Coughlin seeking continued success in Hemi Challenge event (NHRA/JEG’S)

BELLE ROSE, La. – Jeg Coughlin Jr. has made three guest appearances behind the wheel of Michael Ogburn’s vintage West Coast Hemis Super Stock ’68 Barracuda and on all three occasions, he has reached the final round. The two-time NHRA Pro Stock champion hopes to continue riding the wave of success during this weekend’s Jegs.com NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals at No Problem Raceway Park in Belle Rose, La. Coughlin will be looking to claim the $5,000 top prize in the Mopar Hemi Challenge event on Saturday, April 22.

“This is the first national event for me since I won Pro Stock at the 2005 NHRA Finals in Pomona and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Coughlin. “It is always fun to race with the West Coast Hemis team and we have a great track record together. They are expecting more than 20 Super Stock cars for the Hemi Challenge so the competition should be extremely tough, but I believe that we’re capable of putting our car in the winner’s circle again.”

The last time Coughlin drove Ogburn’s Barracuda, he won the Hemi Challenge race at the annual Mopars at the Strip event in Las Vegas. Racing against his teammate Jerry Jenkins in the final round, Coughlin used a nearly-perfect .001 reaction time to take the win. Coughlin also won the Hemi Challenge race at Indy in 2004 and was runner-up in 2005.

The Belle Rose race will be the first of three events in the recently announced Mopar Hemi Challenge series. Hemi racers will also earn points at the JEG’S NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals in Columbus, Ohio and the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, where a series champion will be crowned.

In addition to his stint in Ogburn’s car, Coughlin also plans to drive his JEG’S Mail Order dragster in the new Top Dragster division in Belle Rose. The Top Dragster class features a qualified 32-car field with elapsed times in the mid 7-second zone.

“I was at the inaugural Cajun SPORTSnationals race two years ago making exhibition runs in our Pro Stock car and I really enjoyed the experience,” he said. “A scheduling conflict prevented me from attending last year’s race but now I’m anxious to go back. [Track operator] Pat Joffrion puts on a great race and goes out of his way to make everyone feel welcome.”

Coughlin will be joined in Belle Rose by his older brother, Troy who plans to race his Chevy Cavalier in the Top Sportsman division. Troy also made exhibition runs in the JEG’S Mail Order Pro Stock entry at the inaugural Cajun SPORTSnationals two years ago and last year, he competed in the AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Series, earning a quarter-final finish.