Coughlin having fun at Las Vegas event
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov 24) – Nearly a month after winning the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock World Championship, Jeg Coughlin isn’t ready for his memorable 2007 season to end. Looking for one last chance to fulfill his need for speed before taking a much needed break, Coughlin entered the Thanksgiving Bracket Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The four-time World Champion continued his late-season charge, posting in a solid semifinal finish in Saturday’s highly anticipated Ultimate Gambler event, a $1,000 to enter, winner-take-all race that attracted a total of 45 drivers. With three racers remaining, Coughlin was joined by multi-time NHRA sportsman champions Peter Biondo and Kyle Seipel. After losing to Biondo, Coughlin watched as Seipel claimed the top prize in the final round.
“Obviously, I wanted to win the race, but I really enjoyed myself just the same,” said Coughlin. “Racing for $45,000 is enough to get anyone excited and when we got down to the late rounds, I looked around and saw that I was surrounded by a couple of the most successful bracket racers in country. I gave it my best but just came up a little short today.”
Driving a pair of Team JEGS dragsters instead of his more familiar Pro Stock Chevy Cobalt, Coughlin has advanced to the late rounds of eliminations during Thursday and Friday’s races, which paid $5,000 to the eventual champions. Coughlin also reached the fourth round of eliminations in the special Madcap Ultimate Engine Giveaway race which was held on Thursday. That event, which awarded a complete racing engine to the champion, was also won by Biondo.
“As most people know, I really enjoy bracket racing but because of my busy Pro Stock schedule, I don’t get to do it nearly as often as I’d like to,” said Coughlin. “Now that the NHRA POWERade season is over, this was a perfect chance for me to go out and have some fun.”
The annual Thanksgiving Bracket Nationals will conclude on Sunday, Nov. 25, with the fourth and final $5,000 to win event.
