MIKE COUGHLIN TAKES SUPER COMP CHAMPIONSHIP IN LOUISIANA

Continued from ASHLEY, COUGHLIN LEAD WINNERS FOR CAJUN SPORTSNATIONALS

Coughlin survived a whopping seven rounds of elimination action, including a final-round showdown with former NHRA world champion Bryan Robinson to become the first member of the legendary Coughlin racing clan to win one of the most prestigious sportsman racing titles in all of drag racing.

"I still can't believe this," Coughlin said. "It really hasn't hit me yet. I'm just buzzing. We didn't have the greatest of years in 2004 but we just kept working hard and today it just all seemed to come together. The car has been great and my reaction times were consistent. That's what it took to get the win."

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In a marathon of drag racing, Coughlin completed all seven elimination rounds Sunday. He did receive a bye-round in the fifth session, but still had to make a pass. Then he held steady in the nail-biting semi-final and final to take the title.

A six-time winner and nine-time finalist in the Pro Stock Truck category, Coughlin isn't a stranger to the winner's circle, although he admits reaching this one took extra effort.

"The feeling I have right now is definitely more intense then when I won in Pro Stock Truck," Coughlin said. "I think it's because you have twice as many rounds and every race in won or lost by thousandths of a second. It takes a tremendous amount of focus and you have to maintain it all day. We started at 8 a.m. and we just finished [at 7 p.m.] The feeling of accomplishment is unbelievable."

As usual, Coughlin had crew chief Tony Collier by his side throughout the day, maintaining the 8.9-second Jeg's Mail Order Undercover dragster and laying out a winning game plan for Coughlin. Clint Allerton and Rick Rossiter also played important roles in the successful weekend for the JEG'S Mail Order team.

"To be the first Coughlin to win a SPORTSnational race, to win a race with our family's name on it, to beat the guys I beat today, I'd have to say this ranks as one of my biggest racing accomplishments," Mike said. "And the fact my 4-year-old son Jack was here with me as my little helper all weekend made it even more special."

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