Jeg cashes $20,000 paycheck after Top Gun win
Three-time NHRA champion Jeg
Coughlin pocketed the top prize of the $20,000 Top Eliminator Top Gun Classic
Saturday at Piedmont Dragway in Julian, N.C.
One of the most successful
racers in NHRA Pro Stock history, Coughlin traded in his Pro Stocker for his
Jeg's Mail Order dragster over the weekend and survived nine grueling rounds of
competition against the best bracket racers in the country to claim the $20K
paycheck during the second day of racing.
Three-time NHRA champion Jeg
Coughlin pocketed the top prize of the $20,000 Top Eliminator Top Gun Classic
Saturday at Piedmont Dragway in Julian, N.C.
One of the most successful
racers in NHRA Pro Stock history, Coughlin traded in his Pro Stocker for his
Jeg's Mail Order dragster over the weekend and survived nine grueling rounds of
competition against the best bracket racers in the country to claim the $20K
paycheck during the second day of racing.
"Considering the other
competitors on the property, I'd rank this win right up there with anything I've
accomplished in drag racing," Coughlin said. "All of the East Coast heavyweights
were there and every round was like a final. There was a lot of pressure but it
was also a lot of fun and obviously very gratifying to win."
The Top Gun
Classic featured three consecutive days of top-level bracket racing with $20,000
up for grabs each day. Aside from his dragster, Coughlin was breaking in his
newly-restored Chevy II wagon. But it was the dragster that carried him to the
winner's circle.
"Between the two cars I made more than 40 passes this
weekend," Coughlin said. "It was drag racing heaven. The dragster was set up
perfectly, even though the track was very tricky due to the heat. We were on a
4.73-second dial and my reaction times averaged .008 so I was very pleased with
our results."
Coughlin has 46 national event wins in NHRA competition,
racing in five different classes. He's won the Moroso 5-Day championship in a
Super Pro car, the JEGS Allstar race in Super Gas, and the Hemi Shootout and
JEGS Allstar championship in Super Stock. He's also won the Holley Dominator
Duel and Winston Showdown in Pro Stock.