The NHRA POWERade series begins the traditional three-race Western Swing this
weekend starting with the 28th annual Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway
nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The GM Racing contingent of
quarter-mile competitors is in the middle of what has already been a grinding
string of consecutive weekend events that began in Englishtown, N.J., on June
22-24, and will reach its conclusion in Sonoma, Calif., on July 29.
A
pair of Chevy Cobalt competitors who seem to be getting stronger as the summer
heat intensifies are Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Dave Connolly. In the last six races,
beginning with the O'Reilly NHRA Nationals at St. Louis in May, at least one car
in the tandem that makes up the Cagnazzi Racing juggernaut has advanced to a Pro
Stock final round, and collectively, Coughlin and Connolly have rolled to four
national-event victories in seven final-round appearances.
Since the
beginning of May, the 37-year-old Coughlin has driven his Jegs.com Chevrolet to
the winner's circle twice, posting victories at Chicago and the just completed
O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn., to go along with
runners-up at St. Louis (to teammate Connolly), Englishtown, and an April
runner-up performance in Las Vegas. At the season's halfway mark, the two-time
NHRA Pro Stock champion has now moved within 86 points of first-place Greg
Anderson and virtually erased a points deficit with the Summit Racing Pontiac
driver that just a month ago, many thought was insurmountable.