JEGGIE CAN'T WAIT TO GET STARTED
Sun, 2007-01-07 07:12
With 47 national event victories and three world championships to his credit,
veteran Pro Stock driver Jeg Coughlin brings a level of confidence and
expectation into the 2007 season. As driver of Victor Cagnazzi's Slammers
Ultimate Milk/Jegs.com Chevrolet Cobalt, Coughlin looks at the pending season as
a clean canvas, one he hopes to paint with a vivid and memorable return trip to
the top of the sport.
"I have every reason to think we'll contend for the POWERade championship from the onset," said the 36-year-old from Delaware, Ohio. "Having been fortunate enough in the past to have won it all, we know what it takes to get there. It's a long journey and one that will undoubtedly be filled with highs and lows. But if you believe in yourself and your team, which I do, then I know from experience your dreams can come true." With 47 national event victories and three world championships to his credit, veteran Pro Stock driver Jeg Coughlin brings a level of confidence and expectation into the 2007 season. As driver of Victor Cagnazzi's Slammers Ultimate Milk/Jegs.com Chevrolet Cobalt, Coughlin looks at the pending season as a clean canvas, one he hopes to paint with a vivid and memorable return trip to the top of the sport.
"I have every reason to think we'll contend for the POWERade championship from the onset," said the 36-year-old from Delaware, Ohio. "Having been fortunate enough in the past to have won it all, we know what it takes to get there. It's a long journey and one that will undoubtedly be filled with highs and lows. But if you believe in yourself and your team, which I do, then I know from experience your dreams can come true."
Coughlin certainly has the tools at his disposal to challenge for his fourth championship. Cagnazzi's two-car team is full of experienced crewmen and talented engine builders and in Slammers Ultimate Milk, Coughlin and Cagnazzi will enjoy the financial support necessary to make a title run. And with wins in virtually every type of drag racing vehicle on the planet, Coughlin certainly has the aptitude behind the wheel to guide his team to the podium. The only thing left to do is execute.
"No matter what kind of team you put together, and this one is at the top of the charts across the board, ultimately you still have to go out there and race," Coughlin said. "I have tremendous respect for the drivers in this class and as we've all seen over the last few years, there are routinely 20 or more cars at every race that are not only capable of making the field, but they are true contenders to win the race outright.
"To win in Pro Stock these days you have to be as close to perfect every round. There is little room for error any more and that's why your team is so important. The good news is we have very experienced people here and we're all on the same page as far as what needs to be done to conquer this mountain. It will be exciting."
After winning the final Pro Stock race of 2005, Coughlin spent much of the '06 season away from the professional ranks. He returned for what amounted to a glorious, on-track test at the final three NHRA races of the year, immediately setting his career best marks for elapsed time and top speed.
Although he didn't captain a Pro Stock car for most of the year, Coughlin stayed busy behind the wheel, completing more than 500 laps in competition while driving nine different sportsman racecars. In all, he won seven major races last season and the experience he gained by jumping into so many different cars only strengthens his prowess.
"I think every lap you make helps," Coughlin said. "I obviously made a lot more passes down the quarter-mile last year than I would have had I just raced Pro Stock so I count that as a plus. Driving a lot of different cars helps also because you learn to adapt to so many different things that can happen to you out there.
"The return to Pro Stock towards the end of the year was a good move because it reminded me how much I love these racecars. Plus, we got a chance for this new group to work together under real race conditions so by the time we hit Pomona in a few weeks, we'll be running at full speed.
"The start of the season is always exciting because everyone's equal and we all have the same chance to live our dreams. I'm probably more excited about this year than any other in my career and I can't wait to get started."
"I have every reason to think we'll contend for the POWERade championship from the onset," said the 36-year-old from Delaware, Ohio. "Having been fortunate enough in the past to have won it all, we know what it takes to get there. It's a long journey and one that will undoubtedly be filled with highs and lows. But if you believe in yourself and your team, which I do, then I know from experience your dreams can come true." With 47 national event victories and three world championships to his credit, veteran Pro Stock driver Jeg Coughlin brings a level of confidence and expectation into the 2007 season. As driver of Victor Cagnazzi's Slammers Ultimate Milk/Jegs.com Chevrolet Cobalt, Coughlin looks at the pending season as a clean canvas, one he hopes to paint with a vivid and memorable return trip to the top of the sport.
"I have every reason to think we'll contend for the POWERade championship from the onset," said the 36-year-old from Delaware, Ohio. "Having been fortunate enough in the past to have won it all, we know what it takes to get there. It's a long journey and one that will undoubtedly be filled with highs and lows. But if you believe in yourself and your team, which I do, then I know from experience your dreams can come true."
Coughlin certainly has the tools at his disposal to challenge for his fourth championship. Cagnazzi's two-car team is full of experienced crewmen and talented engine builders and in Slammers Ultimate Milk, Coughlin and Cagnazzi will enjoy the financial support necessary to make a title run. And with wins in virtually every type of drag racing vehicle on the planet, Coughlin certainly has the aptitude behind the wheel to guide his team to the podium. The only thing left to do is execute.
"No matter what kind of team you put together, and this one is at the top of the charts across the board, ultimately you still have to go out there and race," Coughlin said. "I have tremendous respect for the drivers in this class and as we've all seen over the last few years, there are routinely 20 or more cars at every race that are not only capable of making the field, but they are true contenders to win the race outright.
"To win in Pro Stock these days you have to be as close to perfect every round. There is little room for error any more and that's why your team is so important. The good news is we have very experienced people here and we're all on the same page as far as what needs to be done to conquer this mountain. It will be exciting."
After winning the final Pro Stock race of 2005, Coughlin spent much of the '06 season away from the professional ranks. He returned for what amounted to a glorious, on-track test at the final three NHRA races of the year, immediately setting his career best marks for elapsed time and top speed.
Although he didn't captain a Pro Stock car for most of the year, Coughlin stayed busy behind the wheel, completing more than 500 laps in competition while driving nine different sportsman racecars. In all, he won seven major races last season and the experience he gained by jumping into so many different cars only strengthens his prowess.
"I think every lap you make helps," Coughlin said. "I obviously made a lot more passes down the quarter-mile last year than I would have had I just raced Pro Stock so I count that as a plus. Driving a lot of different cars helps also because you learn to adapt to so many different things that can happen to you out there.
"The return to Pro Stock towards the end of the year was a good move because it reminded me how much I love these racecars. Plus, we got a chance for this new group to work together under real race conditions so by the time we hit Pomona in a few weeks, we'll be running at full speed.
"The start of the season is always exciting because everyone's equal and we all have the same chance to live our dreams. I'm probably more excited about this year than any other in my career and I can't wait to get started."
Categories:
