REIGNING PRO STOCK WORLD CHAMPION JEG COUGHLIN HOPES TO MAKE LATE CHAMPIONSHIP RALLY STARTING AT AAA INSURANCE NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS

MADISON, Ill. — When Jeg Coughlin pulls into Gateway Motorsports Park this weekend for the third annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals the reigning Pro Stock world champion knows he will need a memorable performance if he hopes to extend his reign to back-to-back titles.

Coughlin struggled out of the gates in the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship, falling in the first round of the playoffs last weekend in Dallas to drop to eighth in points.

It will take a monumental effort to jump back in the championship mix but Coughlin has the championship pedigree to do so. He also has a proven track record at the remaining Countdown tracks, as 17 of his 58 career wins have come in St. Louis, Reading, Las Vegas and Pomona. He’s won twice at Gateway Motorsports Park, which is enough for Coughlin to believe he still has a shot to make a late-season run at defending his title.

“Realistically we probably need to go to the final of all four races and try to win a few to have a chance,” Coughlin said. “We’ve had great success in the past at all four of the remaining racetracks so that’s a big bonus for us. I’m very comfortable with the guys behind me and with the way I’ve been driving. We’ll get up on the wheel and do all we can to get back in the fight.”

Antron Brown (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car), Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will once again be televised nationally on ESPN2. The AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals also marks the halfway point of the six-race NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship and is the third of four straight race weekends.

It comes at a vital time for Coughlin, who entered the Countdown fourth in points and moved up a slot to third in Dallas when the postponed Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals were completed on Saturday. But a massive shift took place the next day in the loaded Pro Stock class and Coughlin suffered the consequences in his JEGS.com/Mopar Dodge Dart.

His car had problems in his opening-round loss to Greg Anderson, sending him 116 points behind series leader Jason Line.

“Well certainly we’ve not started the Countdown the way we wanted to at all,” said Coughlin, who has two wins in five final round appearances in 2014. “This is the time of year to limit mistakes and we feel as though we’ve used up any cushion we may have had. At the same time, I don’t feel we need to change anything. We have a great team here, a team that’s collectively won the last two Mello Yello championships (counting teammate and 2012 world champion Allen Johnson). We have everything we need to win. We just need to continue to do what we know how to do.”

What Coughlin knows how to do is win when it counts and his championship pedigree is as impressive as anyone in the class. In earning his fifth world title a year ago Coughlin came alive in the Countdown, winning two races and advancing to three finals rounds in the six-race playoffs.

He will likely need to replicate that performance down the stretch in 2014 to stay in the championship hunt but it won’t be easy competing against a talented Pro Stock field led by Line and Dave Connolly, who jumped to second in points after winning last weekend in Dallas. Other championship contenders include Johnson, rookie Jonathan Gray, who won the Countdown opener, Enders-Stevens, who has back-to-back St. Louis victories and has won four races this season, Indy winner Shane Gray, Vincent Nobile, V Gaines and Chris McGaha.

“In Dallas, with the finishing up of the Charlotte race and then rolling into this event, we had high hopes,” Coughlin said. “The car just wasn’t where we needed it to be. It just didn’t work out this time. We’ll pick up the pieces on the Pro Stock effort and finish the year with the remaining four races real strong.”

After winning the first two events of the Countdown, Tony Schumacher has taken command of the Top Fuel class in impressive fashion and currently holds the points lead. Other championship contenders who will be looking for a victory at Gateway are reigning world champion Shawn Langdon, Antron Brown, who has won the past two years in St. Louis, Doug Kalitta, who finished the regular season as the points leader, Spencer Massey, Khalid alBalooshi, Steve Torrence, J.R. Todd, rookie Richie Crampton and Brittany Force.

In Funny Car, 16-time and reigning world champ Force used St. Louis as a springboard to his 2013 world championship and has three wins at the facility. Ron Capps also has three St. Louis wins and is among a list of challengers trying to unseat Force. Featured in that group is Robert Hight, Courtney Force, who won the most recent event in Dallas, Matt Hagan, who won the first race in the Countdown, Alexis DeJoria, Tommy Johnson Jr., Tim Wilkerson, Cruz Pedregon and Del Worsham.

