Championship Drag Racing

O'Reilly Mid-South
Nationals
Memphis, Tenn.
(Sept. 18-21)

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Troy Coughlin Jeg's Mail Order Chevrolet

Reports: Saturday Friday Pre-race

Memphis, Saturday: Troy Coughlin began the final day of qualifying on the outside looking in. He was focused on improving from the No. 25 spot with a time of 6.857 at 202.42 mph.

In the third qualifying sessions Troy posted a 6.838 at 202.61 mph and was the 15th quickest of the session. Troy moved up to the No. 20 position.

The final sessions was held in the heat of the day. Troy ran his best time of the weekend, but it wasn't enough to break into the field. The Jeg's Mail Order Chevy Cavalier laid down an impressive run of 6.820 at 202.55 mph and was the 5th quickest of the session. Troy missed the field by .003 seconds and landed in the No. 17 spot.

"We were really trying to stick with the set up we started the weekend with," said Troy. "We were confident as a group that it would work. In the final session we went back to a set up that we previously ran. The car responded well to the changes we made. It was just a little late, but we learned a lot."

Memphis, Friday: After two of the four scheduled qualifying sessions Troy Coughlin is on the outside looking in. He is currently sitting in the No. 25 spot with a time of 6.857 at 202.42 mph.

"We will be ready in the morning and we are the first pair out in what will probably be the best qualifying session of the weekend," said Troy. "The car is trying to tell us what it wants. Obviously, we have some changes to make in our set up. We are confident we will have everything under control in the morning."

Troy Coughlin is looking forward to getting behind the wheel of his Jeg's Mail Order Chevy Cavalier this weekend. The team returned back to the shop in Delaware, Ohio, to make some minor changes to the set up of the car after the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals was postponed last weekend.

"The additional time at the shop is always a plus between races," said Troy. "We were able to spend some additional time working on some engine changes that have shown solid gains on the dyno and in my brother's car. The next couple of weeks is going to be pretty busy for everyone, we just wanted to be ready for what is ahead."

Troy will enter the 19th event of the 2003 season sitting in the No. 16 position in the NHRA POWERade championship. He has 437 points and is looking forward to finishing the season on a high note.

"Our program is moving in the right direction," said Troy. "The whole team is really working great together and we are starting to see the dividends of our two-car team again. The changes that we have been making are measurable and that's exciting for everyone involved with our program. We are really looking forward to having a strong performance at Memphis Motorsports Park this weekend."