During Saturday’s opening Pro Stock qualifying session at the NHRA Midsouth Nationals, Jeg Coughlin Jr. rolled to a stop in the Memphis Motorsports

Park, the hood scoop on his Chevrolet Cobalt heavily damaged from an engine explosion.

Conspiracy theorists on message boards quickly went to work suggesting improprieties for the Jegs Mail Order team. The facts proved otherwise.

After a thorough inspection of the car’s engine, it was determined that a damaged rear stand rod failed on the hood scoop and jammed into the carburetor. The jammed carburetor caused the number six cylinder in the engine to go lean forcing the remaining seven to go rich.

UPDATE: Though it was initially believed the engine explosion was caused by debris in the carburetor, after an impound by the NHRA, it was later discovered the damage was caused by a broken valve spring causing the valve to hang.

 

During Saturday’s opening Pro Stock qualifying session at the NHRA Midsouth Nationals, Jeg Coughlin Jr. rolled to a stop in the Memphis Motorsports

Park, the hood scoop on his Chevrolet Cobalt heavily damaged from an engine explosion.

Conspiracy theorists on message boards quickly went to work suggesting improprieties for the Jegs Mail Order team. The facts proved otherwise.

After a thorough inspection of the car’s engine, it was determined that a damaged rear stand rod failed on the hood scoop and jammed into the carburetor. The jammed carburetor caused the number six cylinder in the engine to go lean forcing the remaining seven to go rich.

Unbeknownst to Coughlin, he remained in the throttle, and the imbalance of the cylinders caused the engine to hydraulic similar to a nitro-burning engine.

The team changed engines and in the final qualifying session stalled during the staging process on the next run. Coughlin didn’t panic and instead waited patiently for Mike Edwards to stage before firing up and staging.

"The idle was a little low and the guys got on the radio after it stalled and asked if I was okay," Coughlin said. "At that point I was pretty much ready to go so I just waited on Mike (Edwards in the other lane) to do his deal and when he pulled in I just fired it up and went about my business. It wasn't a big deal and I'm really glad we were able to make the run because it was obviously our best one."

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