Five-time NHRA Pro Stock World Champion has won a total of five times at WWTR
September 30, 2020, St. Louis Region – Considering the month he’s had, five-time Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. is one of the happiest drivers in drag racing as the NHRA tour heads to World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, for this weekend’s Mopar Express Lane NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Pennzoil.
After leading the championship points for three of the first four races of the season on the strength of two victories and a runner-up result in his JEGS.com Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, the 65-time national event winner has endured an uncharacteristic stretch of two first-round losses in as many events. A 44-point advantage over Jason Line has been replaced by a 34-point deficit to the new points leader.
“While you never like giving up points it’s been a bit of a blessing that things have fallen the way they have,” Coughlin said. “We haven’t been hurt too badly; it definitely could have been worse.
“This just sets us up perfectly for a nice, big, fun rebound weekend in St. Louis. I’ll personally be making some test passes in Tulsa (Okla.) on Wednesday. After a pretty decent qualifying session last weekend in Gainesville, we had an ECU crap out on us in Round 1. It was an untimely event, for sure, but we’ll test as much as necessary to make sure everything is firing like it has been the last 12 months, where we’ve really enjoyed some great momentum.”
Coughlin has enjoyed plenty of success in St. Louis. His five wins at this facility include collecting the Pro Stock title in 2002 and 2009, the Super Stock trophy in 1997 and 2003, and the Top Dragster hardware in 2010. He also was runner-up in Pro Stock in 1998, 2007 and 2010.
“We’re assuming we still have four races left on the schedule but our mindset is that this weekend’s race could be the World Finals so we won’t be holding anything back,” said Coughlin, who plans to pull back from full-time professional competition at the end of the season. “We’re still having fun and racing this weekend with my brother Mikey and nephew Troy Jr. will be an adventure, as always.”
Tickets for the October 2-4 Mopar Express Lane NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Pennzoil are on sale online (www.wwtraceway.com) and also may be purchased at the track. Tickets start at just $42. The annual event attracts many of the world’s biggest names in professional drag racing, including three-time NHRA Top Fuel World Champion Antron Brown, who has won WWTR’s Top Fuel finales five times over six years. Defending WWTR NHRA champions include Billy Torrence (Top Fuel Dragster), Shawn Langdon (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Karen Stoffer (Motorcycle). WWTR’s NHRA weekend of speed also will include Pro Mods, Mountain Motor Pro Stocks, Nostalgia Pro Stocks and Jet Cars.
For tickets and information, please call WWTR at (618) 215-8888. Follow WWTR on Facebook, Parler, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram.
Mopar Express Lane NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Pennzoil
Friday, October 2 — Sportsman categories and Pro Mod qualifying
8 a.m. – Parking lots open.
8:30 a.m. – Spectator gates open.
8:30 a.m. — Stock class qualifying.
8:50 a.m. — Super Comp time trial.
9:17 a.m. — Super Stock qualifying.
9:38 a.m. — Super Gas time trial.
10 a.m. — Motorcycle.
10:04 a.m. — Sportsman ET.
10:07 a.m. — Pro ET.
10:11 a.m. — Super Pro ET.
10:15 a.m. — Stock qualifying.
10:36 a.m. — Super Comp time trial.
11:03 a.m. — Super Stock qualifying.
11:24 a.m. — Super Gas time trial.
11:45 a.m. – Midway open.
11:46 a.m. — Top Dragster qualifying.
12:08 p.m. — Comp qualifying.
12:28 p.m. — ET Motorcycle.
12:29 p.m. — Sportsman ET.
12:31 p.m. — Pro ET.
12:33 p.m. — Super Pro ET.
12:35 p.m. — Stock.
12:56 p.m. — Super Comp.
1:23 p.m. — Super Stock.
1:44 p.m. — Super Gas.
2:11 p.m. — Jr. Dragster exhibition.
2:15 p.m. — Comp.
2:35 p.m. — Top Dragster.
2:56 p.m. — Nostalgia Pro Stocks.
3:06 p.m. — ET Motorcycle.
3:07 p.m. — Sportsman ET.
3:08 p.m. — Pro ET.
3:09 p.m. — Super Pro ET.
3:10 p.m. — NHRA Street Car Showdown.
3:11 p.m. — Mountain Motor Pro Stocks.
3:21 p.m. — Factory Stock Showdown.
3:32 p.m. — Pro Mod qualifying.
Saturday, October 3 – Pro qualifying (Top Fuel Dragster, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle); Sportsman eliminations
8 a.m. – Parking lots open.
9 a.m. – Spectator gates open.
9:15 a.m. – Sportsman eliminations.
9:45 a.m. – Midway open.
11:55 a.m. – First round of High School Challenge eliminations.
Noon – Midwest Nostalgia Pro Stock Association exhibition.
12:30 p.m. – Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying.
1:30 p.m. – Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car qualifying.
2:35 p.m. – Second round of High School Challenge eliminations.
2:40 p.m. – Mountain Motor Pro Stock qualifying.
2:55 p.m. – Factory Stock Showdown qualifying.
3:10 p.m. – Pro Mod qualifying.
3:40 p.m. – Final round of High School Challenge eliminations.
4 p.m. – Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying.
5 p.m. – Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car qualifying.
6:10 p.m. – Sportsman eliminations.
7 p.m. – Track closed.
Sunday, October 4 – Final eliminations for pro classes (Top Fuel Dragster, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle) and Sportsman categories
8 a.m. – Parking lots open.
9 a.m. – Spectator gates open.
9 a.m. – Midway open.
11 a.m. – Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car eliminations.
Noon – Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations.
12:40 p.m. – Pro Mod eliminations.
1 p.m. – Factory Stock Showdown eliminations.
1:10 p.m. – Mountain Motor Pro Stock eliminations.
1:30 p.m. – Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car eliminations.
2 p.m. – Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations.
2:20 p.m. – Pro Mod eliminations.
2:30 p.m. – Factory Stock Showdown eliminations.
2:35 p.m. – Mountain Motor Pro Stock eliminations.
3 p.m. – Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car eliminations.
3:15 p.m. — Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations.
3:25 p.m. – Pro Mod eliminations.
3:30 p.m. – Factory Stock Showdown eliminations.
3:35 p.m. – Final round of Sportsman eliminations.
3:45 p.m. – Final round of Mountain Motor Pro Stock eliminations.
3:50 p.m. – Parade of champions.
4:05 p.m. – Final round of Factory Stock Showdown eliminations.
4:10 p.m. – Final round of Pro Mod eliminations.
4:15 p.m. – Final round of Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations.
4:25 p.m. – Final round of Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car eliminations.
All times are Central. Schedule subject to change.
About World Wide Technology Raceway
World Wide Technology Raceway is the home of INDYCAR, NASCAR and NHRA racing in the St. Louis region. Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering more than 600 acres, WWTR is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area. WWTR’s facilities include a 1/4-mile drag strip, 1.25-mile superspeedway, recently-expanded 2.0-mile road course, a state-of-the-art karting facility, a 14-acre, multi-purpose dirt off-road venue and the Gateway Drive-In Theater at World Wide Technology Raceway (a drive-in entertainment venue able to accommodate 3,000 cars). WWTR acquired Gateway National Golf Links, adjacent to the speedway property, in 2019. WWTR was the recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Facility of the Year Award from the Race Track Business Conference and the 2017 Spirit of St. Louis Award from the St. Louis Attractions Association. In 2018, owner and CEO Curtis Francois received the Innovator Award from the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission in recognition of his work for restoring World Wide Technology Raceway (known then as Gateway Motorsports Park) to prominence.
