and challenge them like this is really exciting."
The 37-year-old Coughlin, who hails from Delaware, Ohio, will race again Friday in Denver at the Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.
Information regarding JEGS Mail Order can be found at www.jegs.com and for media/fan resources check out www.teamjegs.com.
NHRA K&N Filters No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock Award - Jeg Coughlin Delaware, Ohio for Cagnazzi Racing (Mooresville NC) , JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt, 6.765 seconds, 204.05 mph.
Dave Connolly, Elyria OH, '07 Cobalt, Right lane, (0.046) 6.794 203.16 def. Steve Schmidt,
Indianapolis IN , '07 Cobalt, (0.025) 6.837 201.97
Jeg Coughlin, Delaware OH, '07 Cobalt, Right lane, (0.033) 6.827 203.12 def. V. Gaines, Lakewood CO, '07 Stratus, (0.077) 6.841 202.15
J Coughlin, Right lane, (0.024) 6.803 203.52 def. J Yates, (0.052) 6.821 202.33
D Connolly, Right lane, (0.017) 6.800 203.43 def. A Johnson, (0.030) 6.816 202.64
J Coughlin, Right lane, (0.039) 6.810 203.74 def. J Humphreys, (0.026) 6.852 202.39
K Koretsky, Left lane, (0.006) 6.827 202.91 def. D Connolly, (0.032) 6.805 203.37
J Coughlin, Right lane, (0.041) 6.809 203.22 def. K Koretsky, (0.013) 6.839 201.82
WINNER: Jeg Coughlin Jr. / Cagnazzi Racing
Low ET: Jeg Coughlin 6.765 seconds
Contact Cagnazzi Racing E-mail: info@vjcr.com Phone: (704) 663-0846
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