INAUGURAL WORLD DOORSLAMMER NATIONALS
Coughlin edged past Anderson on the starting
line with a .032 reaction time, staying just in
front of the four-time champ down the track.
The winning margin was less than three feet,
giving Coughlin a 12-11 advantage in final rounds
over the 94-time event winner.
“It was a big-time atmosphere with everyone
who is anyone in the Pro Stock world on hand,”
Coughlin said. “To come out on top is very satisfying.
We’ve been clicking really well as a team.
The mindset has been very aggressive and it’s
working. We’re doing everything we can as a
group to win races.”
It took a moment for Coughlin and his team
to get going, but an aggressive mindset again
proved fruitful. He didn’t have the type of run he
wanted on Friday, but turned it around during
Saturday’s impeccable qualifying conditions,
running a strong 6.478 at 212.76 to qualify sixth.
He went 6.489 at 212.16 to open the day in winning
fashion against Butner, surging past his nephew
a round later with an identical 6.489 at 211.99.
That set up a great matchup with Stanfield,
who had made the two previous best runs of
the day (6.471 and 6.475) before the Coughlin
showdown.
Coughlin, though, drove his way to the finals,
inching past Stanfield’s 6.502 with a 6.501
at 212.36, setting up the must-see matchup
with Anderson.
Facing off with his longtime rival has become
commonplace for Coughlin over the years, but
doing it with $75,000 on the line was a first. That
meant dialing it up even more and all of it was
needed in a special clash that became an instant
classic the moment it was finished.
“Aaron was leading the pack all day and Rickie
made some pretty aggressive changes to the car,
and he had confidence in it,” Coughlin said. “We
went out and snuck by Aaron, and we looked to
get after it in the final round.
“We were a little more aggressive with it and
felt like we could run high 40s. It was a hell of
an effort and the right win light came on. It was
very cool. Orlando Speed World (Dragway) didn’t
disappoint. We’re going to hoist this trophy and
hoist it proudly.” – JOSH HACHAT DI
SWEET VICTORY
THIS REACTION TELLS IT ALL. With two legendary rivals facing off in the Pro Stock finals and $75,000 on the line, this one meant
something. And as the picture of crew chief Rickie Jones’ exuberant celebration proves, victory couldn’t have tasted sweeter for Jeg
Coughlin Jr. and his team. Normally a quiet and mild-mannered, Jones was among many who let loose when Coughlin nipped Anderson
at the finish line. He went skyward with his celebration, enjoying every minute of the victory and leaving a lasting image of an
inaugural event that couldn’t have gone much better. – JOSH HACHAT DI
64 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated.com Issue 156