CONCORD, N.C., Sept. 6 NC-JEGS-Drag-Racing
CONCORD, N.C., Sept. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Reigning NHRA POWERade Pro Stock
champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. knows a thing or two about breaking-in new
racetracks. Five times in his illustrious career, Coughlin has managed to win
debut races at new places, so when the 53-time national event winner offers
his opinions on fresh quarter-mile strips, it's safe to assume he knows what
he's talking about.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080906/CLSA021 )
Professional drag racing arrives in the Charlotte area Sept. 11-14 with
the inaugural Carolina NHRA Nationals at Bruton Smith's much-ballyhooed,
$60-million zMax Dragway at Concord. Strip away the bountiful amenities at the
"Bellagio of Drag Strips" and there's still a race to be contested. That means
two cars, lined-up side-by-side, running down the 1,320 with one winner
advancing and one loser going home.
"In general, new drag strips take a little time to get enough rubber down
to allow us to apply a lot of horsepower to the racing surface," said
Coughlin, driver of the JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt. "As wonderful as the track
prep usually is with the NHRA folks and the local track officials, you just
can't duplicate Top Fuel and Funny Cars and the rubber they can put down,
especially from mid-track to the finish line.
"At the same time, we have to remember that the Concord strip is made
entirely of concrete. That gives you exceptionally good grip, in general, but
we also need to be ready for a narrow groove like we have in Dallas (the only
other all-concrete strip on the circuit), so that could play into it as well.
Under normal circumstances, we'd probably see crew chiefs being very
conservative at the start. But, as we know, these aren't normal circumstances.
I'll tell you what; we could be in for a crazy weekend."
The wild card situation Coughlin believes will spice things up quite a bit
at zMax Dragway is the start of the Countdown to 1 -- the NHRA's six-race
playoff. The top-10 racers from each professional category have been bunched
back up in the point standings and will now participate in a winner-take-all
sprint to the 2008 championship.
"It eliminates any wiggle room," said Coughlin, who starts the playoffs
ranked third after racking up two wins in five final-round showings during the
regular season. "Every point seems much bigger now. At this point, everyone in
the playoffs has the same dream -- to take the title from us -- so there will
be a mentality of going for broke right from the start.
"We have to hit the ground running. Being that Victor Cagnazzi Racing is
based right up the road in Mooresville, the entire staff will be there to help
us kick things off with our best effort possible. That should really give us
an edge. It's exciting, but a little nerve-wracking as well.
"I've always been a big fan of drag racing and this is one of those races
where I'd love to be up in those beautiful grandstands watching the action. It
will be intense."
With numerous friends and associates in the world of NASCAR, Coughlin is
also anticipating an intriguing weekend in the center of the stock car world.
"I think we're going to gain a bunch of new fans," the four-time world
champ said. "Drag racing is a very exciting form of motorsports and the fact
we're coming here with so much on the line is really going to give the fans
something special to see.
"I also can't say enough about Bruton and Marcus Smith and what they've
created here with zMax Dragway. This place is first-class. Every time they
build a new facility they find a way to out-shine the last one, which doesn't
seem possible. It's going to raise the level of our sport to new heights."
Information regarding JEGS Mail Order can be found at www.jegs.com and for
media/fan resources check out www.teamjegs.com.
Media Contact:
Scott "Woody" Woodruff
JEGS, Director of Media & Motorsports
Office: 800.345.4545 (3-412)
Mobile: 614.595.1820
Fax: 740.362.4385
Email: jegspr@aol.com -or- scott.woodruff@jegs.com
SOURCE JEGS.com
