Troy Coughlin continues recent charge in JEGS.com Pro Mod
(6-17-2012) BRISTOL, TN – Troy Coughlin and the JEGS.com Pro Mod Camaro continue to pick up the pace, as the No. 2 qualifier won in the first round of the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.
Coughlin's success at Bristol comes after he advanced to the final round of the most recent NHRA Pro Mod presented by ProCare Rx series race, in Englishtown, N.J.
"Things are going in the right direction," Coughlin said. "The hard work is starting to pay off for all these guys. It's pretty exciting. We just need to pick up about five hundredths to catch up to Rickie Smith and the nitrous cars. That's a tough feat to do."
Coughlin earned his best qualifying spot in his Pro Mod career with a pass of 5.951 seconds at 251.06 mph in his turbocharged '68 Camaro. That run came in Friday's Q2 where weather conditions were at their best.
"I don't think I've ever qualified No. 2 in Pro Mod," Coughlin said. "That's kinda cool. Pretty neat. "We made some good laps when the time was right."
Coughlin's lap put him against No. 15 qualifier Kenny Lang in Saturday's first round of eliminations, where Coughlin got off the starting line first and never trailed. Coughlin's reaction time was .029 seconds to Lang's .188, and Coughlin then completed the round win with a run of 6.079 seconds at 247.75 mph, besting Lang's 6.164 at 223.32 mph.
He'll face No. 7 qualifier Mike Janis in the second round of eliminations Sunday. Janis knocked out Pete Farber in the first round and will have lane choice with a run of 6.019 seconds at 240.81 mph.
Still, Coughlin's recent success has put a smile on his face.
"We've had some good luck, and we've had some fantastic runs," Coughlin said. "I'm telling you, Steve (Petty) and Bryan (Metzenheim) and Mike (Rees) and Nick (Gaylord) and those guys have given us a good race car to drive in these weather conditions. It's performing better.
"Every time we get down the track, we get a little more data. We just keep pecking away at this thing, and it's going a little faster and a little faster."
Sunday, Coughlin will be gunning for his first Pro Mod victory, and he'll go for it on a Father's Day with his dad, Jeg. Sr., son Troy Jr., and daughter Meghan present
"We're banking on it, we're preparing for it," Coughlin said. "We'll read the weather and the track tomorrow and push, 'Go.'
"I've got some family here. My dad's here, my son, my daughter. It's nice to do well in front of lots of friends."
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