LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Feb. 2, 2008) -- Defending POWERade champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. heads into next weekend's NHRA season-opening CarQuest NHRA Winternationals with an on-track victory already notched into his belt after capturing bragging rights at Saturday's third annual Pontiac Pro Stock Showdown at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
"So far, we look pretty good," Coughlin said. "We spent the whole off-season just trying to put this Chevy Cobalt back together. We went through everything, putting in all new wiring, all new plumbing, and Roy and Dave and everybody at Cagnazzi Racing did a fantastic job. We put a fresh coat of paint on the car, it looks great, runs better, and we couldn't think of a better way to start the year than by giving Chevrolet a win here in Las Vegas."
A three-time NHRA Pro Stock champion, Coughlin entered Saturday's eliminator with his Chevy Cobalt qualified in the No. 1 position after posting a 6.685 e.t. at 205.82 mph during the final session of time trials. He then made his way through the 16-car eliminator by defeating Vinnie Deceglie in Round 1 with 6.724 e.t. at 205.32 mph, and V. Gaines in Round 2 with a 6.725-second run at 205.32 mph.
In the semifinals, Coughlin defeated Pontiac GXP driver Greg Anderson on a holeshot, running 6.730 seconds to Anderson's 6.715 e.t. Anderson's time was the session's quickest, but the yellow-and-black Cobalt edged the Pontiac at the finish line by 0.015 second, and that was enough to give Coughlin lane choice in the finals against Allen Johnson.
With darkness settling in and air temps dropping into the 40s, the Pontiac Pro Stock Showdown's final round was run under the lights of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In the championship heat, Coughlin's Chevrolet launched first with a 0.016 reaction, and by the time the two cars passed the 60-foot marker, it was over. Coughlin's Jegs Chevrolet pulled away from Johnson's Dodge and crossed the finish line first with a 6.711 e.t. at 204.94 mph. Johnson followed with a 6.735 second e.t. at 203.92 mph. Coughlin's margin of victory was 0.078 second.
"We put one of our good engines in the car for the Pontiac Showdown and we were very happy with it," Coughlin said. "The car's been responding to the changes we've been making all weekend. We qualified No. 1 on a great run this morning and after getting past Greg in the semis, our goal was to take this Chevrolet coast-to-coast and get the win. This was a great way to start the season and hopefully, we can carry that momentum on to Pomona."
The Pontiac Pro Stock Showdown also was the debut for the new GXP race car. Three drivers, including Anderson, Greg Stanfield and Jim Yates all had their new GXPs ready to race at LVMS. All three drivers qualified for the 16-car eliminator with Anderson and Stanfield both advancing to the semifinals.
Anderson qualified the Summit Racing Pontiac GXP in the No. 5 position and defeated Bill Glidden in Round 1 and Ron Krisher in Round 2 before losing to Coughlin in the semifinals.
"Our Pontiac GXP picked up the pace today," Anderson said. "We're definitely gaining on it. You do all your research and your work in the shop to get a new car figured out, but it never seems to work that way. They always need a little rubbing and this car is certainly no different. This is only our second day here and we made a major step in the right direction. Now, if we can keep stepping forward when we get to Pomona, we'll be happy."
Stanfield qualified his Pontiac GXP in the No. 7 position and defeated Jason Line in Round 1 and Ron Krisher in Round 2 before losing to Johnson.
"We ran pretty good this weekend," Stanfield said. "This was a good race to see what we had and to get everybody back into the swing of things. Jerry Bickel built us a new Pontiac GXP that seems to be getting better and better with each run, and after this weekend, we're ready for Pomona."
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02-06-2008, 10:29 PM
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