Location, location, location is the mantra for a successful business.

Jeg Coughlin Jr. used location to his advantage to snatch away the top qualifying spot during second day qualifying at the NHRA U.S. Nationals at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis.

Coughlin overtook Mike Edwards in the third session with a 6.580 pass at 209.39 miles per hour. The four-time Indy winner’s pass stands as the track elapsed time record.

If Coughlin’s run holds through tomorrow’s final day of qualifying, it will represent his third pole of 2010.

Location, location, location is the mantra for a successful business.

Jeg Coughlin Jr. used location to his advantage to snatch away the top qualifying spot during second day qualifying at the NHRA U.S. Nationals at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis.

Coughlin overtook Mike Edwards in the third session with a 6.580 pass at 209.39 miles per hour. The four-time Indy winner’s pass stands as the track elapsed time record.

If Coughlin’s run holds through tomorrow’s final day of qualifying, it will represent his third pole of 2010.

The combination of provisional leader Mike Edwards starting earlier in the day’s final session and Coughlin running later in the session worked to his favor. Coughlin was able to gain a more favorable atmospheric combination as it was changing for the better literally by the minute.

“The biggest change in the conditions is the barometer went up and then the vapor pressure came down,” explained Coughlin. “These Pro Stock cars love the cool dry air. That was the biggest benefit to the Pro Stock cars over last night’s run. We were able to poke the thing well in the 6.58 range. It felt good to make two good runs today. We’re happy to hold onto the provisional. Tomorrow will be a tough day at this point. We’ll see what Mother Nature shows up with tomorrow.”

On a day when he drove past the early leaders, Edwards and Allen Johnson, Coughlin likes his chances headed into Sunday’s final qualifying day.

“We’ve always felt we had a good car and to challenge from the No. 1 spot is exciting from the U.S. Nationals,” Coughlin said. “It’s the first race of the Countdown and ever single point counts. Right now, our confidence is continuing to build. The guys are doing a great job. We just need to keep dotting the ‘I’s’ and crossing the ‘t’s’. We need to double and triple check everyone’s work. It’s that little thing that can take you out. We certainly don’t want to shoot our own foot. I feel great behind the wheel and obviously the track is in excellent condition. I think the fans are going to be treated with some great side-by-side racing.”

Coughlin credits a great deal of Saturday’s success to newfound consistency in the chassis as of late. The four-time Pro Stock champion is a front-runner for the title after winning national events in Sonoma, Calif., and Brainerd, Minn., to go along with a runner-up in Denver.

Overall he has four victories this season, which is second only to Edwards' eight wins in the early part of the year.

“We’ve sorted out some suspension components,” explained Coughlin. “It was erratic. It would go left. It would go right. We’d tune it to go right and then it would go left. It was mysteriously not responding well. For me behind the wheel, that’s a hell of a ride and a lot of fun. For the ET boards, it doesn’t lay them over like you’d like them to. Drag racing is straight as an arrow without missing a beat.”

Coughlin confirmed the team’s chassis engineer fixed the back-half problems.

“That was the one part that gave the car its consistency,” explained Coughlin. “Roy Simmons can keep tuning in on the engine and I can keep working on my driving. We’ll continue to build on things – one on top of another.”

The fact Coughlin is catching fire as the championship chase begins is something which makes him especially dangerous. At least that’s how ten-time NHRA champion Bob Glidden sees it.

“I am not picking favorites for the Countdown but when it comes to these last six races Jeggie is going to go for the jugular,” said Glidden, who came out of retirement to race Pro Stock this weekend.

“He is going to be tough to beat,” Glidden continued.

When asked if Coughlin reminds him of his early years, Glidden was quick to set the record straight.

“I don't compare Jeggie to anyone,” Glidden said. “When it comes down to the pressure moments he is just really bad to the bone!”

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