Interviewer: How did the partnership with Don Schumacher start?

Jeg Jr.: Late this summer we crossed paths a few times on the subject of Pro Stock. Donıs been looking to get into Pro Stock for a couple of years with one, two perhaps even three cars and through our discussions he was interested in looking at us to come in and drive one of his premier cars. We just continued those conversations throughout the summer and put together what we feel is a fabulous program for Jeg's Mail Order and Don Schumacher Racing.

Interviewer: What response did your family have to your decision?

Jeg Jr.: Iıve had a tremendous amount of support from the family. Pro stock is a professional class and as the sport evolves itıs continuing to change in research and development and change in performance and I think with Troyıs transition to Pro Mod running a one-car Pro Stock team is maybe not the correct direction to go. I think all this unfolding at the same time really worked out well for my family and us in particular. Karen and Jeggie are excited to be partnering with a new team and you know thatıs still going to be the familiar yellow and black that every body is excited to see. I think our associates are going to be behind us 100-percent and itıs going be a great effort. Itıs a new way for us and itıs going to be pretty awesome.

Interviewer: How will things change with your driving for another team?

Jeg Jr.: You know I donıt see a whole lot of major changes happening for me. Iıll be involved in the team in a similar capacity, as I have with our family run team. Instead of being team owner per se, Iıll be involved in team sponsorship roles. My goal is to just get out there and do what I like to do best and thatıs drive the race car and have fun doing it, and I think the alignment with Don, Bob Wooden and the rest of the Team Mopar group the rest is going to be outstanding.

Interviewer: What are your thoughts about Bob Glidden as crew chief?

Jeg Jr.: Having Bob Glidden as crew chief should be second to none. I mean heıs a 10-time world champion and has always been one of my heroes. Growing up as a kid my father was racing Top Fuel and I liked Top Fuel but I always enjoyed watching Pro Stock and Bob Glidden was my favorite driver. I mean how could he not be. He was very dominant at the time so he was always enjoyable to watch. Since his return heıs had quite an impact on a couple of different teams and more recently in the Mopar camp so to have him in the yellow and black shirt standing behind my carıs a going to be tremendous. I think itıs going to really elevate our whole program and give me the utmost confidence that weıre going to go A to B every time and as efficiently as we can.

Interviewer: How Important is it to drive a Jeg's sponsored car?

Jeg Jr.: Early in our discussions with Don it was leaning more toward driving a black and white or a red and white car to do with Mopar or the Dodge dealerships. We didnıt say that would be a deal breaker but Iım a yellow and black guy and I think thatıs very important. We felt that Jeg's needed to be there, which worked out great for Don because it brought on a new alliance and a new sponsor in Jeg's so I think it is a win-win situation. Weıre really looking forward to the partnerships with the U.S. Army, with Matco Tools, and with Oakley.

Interviewer: What do you know about your new teammates?

Jeg Jr.: Well no explanation needed for Bob Glidden, again 10-time world champion. Don Schumacher being the team owner, Bob being more or less the GM over the Pro Stock operations both with the in-house engine development and on-track racing and a couple of guys that worked with us here, Nick Ferry and Greg Cody, went to join their efforts in the research and development of the engine program so thatıs very exciting. I know Rusty Gliddenıs going to be a part of the team and I know him well from kicking rocks with him when I was a kid and into seeing him throughout the years as weıve raced and I think there will be a couple other key members come onto the team. I may already know them but to look forward to meeting them and forming our alliances together. Thereıs going to be a second car that a driver will be named real soon and I think thatıs going to be real exciting to work with and Iıve heard the names of the possible driverıs and thereıs not one of them I wouldnıt be excited to work with.

Interviewer: What do you think about the Hemi engine?

Jeg Jr.: I think the Hemi engine has had quiet resurgence the last couple of years. Itıs made its way back into under the hoods of the Dodge cars on the showroom floors and the Hemi racing program in Pro Stock has just been outstanding. The horsepower levels theyıre making and are capable of making are going to propel Dodge and Mopar and JEG'S to a world championship.

Interviewer: What are your expectations for 2005?

Jeg Jr.: Our plans for 2005 start actually here in 2004. Weıll be testing real soon in December, looking to shake down a new Jerry Haas-built Dodge Stratus. Iım sure weıll break for the holidays and then hit the testing real hard in January. That just gets us prepared for the first race in Pomona in February and weıre obviously going for an all-out assault in 2005. Itıs been awhile since dodge has won on the NHRA tour and I feel with the alignment of all these personalities and professionals that we can return to the winnerıs circle very soon and obviously challenge for the POWERade championship.

Interviewer: When do you start driving your new car?

Jeg Jr.: Our first test date at this point is either the first or third week of December. Weıre looking at seeing how the schedule aligns. Goodyear has some tire-testing going on in Gainesville, Fla., so weıre looking to align ourselves with that. Don will be testing some of the new fuel cars with the new fuel tires with Goodyear and we look to couple our efforts with that.

Interviewer: How will the JEGıS brand be strengthened by the change?

Jeg Jr.: I think the JEGıS brand will be very visible throughout Team Schumacher, including the reigning POWERade Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher and the U.S. Army dragster. Theyıll be a handsome yellow and black Jegıs decal placed on that car as well as Whit Bazemoreıs Matco Tools Dodge Funny Car. Gary Scelzi in the Oakley Dodge Funny Car. And of course the two Pro Stock Bikes of Angelle Savoie and Antron Brown. So from that standpoint Jeg's is very excited to be a part of not just the Jeg's Pro Stock car but also be aligned with these other professional cars under the team umbrella. Weıre already a sponsor in the NHRA and a lot of the cars run our logo because of our participation but I think this just strengthens the direction that Jeg's is going and thatıs to continue to build the brand identity so that we can attract customers.

Interviewer: Is this the best way to win a national championship?

Jeg Jr.: We certainly have the means and the resources to challenge for a world championship right out of this shop here in Delaware, Ohio, and I think it was more just a business decision the family had come to. Troyıs transition to Pro Mod and me staying in Pro Stock, I think lent ourselves to do one of two things consider bringing more resources into our team to continue to run or to continue to align yourself with a partnership like we have with Don Schumacher.

Interviewer: How will driving a new car effect your time commitment?

Jeg Jr.: Well time is tough to define really whether youıre working in the business or youıre working in the Coughlin Brotherıs Racing you're always thinking about it so I donıt think a whole lot is really going to change. The bottom line is you have to have a team that's gelled and communicates and very confident that itıs going to be the No. 1 car and I think thatıs our focus. I donıt really see the time being effected one way or the other real strongly but I will say I do look forward to a little less on my plate in the respect to maybe spend more time with my family or different projects that weıre working on at Jeg's so itıs going to be a great venture.