Three-time Las Vegas winner Jeg Coughlin Jr. is off to a strong start
at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, qualifying with a steady
6.743 at 203.98 mph Friday evening to claim the No. 8 spot on the
provisional ladder.
Usually qualifying positions don't mean as much this early in the
POWERade season, but Coughlin entered the ninth annual SummitRacing.com
NHRA Nationals, the fifth of 24 national events on the 2008 schedule,
just three points out of the lead. He knows the No. 1 ranking he held
just one race ago is attainable just by qualifying well.
"It all matters when you're racing in the Pro Stock class because as
we've seen already this season, any car in the field is capable of
winning," Coughlin said. "We've seen championships won and lost based
on just a few points over the last few years so it really makes you
aware of the bonus points you earn in qualifying."