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"We looked at the computer and the it showed that I came off the throttle and jiggled it three times. I knew I didn't do that, because I was underway. We got to looking at it and my foot is cut off half way. What was going on is that my foot was down in the pan and all I've got is that little stump that was moving the throttle. Under the heavy acceleration that little stump was not able to hold that pedal down anymore. The car automatically shut off. I put a little heel pad in there and got up on the pedal so I can stomp that pedal. They want to be stomped anyway. You want to kick that pedal out of the car, that's how you get good reaction times. That solved the problem. "Then we came out and a tiny ten-cent nut got loose and that caused it to run all the way down (on the burnout) and I couldn't stop it. The throttle was cocked and it wouldn't come back. Then last night it spun the tires and I was beginning to wonder if I could do it or not. But on that run when it spun the tires everything was really good. All the numbers were right until it actually turned the tires loose. That run against Shirley really felt good. I really felt like the car and I had come together. "Then to line up with the old Greek after all these years was pretty special. I remember one time when the Greek beat me 23 match races in a row. You guys probably don't even remember that because it was so long ago. He was fierce. He's seventy-something and was in World War II. It almost brought tears to my eyes when we were down there before the run suiting up. It was almost like we were match racing like we had done so many thousands of times over the years. Then for him to run 4.84 and 300 side-by-side down that track. "What a deal. If I never do another thing in drag racing the rest of my life, I can always say I had a great time at Indy on Sunday afternoon." NOT SO MUCH FUN FOR SHIRLEY Shirley Muldowney's pink Mac Tools dragster experienced mechanical problems at the starting line that led to an uncharacteristic red-light start against first round foe Darrell Russell. "I didn't come here for a joy ride, I came here to win," said the 61-year-old Muldowney, who posted a career-best speed of 320.20 mph during the weekend. "I think we had a legitimate chance to do that. I just wanted a chance today, but I didn't get it." MIKE COUGHLIN AND TEAM JEG'S WIN THE MAC TOOLS U.S. NATIONALS By Scott Woodruff The left lane proved to be the "right" lane for Mike Coughlin. In round one he was in the left lane and beat Scott Perin. In the semifinal he was in the left lane and beat Taylor Lastor. The final round put Coughlin and Randy Daniels head-to-head. Lane choice went to the Jeg's machine and he continued to take the left lane. Coughlin left the line first by a mere .005 seconds (.446 to .451) and the Jeg's Mail Order Chevy S-10 never looked back. He grabbed the win light by .0218 seconds. Mike took the win light with a 7.540 at 179.40 mph run. "We came out here with a new engine. Team Jeg's set the track ET and
MPH record. In the process we won our second U.S. Nationals behind the
wheel of a Pro Stock Truck and we will be the only team ever to do that
in Pro Stock Truck. That is a huge honor to be in the history books
and represent the NHRA," said heartfelt Mike Coughlin in the winner's
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