Some race weekends are made to be forgotten. For 64-time national event winner Jeg Coughlin Jr., the Route 66 NHRA Nationals provided one of those experiences.

It wasn’t so much Coughlin’s day ended in the first round as it was the way it ended. He couldn't get his car to cooperate during his first-round staging procedure.

In one of the most bizarre race starts of the season, Coughlin executed an odd and very short burnout, backed up, tried another, and then his engine lost fire. A mad, last-second thrash didn't help and V. Gaines was given a free pass against the second quickest racecar on the property.

Some race weekends are made to be forgotten. For 64-time national event winner Jeg Coughlin Jr., the Route 66 NHRA Nationals provided one of those experiences.

It wasn’t so much Coughlin’s day ended in the first round as it was the way it ended. He couldn't get his car to cooperate during his first-round staging procedure.

In one of the most bizarre race starts of the season, Coughlin executed an odd and very short burnout, backed up, tried another, and then his engine lost fire. A mad, last-second thrash didn't help and V. Gaines was given a free pass against the second quickest racecar on the property.

"We had an electrical system malfunction there," a puzzled and dejected Coughlin said. "It appears the combination of starting a burnout, stopping it, backing up, then restarting the car, redoing another burnout, and backing up again just wore the system out. It must have had a short of some sort, which, I've got to say, is another first in my career.
 
"We'll get to the root of it, make our systems stronger, and keep our car running well."

Entering this event, Coughlin had fought through to the final round in three of the last five races, taking two wins and putting himself squarely in the championship hunt. He says this setback won't take long to overcome, especially with the breakneck pace of the upcoming schedule.
 
"Fortunately, we do have four races in a row here so we can rebound quick," the fine-time world champion said. "We were looking to get some momentum going here in the first race and we were so pumped up after qualifying so well, but it came apart a touch today.

"We're just going to have to turn our attention to the second race. I love Englishtown. It's one of my favorite places to stop on the tour, and we'll be there in a few days. I'm already looking forward to getting back in the car."