>>> He may be more widely known for his professional accomplishments, but Jeg Coughlin Jr. is a sportsman racer at heart. The 47-time national event winner and three-time NHRA champion has 13 national event wins and 15 divisional event wins in the sportsman ranks and one of his championships, the 1992 Super Gas title, came in the developmental classes.
In 1997, Coughlin became the first driver in NHRA history to win in four categories in one season (Pro Stock, Super Stock, Competition Eliminator and Super Gas).
It’s no wonder then, that the 36-year-old from Delaware, Ohio, is excited about this weekend’s JEGS Allstars race. “It’ll be easy to find me when I’m not in my Pro Stock car—I’ll be in the stands watching the Allstars get after it, ” he said.
>>> Jeg Coughlin Jr. is a two-time winner at Route 66 Raceway, having won the fall events in 2002 and 2003. But he says any drag racer who pulls through the gates of the 10-year-old facility is a winner.
“This track makes you feel special before you ever get your car out of the trailer, ” Coughlin said. “That big stadium-like grandstand and massive tower is big-time and your heart skips a beat every time you pull out from under the tower and see the fans packed in there. It’s the first of the next generation of drag strips. This place took us into the future. “
>>> Based on his average qualifying position in the events in which he competed, Jeg Coughlin would have qualified for this weekend’s King Demon Crown in the No. 3 position had he raced the entire 2006 schedule. But he rejoined the NHRA tour late in the ‘06 season after nearly a year off, missing 11 of the 22 races that counted towards the special event, which invites the top-eight qualifiers from the last 12 months.
“It’s a big-time race because of the money involved and because it’s the best drivers our class has to offer, ” Coughlin said. “My teammate Dave Connolly is in the mix and we’ll be there on the starting line rooting for him to bring it home to Victor Cagnazzi Racing. “
>>> Colorful NASCAR veteran Kenny Wallace is calling out NHRA Funny Car points leader Ron Capps in advance of Wednesday’s Nextel “Prelude to the Dream” charity race at Eldora Speedway. Wallace says Capps better get used to looking at the rear end of his JEGS.com late model stock car because he plans on out-running the drag racing interloper.
“Somebody needs to remind Capps that I’m the inaugural winner of this race, ” Wallace said. “This is the third year of this deal and I won it the first time through in 2005. We don’t need to mention last year’s race, other than the fact Tony Stewart won it all, and he’s another NASCAR guy. So us NASCAR guys are 2-for-2 so far.
“Just where in the world did these drag racers learn how to drive on dirt? Capps is pretty darn good, I hate to say it. And (Cruz) Pedregon owns a sprint car so he knows how to get dirty too. No more Mr. Nice Guy. I’m coming after Capps this year, and you’d better believe I’ve got my eye on (Cruz) Pedregon too. “
>>> Team JEGS chef Nicky Morse has prepared meals for royalty, distinguished diplomats, and Ohio’s ultra wealthy at the only four-star restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. He’s cooked for country music’s brightest stars as part of the support crew for CMT’s Showcase program. He’s mentored young apprentices at Ohio State University and worked elbow to elbow with Wolfgang Puck to raise money for cancer research. This year motorsports’ most decorated chef has been opening his personal cookbook to race fans by featuring his own creations prior to each event of the 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
For Chicago, Morse offers up his “Boyfriend/Girlfriend Pasta” with the following advice: “Be careful what you ask for! This recipe is for all the people who are looking for a boyfriend or a girlfriend. I am continually asked what a person can cook to impress a date. Well, look no further. This recipe is wonderful. It is definitely one of my favorite pastas. It has quite a few incredible ingredients. You are only going to have to make this once and the hook will be set, so don’t try to take shortcuts and break the line by substituting ingredients. This is the big one! ”
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