Jeg Wins Two-Days & Championship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

The Moroso 5-Day Bracket Championships

Moroso Motorsports Park

Jupiter, FL

November 18-22nd

Jeg Wins Two-Days & Championship

Jeg Coughlin put on a different helmet after returning from the 2003 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series awards ceremony at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.  The 33 year-old second generation driver went bracket racing with the big boys and girls in Jupiter, FL.

The Moroso 5-Day Bracket Championships are held annually and bring out some of the best bracket racers from coast-to-coast.  The annual event is scheduled over five days and expect to go at least 9-rounds to make it to the final round.  Each of the 5-days has a $10,000 payout to the winner and the leader in the points at the end of the five days can pocket a bonus of $7,500. 

Jeg went right to work on Day-1 of the Moroso 5-Day Bracket Championships by claiming his second career victory at the prestigious race.  He defeated Will Kivell, who broke and recorded no time.

Day-1 took three days to complete due to off and on rain.  Coughlin’s first and only previous win came in 1993 on Saturday.  Jeg put himself in the top spot on the lead board with 47 points and Kivell ended the day with 41 points. 

On Day-2 Jeg went seven rounds and increased his lead in the overall championship points.  He followed up on Day-3 with a third round appearance and kept a commanding leading in the championship with 77 points.  Shane Carr held the No. 2 position with 52 points.

Jeg progressed nicely through the field on Day-4.  The Delaware, Ohio resident claimed his second victory of the event when he defeated Johnny Labbous, Jr in the final by a margin of .0570 seconds.  Jeg continued to dominate the top of the page in the overall points with 139 and Shane Carr continued to be next in line with 82 points. 

Day-5 ended for Jeg in the 4th round.  He scored a total of 154 points and won the overall championship. 

“It’s pretty amazing,” said Jeg with a childish grin.  “I have not bracket raced since last year at the Moroso 5-day.  We had a couple of lucky breaks along the way and anyone will tell you that’s part of racing.  The competition here is second to none year-after-year and that’s what keeps everyone coming back for more.” 

“I love to bracket race when I can,” explained the two-time NHRA Pro Stock champion.  “Having a family, a business to help run and running in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series is a lot to balance.  There are not too many opportunities I get to get behind the wheel and bracket race.  Winning the Moroso 5-Day Bracket Championship is a goal of mine every year.  Winning this event to me is on the same level as winning an NHRA championship.  There are only four trophies that I have that sit on their own pedestal at my house — my ’92 NHRA Super Gas championship, a win in ’93 at the Moroso 5-Day and my two NHRA Pro Stock championships (2000 & ’02).  Adding the hardware from this week is something that makes me unbelievably happy when I stop and think about it.  That should tell people what winning at the Moroso 5-Day Bracket Championship means to me.” 

Jeg was not the only Coughlin brother going rounds in the familiar yellow and black Jeg’s Mail Order colors.  John and Mike Coughlin also raced all 5-days.  John recorded a 5th, 1st, 1st, 3rd and 1st round finish respectively.  Mike claimed a 3rd, 1st, 1st, 1st and waited for the final day to post event best 5th round appearance for his first-time competing at the event.

The Winning Car:

2002 Mullis Dragster with a 555 Chevy engine providing the consistent horsepower.  The car runs in the 7.80 at 171.00 mph range in the quarter mile.

Moroso 5-Day Bracket Championship Points Standing:
Final 2003 Points Standings

1. Jeg Coughlin, Mullis-Chevy       154    $7,500 2. Mark Cmar, RaceCraft-Chevy       118    $2,5003. David Connolly, Worthy-Chevy     100    $2,0004. Shane Carr, Mullis-Chevy          82    $1,5005. David Rampy, Mullis-Chevy         80    $1,000