After struggling through qualifying for the sixth annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, Troy Coughlin experienced one of the best single rounds of eliminations in his career Saturday afternoon when he upset reigning world champion and longtime nemesis “Tricky Rickie” Smith just moments after top qualifier and current points leader Mike Castellana lost to No. 16 qualifier Pete Farber.
The dramatic turn of events puts Coughlin’s championship fate in his own hands as he draws to within 34 points of the lead in the J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. Should Coughlin managed to win at least two rounds Sunday, he’ll leave Gateway Motorsports Park in the points lead with just one race remaining on
the schedule.
the schedule.
“This Pro Mod title chase has been crazy,” Coughlin said. “Mike and that group over there with (crew chief) Frank Manzo are top rate and it’s very unlike them to lose early in eliminations but it’s happened a couple times now and that’s allowed us to stay in the fight,” Coughlin said. “It speaks to the level of talent in the entire class. Anyone in the field is capable of beating
anyone else.
anyone else.
“The way things turned out today was very fortuitous for us but it won’t mean as much if we don’t carry this momentum into tomorrow and take care of business. Thankfully, I’ve got Steve Petty, Mike Rees and Kyle Pettis on my side and I would stack them up against anyone. They’ve done incredible work here and throughout the whole season.”
Coughlin’s heart must have been pounding out of his chest after he watched Castellana lose to Farber in a wild affair. Castellana’s car hiked the front tires off the racing surface twice during the race, forcing him to abort the run. But Coughlin still had to beat Smith, who edged him for last year’s title.
This time, Coughlin, the No. 12 qualifier, wouldn’t be denied as he used his best pass of the weekend, a 5.752 at 257.33 mph in his JEGS.com Chevrolet Corvette C7, to dismiss Smith’s 5.807 at 249.95 mph. Coughlin’s speed is best of the meet and the only driver that was quicker in Round 1 was Steven Whiteley, who went 5.744 at 252.71 mph. Whiteley and Coughlin face each other next round.
“It was pretty wild that Rickie and I had to race one another in Round 1 with so much on the line,” said Coughlin, the 2012 and 2015 world champion. “We’ve had a pretty good rivalry going now for several years and I consider him the best nitrous guy in the country so to get a win against a five-star team like his was very cool.”
This was the quickest elimination field in J&A Pro Mod Drag Racing Series history, spanning from Castellana’s 5.713 to Farber’s 5.804. Coughlin’s best pass in time trials was a 5.788 at 254.81 mph.
“I think the weather conditions are going to be a little warmer tomorrow so that will make it a tougher to get down the track,” Coughlin said. “We have to cross our T’s and dot our I’s and nut and bolt this thing from bumper to bumper. Tomorrow’s winner will be the person who makes the fewest mistakes and we’d love for that to be us.”
J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series eliminations will continue at 12:20 p.m., Sunday. (Time listed is local and subject to change.)
Team JEGS PR
