Troy completes his best pro campaign ever

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Troy Coughlin completed his first full season in the National Muscle Car Association's Pro Street class as the championship runner-up, the best professional-level result of his career. Coughlin recorded his fourth runner-up finish of the seven-race season Sunday at the fifth annual Nitto Tires World Finals to clinch the spot in the final points standings.

Although Coughlin once again fell victim to newly re-crowned Pro Street champion Vinny Budano for the third time this year with a trophy on the line, he was all smiles as he left Memphis Motorsports Park, vowing to return with a vengeance in 2007.

"This was a blast," Coughlin said. "It was easily the most fun I've had racing. Vinny got the job done but the progress we made from the start of the year to right now has been incredible. It's all due to my crew and the support of my family. We closed to within a few hundredths of him and I think that says a lot."

Just as he did almost every time they met in competition, Coughlin left Budano at the starting line in the Memphis final only to be tracked down and passed just before the finish line. This time he grabbed a .025-second headstart in his JEGS Mail Order Chevrolet Cavalier but ended up losing by .015 at the other end of the racetrack.

"We pretty much did the best we could do," Coughlin said. "We know what we need to do to get better this off season and we'll be working hard to get on the other side of Vinny next season. Congrats to those guys though, they certainly deserve the title.

"There are a lot of people that allowed this to happen for me. Of course, my dad is No. 1. My wife Julie and our kids, Meghan, Troy Jr., Paige, and Kelly, are always my biggest supporters. I have an excellent crew chief in Brian Metzenheim and the rest of the team was so solid all year. My thanks to Clint Allerton, Gary Shields, and Mike Reese. We're all proud of what we accomplished over here in our first season."