Mopar’s Coughlin No.1 in Rain Shortened Qualifying at NHRA SpringNationals

Mopar’s Coughlin No.1 in Rain Shortened Qualifying at NHRA SpringNationals

·         Rain cuts qualifying short at the NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries
·         Coughlin keeps No.1 qualifier position after rain shortened Pro Stock session
·         Johnson lucks out and loses motor before rain cancels qualifying
·         Beckman is top Mopar Funny Car qualifier in fourth spot
·         Hagan and the Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar Dodge will have a first round match up against Mopar teammate Capps
·         NHRA SpringNationals eliminations will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN2 on Sunday at 2 p.m. (ET)
 
Houston, Texas (Saturday, April 27) –  Mopar’s Jeg Coughlin Jr. earned his first No.1 qualifier position since 2010 after qualifying was cut short by intermittent rain delays at the 26th annual NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries. Coughlin remained on top of the scoring sheets based on his efforts in Friday’s second session with an elapsed time run of 6.569 seconds (211.20 mph) and without getting a chance to make another pass at the Royal Purple Raceway near Houston.

 

“To get our first pole in a couple of years is fantastic, and we’d like to perform well tomorrow,” said Coughlin who has four title wins at the Houston SpringNationals. “It speaks volumes to where our team has come this year. We owe a lot of credit to Allen and Roy Johnson. We put a two-car team together, literally with one team (crew), and we communicate extremely well.  Between him (Allen) and I and the addition of Vincent (Nobile) we’ve become a great threat thus far.”

 

While Coughlin never got a chance to improve his time, there had been enough of a break in the weather to allow a handful of Pro Stock runs, including the HEMI-powered Dodges of V. Gaines (6.590 sec/ 210.87mph) and Vincent Nobile (6.606 sec/ 210.01 mph). Both made slight improvements on their passes and will start eighth and 11th respectively.

 

Allen Johnson was set to make his third qualifying pass in the Mopar Express Lane Dodge Avenger when, following his burnout, he lost power and team headed back to the pits to replace the motor. Rain began to fall just moments later and washed out the rest of the day’s schedule.

 

“It was a stroke of luck really because had rain come just a few minutes earlier we would never have known we had a problem then would’ve probably lost the motor in our first round of eliminations, so we’re kind of happy with how it all worked out,” said Johnson who ended up seventh in qualifying and will face off against Rodger Brogden in a first round match-up. “We thought maybe something was up at the end of our second run yesterday but we looked everything over didn’t find anything. I’m happy things happened the way they did and now we know the Mopar Express Lane machine is all good for going rounds on Sunday.”

 

With the cancellation of the rest of qualifying, the Funny Car field was set for Sunday’s elimination rounds based on Friday results.

 

Jack Beckman was Mopar’s highest qualifier after two sessions after clocking a 4.117-second pass for a fourth place position behind No.1 qualifier Cruz Pedregon. Beckman first round opponent will be Tony Pedregon.

 

Matt Hagan, who qualified sixth in the Rocky Boots/Magneti Marelli Dodge Charger R/T qualified sixth and will face his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps, who ended up 11th, for an all-Mopar first round showdown. Fellow Mopar driver Johnny Gray will start from the bottom half of the eliminations ladder with his 14th place qualifying spot and will see Robert Hight as his first round match-up.