Phoenix: Justin Humphreys Saturday notes

RaceRedi Motorsports Pontiac Team Meets Coughlin in Opening Round

CHANDLER, Ariz., Feb. 23, 2008 -- Justin Humphreys wrinkled his nose as he scrutinized Saturday's final Pro Stock lineup for Sunday's Checkers Schuck's Kragen Nationals at Firebird Raceway.

"We get Jeggie again . . .?" he remarked of Jeg Coughlin, his first-round opponent. "He's about the last one we want to see again."

There's no animosity between the two drivers, but this is the third time in the last three races that Humphreys' RaceRedi Motorsports Pontiac has squared off against Coughlin's yellow Chevy Cobalt. And Coughlin was the winner both times -- by seven-thousandths of a second in the final round of 2007 and two weeks ago in the quarterfinal round of the 2008 POWERade Series opener, both at Pomona, Calif.

Faced with only two qualifying attempts Saturday after Friday's scheduled runs were rained out, Humphreys responded with a best of 6.674 seconds at 207.05 mph. The other run came in at 6.692 seconds. His best time put him 11th in the 16-car field and up against No. 6 qualifier Coughlin, 6.650 at 207.18.

"We made two half-way decent runs," noted Humphreys, "but nothing stellar. With just two runs, we needed to try something that would make sure we got qualified. But we are in the show, and any one can win it. We definitely owe Jeggie one."

-credit: rrm