MOPAR BACKS INDY HEMI CHALLENGE AGAIN

Steve Gruenwald

Mopar Performance Parts has renewed its sponsorship with the National Hot Rod Association of the wildly popular Super Stock Hemi Challenge for the fourth consecutive year. The Mopar Performance Parts Super Stock Hemi Challenge will take place on Friday, Sept. 3, during the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park. More than 20 1968 SS/AA Plymouth Barracudas and Dodge Darts -- and the occasional earlier model -- will compete for a $10,000 cash prize for the winner, with the runner-up taking home a pair of Mopar Hemi heads. Among the entries for the prestigious event this season include past winners Richard Beshore and Bucky Hess, and Jeg Coughlin Jr in the current national record holder owned by Mike Ogburn. [8-5-2004]

COUGHLIN CLAN GROWS, BROTHER TROY CUTS SHORT 'RETIREMENT'

Mike and wife Kriss Coughlin are the now the proud parents of their second son. Clayton John Coughlin was born this week weighing in at 5-lbs. 8 oz and 20-inches long. The Agent will have to check the rules to see if he meets the class specs. Meanwhile Mike turned the keys to his Jeg's Mail Order Super Gas Corvette to brother Troy for the weekend. Troy will race it at Ohio's Edgewater Raceway Park along side son Troy Jr, who will be wheeling the yellow and black JEG'S Mail Order Jr. Dragster at that event. [8-5-2004]

THANK YEW, THANK YEW VERA MUCH

In conjunction with the worldwide celebration of the 50th anniversary of Elvis Presley's revolutionary recording of "That's All Right" in 1954 and Elvis Week 2004, Memphis area native and three-time IHRA Top Fuel Champion Clay Millican of Team 104+ Performance Additives/Lehman Racing will join officials from Memphis Motorsports Park, Elvis Presley Enterprises, and Lehman Racing to unveil a specially-designed Elvis Presley-themed dragster by performing a burnout in his Top Fuel dragster down Elvis Presley Boulevard on august 9. The car will be raced in the NHRA O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals,which will take place in Memphis on August 20-22, and the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis on September 1-6. [8-5-2004]