NHRA’s Coughlin heads to Houston with winning on his mind
Published 7:00 pm Tuesday, March 24, 2009
BAYTOWN, Texas — When Jeg Coughlin surveys the Pro Stock landscape in 2009, he sees several improved teams and an increased level of competition overall.
That just makes the two-time defending NHRA Pro Stock world champ hungrier to secure his third consecutive NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series crown. It is a feat that only three drivers have been able to accomplish in the history of the 200-mph category: Bob Glidden, the late Lee Shepherd and Greg Anderson.
However, Coughlin knows that in order to join that elite group of drivers in the NHRA record books, he’s going to have his work cut out for him. He understands the quickest way to win a championship is to win a bunch of races.
He says that’s the team’s main goal for the season. If they can win races, the points order and Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship will take care of itself.
“We are trying to approach this season as business as usual, but at the same time we would love to win another championship and get the three-peat,” said Coughlin, a four-time Pro Stock champ (also 2000 and 2002). “We need to get consistent behind the wheel and in the pits in order to do it. We’ve got a little work to do but we’re getting there. Our strategy for the Countdown is basically the same as the last two seasons, but we would like to get a few more wins this year. We feel like we left a few wins on the track last season. With a few more wins we can be in a better points position in the top 10 going into the Countdown (to 1).”
Coughlin, already a winner in Phoenix this year, hopes to add his second race victory of the season at the 22nd annual O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil, the fourth of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship. Antron Brown, Del Worsham, Greg Anderson and Matt Smith are the defending winners of the race at Houston Raceway Park, which will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD.
However, for that to happen, Coughlin knows his JEGS.com race team will need to produce a better effort than they had at the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals in Florida. Coughlin’s JEGS.com Cobalt shut off early in a second round loss to eventual Gatornationals runner-up Allen Johnson.
“We had a dismal outing in Gainesville and just never got it all together,” said Coughlin, a three-time winner at Houston Raceway Park (1997, 1998 and 2000). “We’re looking forward to rebounding in Houston, a track where we’ve had some success in the past. It’s a sea level track and can be very fast for the Pro Stock cars with the right conditions.”
There are several Pro Stock cars that have proven to be fast this season under most conditions. Veteran racer Mike Edwards, a three-time winner at Houston, posted a runner-up finish at the season-opener in Pomona, Calif., and was the No. 1 qualifier at the last two races. Jason Line, the 2006 world champ and ‘07 Houston winner, has sprinted out to the early season lead with wins at Pomona and Gainesville. Gainesville runner-up Johnson has been fast, as have past Houston winners Greg Anderson and Kurt Johnson. Greg Stanfield, Rickie Jones and former NBA star Tom Hammonds also are drivers to watch at Houston.
In Top Fuel, three veteran drivers — Larry Dixon, Brandon Bernstein and Cory McClenathan — have all won this event two times. Dixon, who won the Gatornationals two weeks ago, is closing in on series points leader and defending race winner Brown. Pomona winner Doug Kalitta won at Houston in ‘03, while six-time world champ Tony Schumacher powered his U.S. Army dragster to the win here in ‘05. Rookies Spencer Massey and Shawn Langdon are hoping to get their first career victories in the 7,000 horsepower category.
Second-year driver Bob Tasca raced to his first win in Funny Car at Gainesville and will try to add his second career victory at Houston. He’ll have to hold off seven-time HRP winner John Force and his talented race team which includes ‘05 winner Robert Hight, Mike Neff and Ashley Force Hood. Tony Pedregon is a four time winner at Houston, and current points leader Ron Capps, driver of the NAPA Dodge Charger and winner of the first two races of the season, is a two-time winner at this event. Rookie Matt Hagan has been consistent in his Shelor.com Charger.
Pro Stock Motorcycle journeyman Hector Arana is leading the points for the first time in his 19-year career in the two-wheel category as he escaped with the win in Florida on his Lucas Oil Buell. Defending winner Smith, now riding a Suzuki for Don Schumacher Racing, was the quickest in Gatornationals qualifying; however he had a problem with his new Suzuki on race day. Other top bike competitors to watch include two-time Houston winner Karen Stoffer on the GEICO Powersports Suzuki, defending world champ Eddie Krawiec, who is still seeking his first career race
win, a resurgent Shawn Gann and the always competitive Steve Johnson.
WHAT: 22nd annual O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil, the fourth of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas.
WHEN: Friday through Sunday, March 27-29
SCHEDULE (all times Pacific)
FRIDAY, March 27 — Sportsman qualifying begins at 5 a.m.; PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
SATURDAY, March 28 — Sportsman eliminations begin at 5 a.m.; PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 8 and 11:30 a.m.
SUNDAY, March 29 — Pre-race ceremonies, 7 a.m.; FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 8 a.m.
TELEVISION
Saturday, March 28, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise one hour of
qualifying highlights at 5 p.m.
Sunday, March 29, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a
30-minute news magazine show, at 8 a.m.
Sunday, March 29, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours and thirty
minutes of coverage starting at 1:30 p.m.
2008 EVENT WINNERS: Antron Brown, Top Fuel; Del Worsham, Funny Car; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock; Matt Smith, Pro Stock Motorcycle
TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel* – 4.480 seconds by Gary Scelzi, Oct. ‘99; 335.32 mph by Tony
Schumacher, April ‘05
Funny Car* – 4.695 seconds by John Force, March ‘06; 328.06 mph by John
Force, March ‘06
Pro Stock – 6.638 seconds by Kurt Johnson, March ‘08; 209.10 mph by
Warren Johnson, March ‘08
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.929 seconds by Matt Smith, March ‘08; 195.73
mph by Andrew Hines, April ‘05
(*performance records will not be officially recorded in Top Fuel and
Funny Car at this event)
