By: Elite Motorsports
READING, Pa. (Sept. 13, 2024) – Jeg Coughlin Jr. and the SCAG Power Equipment / Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer team enter this weekend’s Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, the first of six races in NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship, sitting fifth in the championship points standings.
Returning to Pro Stock after retiring in 2020, Jeg Jr. and the SCAG team ended their 2024 regular Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season with wins at the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals, the Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee and the Northwest Nationals in Seattle and they most recently had a runner-up finish to teammate Aaron Stanfield at the U.S. Nationals. Their efforts landed them just 55 points back from the points lead and a potential seventh world championship title.
“This year, 2024 marks my return to NHRA racing after a brief three-year retirement. So starting this Countdown with three race wins during the regular season and a recent runner-up finish at the US Nationals has me yearning to add a fifth Reading win to my resume,” Jeg Jr. said.
Jeg Jr.’s four wins at Maple Grove Raceway came in 1999, 2008, 2009 and 2013 and make him the winningest Pro Stock driver and the fifth winningest professional NHRA driver overall at the historic facility.
“For decades it’s been a treat to pull through the gates and race at Maple Grove Raceway. The facility has long been esteemed as a tour favorite and with the recent transition in ownership to the Koretsky family, it has seen some major improvements,” Jeg Jr. said. “That coupled with being the first race of six in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship makes this event one of the most anticipated stops on the NHRA tour.”
Also looking to add to their Maple Grove Raceway success is reigning world champion Erica Enders and her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / SCAG team. Enders has one win at the facility from 2022. Last year she was the No. 1 qualifier and had the low elapsed time (6.494 seconds) and top speed (212.19 mph) of the entire event. She holds the track ET record with her 6.465 second run from 2014.
Aaron Stanfield and his JHG / Melling / Janac Brothers Racing team are hoping to continue their recent success of four wins in the last six races by picking up their first win at Maple Grove Raceway. Last year, Stanfield was the No. 3 qualifier and had a quarterfinal exit to track owner Kyle Koretsky who finished runner-up.
Troy Coughlin Jr. and the JEGS.com / White Castle team will try to become the third Coughlin to add their name to the winners list. In addition to his uncle, Jeg Jr.’s four wins, Troy Jr.’s father, Troy Sr., also has a win at Maple Grove that came in 2001. Troy Jr. got close in 2022 when he was runner-up to teammate Erica Enders. In 2023, the jEGS.com / White Castle team qualified No. 2 and had a semifinal exit track owner Kyle Koretsky.
Jerry Tucker and the Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer / SCAG team are looking to breakthrough for their first win. A pair of No. 1 qualifiers and consistency through qualifying during the regular season has the second-year team poised to make a strong campaign through the Countdown.
Cuadra Boys Racing, consisting of Fernando Cuadra Jr. and younger twin brothers Cristian and David, have looked ready to get that first Cuadra victory over their last several appearances. Cristina leads the trio sitting eighth in points with a chance at the Pro Stock championship. He had a runner-up finish to Enders at the Gatornationals and a pair or of semifinal finishes. Most recently Fernando Jr. had a semifinal finish at Brainerd International Raceway after qualifying a season best of No. 4. David is coming off back-to-back quarterfinal finishes.
Competition at the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway begins with qualifying on Friday at 2:30 and 5:00 p.m. and Saturday at noon and 2:30 p.m. Eliminations are slated to begin Sunday at 10:30 a.m. with first round of Pro Stock at 11:30 a.m. Television coverage of the event will start with two qualifying shows Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET both on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Eliminations coverage will begin Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET with a second show at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX Broadcasting Network (FOX).
