Coughlin revs up for NHRA season with LVMS win

Jeg Coughlin Jr. .served notice to his Pro Stock competitors that he’s ready to successfully defend his championship when the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series opens next week.

Coughlin defeated Allen Johnson in Saturday’s final round of the Pro Stock Showdown at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the only preseason competition before the NHRA season begins Thursday at Pomona, Calif.

“That was pretty stellar,” Coughlin said. “We hadn’t tested yet this year. The guys at the shop completely rebuilt last year’s car from top to bottom. What an effort.”

It’s the second consecutive year a Chevrolet Cobalt owned by Victor Cagnazzi won the Showdown title. Dave Connolly won it a year ago, but the team does not have enough sponsorship funding to field a car for him this year.

While members of Coughlin’s team and crew chief Roy Simmons had their Chevrolet Cobalt humming, Coughlin had nearly perfect reaction times in the second and third rounds. He got off the line ahead of three-time series champion Greg Anderson in the semifinal round to overcome a quicker run by Anderson.

“We’re a team effort,” Coughlin said. “Our performance wasn’t where we wanted it to be in two rounds, but we are able to get the wins.”

Coughlin, 37, of Delaware, Ohio, won four times in Saturday’s 16-car eliminations. He defeated Vinnie Deceglie and Vieri Gaines before getting past Anderson and Johnson.

Johnson, of Greenville, Tenn., eliminated Justin Humphreys, Matt Hartford and Greg Stanfield before losing to Coughlin.

Coughlin started single-round eliminations as the top qualifier after setting a track elapsed-time record of 6.685 seconds Friday.

Coughlin won four of his 38 NHRA event titles last season and was runner-up at both Las Vegas events. He won Las Vegas titles from 2000 to 2002.

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0247.