Coughlin brothers head for Tri-State event (JEG’S)

HAMILTON, Ohio – Fresh off his $20,000 victory last weekend at the Top Eliminator Top Gun Classic at North Carolina’s Piedmont Dragway, Jeg Coughlin will join his older brother, John, at for another shot at glory during this weekend’s second annual Jeg’s U.S. Open Bracket Championships, held at Tri-State Dragway just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Driving their similar Jeg’s Mail Order dragsters, the Coughlin brothers will be competing for a share of more than $100,000 in cash and contingency awards during the event, which like the Top Gun Classic, is expected to draw many of the sport’s best E.T. bracket drivers.

“These big bracket racing events feature some of the toughest and closest competition anywhere in drag racing,” said Jeg, the two-time NHRA Pro Stock champion. “In order to be successful, you have to be just about letter-perfect every time you go to the starting line. The upside is that when you are fortunate enough to win, you know you’ve really accomplished something special. The feeling is indescribable.”

John Coughlin spends most of the year racing his Jeg’s Mail Order Cavalier in NHRA Super Stock competition, but like his brother, he is also no stranger to success in big bracket racing events, having won a $5,000 race earlier this year in Farmington, N.C.

“I like racing in these big [E.T. bracket] races because they are fun and they are challenging,” said John. “Jeggie and I have been pretty successful so far this year and hopefully that will continue this weekend.”

The Jeg’s U.S. Open Bracket Championships, created in 2005 by sportsman racers Mike Fuqua and Dave Szerlag, features three days of big money racing. More than 400 Bracket racers from all over North America are expected to compete for a $20,000 top prize each day on Friday and Saturday, and a $10,000 paycheck on Sunday.