The 53rd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is a marathon of racing that includes three days of qualifying and Monday eliminations. To be successful at this event, as Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. has done three times in the past, you have to pace yourself.
So for Coughlin to open qualifying with a solid 6.675-second run at 206.01 mph to place his JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt in fifth place Friday evening is about the start he was hoping for, knowing full well he has four more chances to improve.
“We were the quickest down the right lane,” crew chief Roy Simmons reported. “The four cars in front of us all ran the left side so I’d have to say I’m pretty pleased with that first pass. We haven’t thoroughly examined the data yet but I’m sure we’ll all pick our performances up as the weekend progresses.”
Entering the race, Coughlin is third in the POWERade rankings, just 20 points behind leader Greg Anderson. The U.S. Nationals marks the first race of the Countdown to Four, the first stage of the NHRA’s new playoff-style system to decide the 2007 champions. Coughlin clinched his position in Seattle.
“Basically, I had three races to play around and test some things,” Simmons said. “Now it’s all about making laps. We need to make sure the car goes down the track each and every time we make a run. And we’re going to need to be quick to beat the guys we’re up against in the Countdown. We’re excited and ready for the challenge. We’ve got a great driver and a talented team here.”
Coughlin won the U.S. Nationals, the sport’s longest-running and most prestigious race, in each of his three championship campaigns, including the 1992 Super Gas title and the 2000 and 2002 Pro Stock trophies.
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