Three-time NHRA Pro Mod champion Troy Coughlin made it known Friday he has every intention of becoming a three-time JEGS Performance Street Car Super Nationals winner by claiming the provisional No. 1 slot in Outlaw Pro Mod at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Ohio native laid down a lap of 5.746 seconds at 269.03 on a challenging race surface.

“It’s a little more windy and it’s a little bit cooler, so the air conditions are a whole helluva lot better and the track is just awesome,” Coughlin said. “I mean, it’s too awesome, in an essence. We’ve gotta learn how to race that.”

In addition to another win here, Coughlin is also looking for a piece of history. The racing veteran is searching for the 280 mph mark in a suspended chassis, full bodied car, an unattained feat at this point in drag racing history.

“We’ll see. It’s hard to say, that’s for sure. I hope so. It would be cool as hell.”

In Pro Mod, Brazillian Sidnei paced the field with his run of 5.712 seconds at 259.36 mph.

Preliminary rounds of eliminations are scheduled to begin on Saturday.

Friday’s top leaders include Outlaw 8.5: Dan Saitz (4.815, 154.88 mph), Outlaw 10.5: Greg Seth-Hunter (4.081, 187.42 mph),Radial v. The World: David Bevers (4.845, 163.99 mph),Triple Index: Lori Oddo Dodes (10.618), 235 Limited: Mike Silva (5.659, 125.16 mph), 275 Radial: Greg Henschell (4.550, 163.67 mph), XDR: Eric Gustafson (4.400, 168.18 mph), Open Comp: Cody Bennett, No Electronics: Ed Sawlyn III, Mustang Maddness: Don Bonahoom, and Electronics Index: John Garafola.