JEGS – Notebook Items (Oct 31st-Nov 4th)

>>> Jeg Coughlin Jr. arrives at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona with a clear-cut goal — go two more rounds than current points leader Greg Anderson and clinch his fourth POWERade championship.

“It won’t be easy but it’s certainly not impossible,” Coughlin said. “It’s exciting just to have a chance. You fight all year long to put yourself in this position and here we are. It’s a real tribute to this JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt race team to be here.”

>>> Coughlin is a five-time winner in Pomona, having won two titles there in 1999, and one each in 2000, 2001, and 2005.

“It’s always been one of my favorite places on earth,” Coughlin said. “I’m a drag racer. It’s our Daytona.”

>>> Being in serious contention for his fourth POWERade championship, Jeg Coughlin Jr. has been in high demand this week. In fact, he didn’t even have time to go home between last weekend’s race in Las Vegas and this weekend’s 43rd annual Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals.

Coughlin, who moved up to second place in the points with a runner-up finish in Vegas, attended the SEMA show in Las Vegas on Monday and Tuesday and starred in a press conference for the 16 racers in the Countdown to 1 on Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday morning Jeg was one of the four drivers selected by NHRA to be at the annual NHRA/SEMA Breakfast. He then took a short flight to Bracket Field next to the race track for the NHRA’s prerace press conference at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona. This busy day is being capped off by playing in the Eric Medlen Charity Golf Tournament.

>>> John Coughlin is hoping to add to his Division 3 Top Dragster championship with a strong showing this weekend in his JEGS.com Super Stock Chevy Cobalt. John is currently ranked 12th in the Super Stock points standings and can earn a coveted spot in the top 10 should he advance to the late rounds. Coughlin has won Pomona before, driving to the Super Gas title in 1992.

“There are hundreds of Super Stock racers that compete in NHRA events and to finish in the top 10 is really a big accomplishment,” Coughlin said. “The odds are overwhelming but it is within our grasp.”

>>> Professional skateboarder Nick Dompierre has made a name for himself around the globe. He’s also become a favorite of drag racing fans as he often sports a JEGS T-shirt in competition. It turns out the pride of New Bedford, Mass., is an avid drag racer when not performing his incredible aerial maneuvers, powering his nitrous-aided 1987 Camaro with a 383 small block through 9.7-second passes at 140 mph.

At this weekend’s race, Dompierre will be on hand to cheer for his favorite straight-liner, Jeg Coughlin Jr., as he fights for his fourth NHRA title. He’s even bringing one of his custom Real Skateboards to present to Coughlin.

“This kid is incredible and we’re thrilled to host him in our pits this weekend,” Coughlin said. “The things he can do on a skateboard are amazing and it’s really neat that he built his own racecar on the side. I’m sure we’ll have a lot to talk about.”

>>> Team JEGS chef Nicky Morse has prepared meals for royalty, distinguished diplomats, and Ohio’s ultra wealthy at the only four-star restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. He’s cooked for country music’s brightest stars as part of the support crew for CMT’s “Showcase” program. He’s mentored young apprentices at Ohio State University, and worked elbow-to-elbow with Wolfgang Puck to raise money for cancer research.

This year, motorsport’s most decorated chef has been opening his personal cookbook to race fans and members of the media by featuring one of his own creations each race weekend. Complete with step-by-step instructions, Morse divulges a complete recipe on teamjegs.com and NHRA.com that allows budding cooks a chance to create a masterpiece of their own at home.

For this weekend’s race in Pomona, Morse presents Eggs in Purgatory. “When I grew up, there were many lunches when six or eight of my family members would show up at my grandma’s house,” Morse said. “Grandma would go around the table asking everyone how they wanted their eggs fried. I had several favorites for my fix. But one of the best recipes is the one that I am sharing with you this week.”

>>> Short-track racer Gary St. Amant admits he was dreaming big when he finished the regular season as the Northern Division champion on the Hooter’s Pro Cup Tour. But the five-race championship series hasn’t been as kind to the driver of the No. 7 JEGS.com/Speedco Chevrolet Monte Carlo and he enters Saturday’s season-ending Aaron’s 250 at USA International Speedway needing a miracle to win his first USAR title to go with his two ASA world championships.

St. Amant is tied for third in the current standings and needs leader Bobby Gill to have his worse outing of the year to even have a chance at passing his respected opponent. Even then, St. Amant needs to collect as many bonus points as possible, win the race, and have other contenders fall off the pace to make up the difference.

“It ain’t over until they tell me it’s over so we’re going to keep on racing hard,” St. Amant said. “We’ve had a fantastic year with more top-five finishes than we’ve ever had before so it’s not crazy to think we can do well again in Lakeland.”

>>> Reigning sportsman champion Ron Erks will pilot John Coughlin’s JEGS.com dragster in the Super Comp category this weekend in Pomona. Erks, of Clinton, Ohio, has enjoyed a successful title defense year, winning a divisional event in Reading, Pa., and earning a runner-up finish at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.


Information regarding JEGS Mail Order can be found at www.jegs.com and for media/fan resources check out www.teamjegs.com.

Media Contact:

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