Distracted Coughlin earns top-half berth (NHRA/JEG’S)

NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
NHRA O’Reilly Fall Nationals
Texas Motorplex
Ennis, TX
Oct 7, 2005

Jeg Coughlin – JEG’S Mail Order / Mopar – Dodge Stratus RT (Pro Stock)
Friday Qualifying Summary

On an evening marred by a horrendous accident involving Pro Stock veterans Bruce
Allen and Ken Koretsky, Jeg’s Mail Order Dodge Stratus R/T driver Jeg Coughlin
quietly cruised to the No. 8 spot in the provisional qualifying field of the
O’Reilly Fall Nationals. Coughlin seemed unconcerned about his 6.700-second,
205.35-mph run, with his thoughts and prayers aimed instead towards his injured
Pro Stock brothers.

“Unfortunately we are sometimes reminded of how insignificant racing is when
something horrible like this happens,” Coughlin said. “Bruce Allen is one of the
nicest guys in the sport and to see him go through an accident like that is
horrifying. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and Deb at this point. Kenny
also got banged up and we’re concerned about him as well.

“The groove at this racetrack has always been very narrow downtrack and they
have ground it since the last time we were here so it’s even tighter than
normal. Obviously Bruce got into some trouble and his car got loose. It made
that second session very hard to execute. My mind wasn’t really on racing.”

Allen lost control around mid-track and his car went up on its left side. He
then slid in front of Koretsky’s car, which impacted the under side of Allen’s
machine. Allen’s car was demolished and both men were air-lifted to the
hospital.

“We all race our hearts out but things like this put it in perspective,”
Coughlin said. “We’re all a family and we live with each other for a good part
of every year. We can’t wait to hear some good news on Bruce and Kenny.”

Coughlin neared his career-best elapsed time number of 6.685 with his opening
round pass of 6.700 at 205.35 mph, which initially placed him sixth overall.
After a 6.710 at 205.32 mph in the evening round failed to improve his standing
he slipped just two spots to his current eighth-place slot.

“It’s not very often that it’s hotter at night than it is during the day but we
actually had that situation today,” Coughlin said. “We weren’t able to go any
quicker but we did get down with a decent time so we’ve got some solid
information to tune from for tomorrow.”

Additional information found at: www.teamjegs.com

Media Contact:

Scott ‘Woody’ Woodruff
Director of Media & Motorsports
Office: 800.345.4545 (3.412)
Mobile: 614.595.1820Fax: 740.362.4385
Email: jegspr@aol.com -or- scott.woodruff@jegs.com