Sun, 30 Sep 2012, 20:34 PM Coughlin Races to First NHRA Pro Mod Series Victory in St. Louis

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2012 Auto Imagery, Inc.

MADISON, Ill. --

Coughlin defeated Rowe

Troy Coughlin raced to the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx victory Sunday at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park.

Coughlin outran Danny Rowe in the final round to score his first career victory in the high-horsepower doorslammer category and move to third in the points standings with only one race remaining in the NHRA Pro Mod season.

Coughlin powered his turbocharged JEGS.com '68 Camaro to a final round performance of 5.873 seconds at 257.58 mph to take the victory over Rowe, who had problems getting his supercharged Sterling Bridge '68 Camaro to start for the final. Once Rowe got his machine fired, the car had issues going down the track and finished in 6.732 at 179.42.

"When I let the button go at the starting line in the final, I knew it was over when I didn't see him, because those blower cars accelerate fast," Coughlin said. "From then on, I just focused on making a clean run. It was just our time to win."

Coughlin defeated Rickie Smith, Charlotte winner Leah Pruett and Pete Farber to advance to the final round. Coughlin is a three-time winner in NHRA Pro Stock competition and he claimed a 2005 Pro Mod exhibition victory in Englishtown, N.J., but this is his first Wally in official NHRA Pro Mod competition.

Coughlin celebrates first Pro Mod win.

"My guys Steve Petty, Bryan Metzenheim, Mike Rees, Nick Gaylord, all the folks at JEGS.com deserve all the credit in the world," Coughlin said. "Pro Line, our engine shop, has given us a fantastic race car all year. We beat a five-star team today."

Coughlin moves to third in the points standings, 42 back of leader Mike Castellana and one point back of second-place Smith.

"Going into the last race out in Vegas with this kind of momentum is important," Coughlin said. "There are still some spots up for grabs and everything is still pretty tight. Any time you can go to the end of an NHRA season and be in the running for a top three for four spot in your class, that's saying something."

The NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx world champion will be crowned at the season-finale, Oct. 25-28, during the Big O Tires NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Final round-by-round results from the Inaugural AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park, the ninth of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx:

ROUND ONE -- Mike Janis, Ford Mustang, 5.883, 245.00 def. Raymond Commisso, Chevy Camaro, 5.964, 248.11; Troy Coughlin, Camaro, 5.910, 257.97 def. Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.966, 243.55; Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, 6.353, 218.19 def. Mike Knowles, Camaro, 11.229, 77.20; Donald Martin, Camaro, 5.875, 247.16 def. Clint Satterfield, Camaro, 6.006, 241.20; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 6.293, 229.31 def. Steve Matusek, Mustang, 6.358, 183.00; Danny Rowe, Camaro, 5.921, 245.49 def. Kenny Lang, Camaro, 6.039, 243.11; Leah Pruett, Mustang, 5.894, 251.95 def. Harold Martin, Chevy Corvette, 6.147, 211.76; Don Walsh, Mustang, 5.856, 252.57 def. Scott Ray, Corvette, broke;

QUARTERFINALS -- Farber, 10.830, 79.15 def. D. Martin, foul; Rowe, 5.932, 236.75 def. Castellana, 5.955, 242.76; Coughlin, 5.922, 255.97 def. Pruett, 5.912, 251.58; Walsh, 5.860, 253.28 def. Janis, 6.069, 196.96;

SEMIFINALS -- Coughlin, 5.930, 252.99 def. Farber, 6.041, 243.68; Rowe, 5.866, 247.20 def. Walsh, foul;

FINAL -- Coughlin, 5.873, 257.58 def. Rowe, 6.732, 179.42.

Point standings (top 10) following the ninth of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx -

1. Mike Castellana, 616; 2. Rickie Smith, 575; 3. Troy Coughlin, 574; 4. Don Walsh, 559; 5. Danny Rowe, 556; 6. Leah Pruett, 534; 7. Donald Martin, 468; 8. Pete Farber, 442; 9. Mike Knowles, 368; 10. Steve Matusek, 362.