John Couglin announces 2007 plans

Changes on the horizon for John Coughlin DELAWARE, Ohio (December 30, 2006) - John Coughlin's so eager to race that he's already counting the days until the start of the 2007 drag racing season. After a modestly successful 2006 campaign, the Team ...

Changes on the horizon for John Coughlin

DELAWARE, Ohio (December 30, 2006) - John Coughlin's so eager to race that he's already counting the days until the start of the 2007 drag racing season. After a modestly successful 2006 campaign, the Team JEGS driver will enter the new season with a renewed vigor and a pair of new race cars. Coughlin is in the process of replacing his familiar JEGS Mail Order Chevy Cavalier Super Stock entry with a state-of-the-are 2007 Chevy Cobalt and he has also ordered a new dragster to compete in the new Top Dragster class, which is being contested at NHRA Division 3 events this season.

"I didn't get to race as much as I wanted to last year, but I'm planning on a much more hectic schedule in 2007," said Coughlin. "I'm especially excited about racing in the new Top Dragster class. I've ordered a new car from Kurt Damron of Undercover Chassis and Huntsville Engines is going to supply the power. When we get it finished, I expect to run in the 6's at over 200 miles-per-hour. I'm pretty pumped up about that because I've never been that quick before. I've run 7.30s in my dragster at bracket races, but I've never been in the sixes."

Coughlin's Cavalier Super Stock car is one of the most competitive race cars he's ever owned with numerous wins and low qualifier awards, but in the face of ever-tougher competition, he feels that it is time for a change.

"Most of my competitors in the SS/CM class are getting new car and updating their old cars so I think it's time to step up," Coughlin said. "The Chevy Cobalt makes a really neat race car and I think it should help us stay ahead of the pack. My brother Jeg plans to race the Cavalier at a few races so we should have two very competitive Super Stock cars on our team."

Coughlin plans to test both new race cars in March in anticipation of a debut at the North Central Division Lucas Oil Series opener at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, April 13-15.

"We plan to hit the ground running and compete for divisional championships in both cars," said Coughlin. "Right now, my plans are to run all of the Division 3 [Lucas Oil Series] races and about six NHRA national events including the two SPORTSnationals races in Belle Rose, La., and Columbus, and the new race in Norwalk."