Unless you’re the lead dog the scenery never changes.

In the dog-eat-dog world of NHRA Pro Stock, five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. has grown fond of the view as his 714 championship points ranks the highest of any NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series professional category.

Coughlin has reached the final round in five of the first eight of the 10  national events of 2009. He’ll be looking for more as he enters this weekend’s O’Reilly NHRA Summernationals in Topeka, Kan.

Coughlin, 38, of Delaware, Ohio, is one of only four professional competitors who has qualified for every race this season and advanced past the first round of eliminations.
Coughlin enters Topeka as the top points-earning professional …

Unless you’re the lead dog the scenery never changes.

In the dog-eat-dog world of NHRA Pro Stock, five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. has grown fond of the view as his 714 championship points ranks the highest of any NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series professional category.

Coughlin has reached the final round in five of the first eight of the 10  national events of 2009. He’ll be looking for more as he enters this weekend’s O’Reilly NHRA Summernationals in Topeka, Kan.

Coughlin, 38, of Delaware, Ohio, is one of only four professional competitors who has qualified for every race this season and advanced past the first round of eliminations.

"Everything has been going very well for us, without question," Coughlin said. "You like to think the majority of our good fortune is the result of hard work. I know I've never been around a group as dedicated as this Victor Cagnazzi Racing organization.

"The driver always gets the accolades but I wouldn't have a chance without this talented group behind me. From having my pop, Jeg Sr., at a lot of the races this year, to our crew chief Roy Simmons, the guys on the crew, and everyone back at the engine and chassis shop in Charlotte, we're all part of a great, great team."

Coughlin enters Topeka as a two-time winner, once in Pro Stock and another as a sportsman competitor. He also has a pair of runner-ups at the Heartland Park facility.

"I like the track," Coughlin said. "Even more so, I like the people of Kansas. The city absolutely opens its arms to the NHRA when we get there and it seems everyone in town is tuned into what we're doing. That's makes Topeka a very special place.

"That event always seems to attract a real diverse crowd also, maybe because it's at the start of summer. I've met people from all over the world that built their vacations around the Topeka race. It's a neat deal."

Coughlin brings a 16 -8 eliminations record into this weekend’s event.

"It's been a few years since we've won at Topeka so maybe we can return to the winner's circle this time through," he said. "I certainly feel like we have the car and the team to get it done. The way this class is running, we just about have to get to the finals every week to stay out front, and we do like being the lead dogs."

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