ASHLEY, COUGHLIN LEAD WINNERS FOR CAJUN SPORTSNATIONALS

Mike Coughlin

BELLE ROSE, LA – A pair of Mikes headlined the winners for the Second Annual JEG’S.com NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals at No Problem Raceway. Mike Ashley grabbed the win in the AMS/TLR Pro Mod Challenge while Mike Coughlin joined him in the winner’s circle with his JEG’S Mail Order Super Comp Dragster.

Defending AMS/TLR National Champion Ashley knocked off Frankie Taylor for his second win in as many weeks with a 6.177 second lap at 230.41 mph. The win will close the gap between Ashley and points leader Jay Payne, as Payne went out in round one in a wild ride that took him from one side of the track to the other after getting out of the grove early in the run. Taylor, running 6.204 seconds, was right on Ashley’s tail tripping the clocks at 228.89 mph.

“What a great event,” remarked Ashley during winner’s circle celebrations. “This facility is amazing, the weather was perfect and the fans were incredible. I want to race here every week.”

Coughlin, of Delaware, Ohio, left the starting line first and held off Bryan Robinson with a run of 8.929 seconds at 158.73 mph to Robinson’s 8.933, 164.51. The Coughlin family had four cars competing this weekend between Mike and his brothers John and Troy. John pulled double duty driving in both Super Stock and Super Comp while Troy ran his ’67 Mustang in Pro Mod. Comp driver Michael Johnson and Top Sportsman driver Keith Raftery took home the honors in their classes with Johnson ousting Brian Browell with a pass of 8.959 seconds at 125.37 mph. Raftery clocked in at 7.045 seconds at 189.98 mph taking out Roger McCombs of Pensacola, Fla., with a 7.240 at 196.42.

MIKE COUGHLIN TAKES SUPER COMP CHAMPIONSHIP IN LOUISIANA The long-running SPORTSnationals will forever carry the Coughlin name in its record books as Mike Coughlin drove to the Super Comp title of the Jegs.com NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals Sunday at No Problem Raceway. Read More (Click Here)

The battle of champions came in Super Gas when Scotty Richardson took on Tom Stalba with Richardson taking the win with a 9.908 second run at 142.42 mph to Stalba’s 9.910 at 149.40. Richardson has picked up five NHRA National Championships in his career while Stalba has five division championships to his name.

Local racer Johnathan Blades of Baker, LA, worked his way through the Super Street field and into the final before falling to Sid Norwood of Brandon, MS. Norwood ran a 10.856 second pass at 148.12 to Blades 10.893, at 128.13 in his ’68 Camaro.

Alabama racers took home the wins in Super Stock and Stock Eliminator with Hugh Meeks III beating number one qualifier Bobby Dennis in Super Stock, and Jeff Strickland winning over Lee Bannister in Stock. Meeks ran 9.577 seconds at 138.29 to Dennis’ 10.667/117.91 and Stricklands’s 10.965 at 101.96 was enough to hold off Bannister.

PRO MODIFIED

Mike Ashley, Melville, NY, '67 Mustang, 6.177, 230.41 def.
Frankie Taylor, Dickinson, TX, '68 Camaro, 6.204, 228.89.

COMP ELIMINATOR

Michael Johnson, Springdale, AR., '03 Cavalier, G/SMA, 8.959, 125.37 def.
Brian Browell, Lafayette, IN, dragster, D/D, broke.