John Coughlin Bowling Green preview

Coughlin working towards Top Dragster title in Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (Aug 21) -- John Coughlin will be looking to pad his lead atop the points standings in the Spitzer Race Cars Top Dragster Series during this weekend's NHRA Division 3 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky. Earlier this year, Coughlin won a pair of Lucas Oil Series races in Orlando, Fla., and Joliet, Ill., to take the lead in the Top Dragster class, which features the 32-quickest qualifiers. Heading into the Beech Bend event, which is the sixth of eight races in the Spitzer Race Cars Top Dragster Series Coughlin enjoys a comfortable 57 point lead over second-place Jeff Brown.

"We've had a great year so far with our new Undercover Chassis Top Dragster, now we just need a strong finish," said Coughlin. "If I can win this race, it will go a long way toward securing the championship. Even though my car is new, it has been virtually flawless this season. We just need to continue doing the same thing we've been doing which is win rounds and the points will eventually take care of themselves."

Scenic Beech Bend Raceway Park has long been a special place for the Coughlin family. John's brothers, Troy, Mike and Jeg, have combined for five Lucas Oil Series wins since 1991 and family patriarch Jeg Coughlin Sr., won the Pro Comp title there in 1975, when John was just 12-years old. The track has hosted a Division 3 Lucas Oil Series event each year since 1971.

"I can remember being a kid and watching my father race at this track, "John recalled. "They used to have an amusement park here so my brothers and I would split our time between watching the races and riding all of the rides. I have a lot of great memories from this track."

While Coughlin's main focus this weekend will be adding to his points lead in Top Dragster, he will also pilot his JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt in Super Stock. Coughlin is currently ranked 11th in the Division 3 standings. He is just 65 points behind leader Nick Morris with two races remaining in which to claim points, meaning that he is still mathematically in the hunt for the championship.

-credit: team jegs