Smith was victorious at this event in Pro Stock Motorcycle last season en route to his second world championship. Smith is after his first win in 2014 while chasing the two-bike team of points leader and Dallas winner Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec, who is in second after winning the Countdown opener. Hector Arana Jr., Hector Arana, Steve Johnson, Michael Ray, John Hall, Angie Smith and Scotty Pollacheck are all also in the title hunt in the two-wheel category. Also returning to competition in the bike category will be three-time world champ Angelle Sampey, who will be riding the Star Racing Buell owned by George Bryce.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and enjoy some cherished face time and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

The event will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, Sept. 26, with sessions at 2:15 and 4:45 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, Sept. 27, at 1:15 and 3:45 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call Gateway Motorsports Park at (855) RACE-TIK (722-3845) or visit www.gatewaymsp.com. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

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AAA INSURANCE NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: Third annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, the 21st of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the third of six races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.

WHERE: Gateway Motorsports Park, Madison, Ill. Gateway International Raceway is located five minutes from downtown St. Louis at the intersection of Interstates 55/70 and Ill. Route 203 (Exit 4).

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, Sept. 26-28

SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, Sept. 26 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 2:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 2:45 and 5:15 p.m.

SATURDAY, Sept. 27 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 12:45 p.m.; First round of eliminations at 3:15 p.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:15 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.

SUNDAY, Sept. 28 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:

Sunday, Sept. 28, ESPN2 will televise 90 minutes of qualifying coverage at 3:30 a.m. (ET).

Sunday, Sept. 28, ESPN2 will televise three hours of elimination coverage starting at 8 p.m. (ET).

SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):

Friday, Sept. 26, 9 – 9:30 p.m. (ET), SES 2 / Transponder 22C

Saturday, Sept. 27, 8 – 8:30 p.m. (ET), SES 2 / Transponder 22C

Sunday, Sept. 28, 7:30 – 8 p.m. (ET), SES 2 / Transponder 22C

(4140 MHz, horizontal; Data Rate: 40.46147055 Mbp; Symbol Rate: 29.27 Ms; FEC: ¾; Bandwidth: 36 Mhz)

Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.

2013 EVENT WINNERS: Antron Brown, Top Fuel; John Force, Funny Car; Erica Enders-Stevens, Pro Stock; Matt Smith, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

TRACK RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.737 sec. by Antron Brown, Sept. ‘12; 327.74 mph by Tony Schumacher, Sept. ‘13

Funny Car – 4.001 sec. and 320.20 mph by Matt Hagan, Sept. ‘13

Pro Stock – 6.496 sec. and by 213.47 mph Jason Line

PS Motorcycle – 6.769 sec. and 198.58 mph by Hector Arana, Sept. ‘13

NATIONAL RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.701 sec. by Antron Brown, Oct. ‘12, Reading, Pa.; 332.18 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’12, Charlotte, N.C.

Funny Car – 3.965 sec. and 324.12 mph by John Force, Feb. ’14, Pomona, Calif.

Pro Stock – 6.464 sec. and 215.55 mph by Erica Enders-Stevens, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.

PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.26 mph by Eddie Krawiec, March ’11, Gainesville, Fla.

TICKETS: For tickets call Gateway Motorsports Park at (855) RACE-TIK (722-3845), or visit www.gatewaymsp.com.

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NHRA MELLO YELLO COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS

GLENDORA, Calif. — Point standings (top 10) following the 20th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the second of six playoff races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship-

Top Fuel: 1. Tony Schumacher, 2,296; 2. Steve Torrence, 2,190; 3. Doug Kalitta, 2,189; 4. Shawn Langdon, 2,181; 5. J.R. Todd, 2,168; 6. Spencer Massey, 2,167; 7. Khalid alBalooshi, 2,156; 8. Antron Brown, 2,143; 9. Richie Crampton, 2,085; 10. Brittany Force, 2,053.

Funny Car: 1. John Force, 2,258; 2. Robert Hight, 2,213; 3. Matt Hagan, 2,209; 4. Courtney Force, 2,197; 5. (tie) Ron Capps, 2,164; Alexis DeJoria, 2,164; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2,162; 8. Del Worsham, 2,135; 9. Tim Wilkerson, 2,123; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 2,093.

Pro Stock: 1. Jason Line, 2,266; 2. Dave Connolly, 2,223; 3. Shane Gray, 2,218; 4. Erica Enders-Stevens, 2,207; 5. Jonathan Gray, 2,192; 6. Vincent Nobile, 2,186; 7. Allen Johnson, 2,166; 8. Jeg Coughlin, 2,150; 9. V. Gaines, 2,103; 10. Chris McGaha, 2,073.

Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Andrew Hines, 2,302; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 2,257; 3. Steve Johnson, 2,198; 4. Hector Arana Jr, 2,177; 5. Matt Smith, 2,169; 6. Scotty Pollacheck, 2,144; 7. John Hall, 2,139; 8. Hector Arana, 2,122; 9. Angie Smith, 2,094; 10. Michael Ray, 2,071.