NHRA News: Schumacher and Jeg's seal the deal at PRI show (12/10/2004)

Schumacher and Jeg's seal the deal at PRI show

12/10/2004

Racers Edge Photography

Don Schumacher Racing and Jeg Coughlin solidified their deal Friday with the unveiling of the Jeg's Mail Order Dodge Stratus R/T at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in downtown Indianapolis.

Led by legendary Pro Stock champion-turned-crew-chief Bob Glidden, this latest addition to the Don Schumacher Racing stable will enter the 2005 racing season with the experience of 12 NHRA Pro Stock championships behind it. Glidden is a 10-time series champion, and Coughlin won both the 2000 and 2002 series titles.

While the Glidden/Coughlin combination is sure to be a driving force behind the team, the 2005 season will also mark a manufacturer transition for Coughlin and Jeg's Mail Order as the team will join the Dodge Motorsports family.

"Our goal is to challenge for the Pro Stock title this coming year," Schumacher said. "By fully implementing and utilizing the research and development technology that Dodge Motorsports and Mopar can offer us, as well as the expertise of the chassis engineers, we'll be able to prepare for the upcoming season. We're also looking to involve the resources that Dodge Motorsports has on the NASCAR side. Hopefully, we'll be able to incorporate that knowledge into our Pro Stock program."

A well-known presence in the NHRA Pro Stock ranks, Coughlin's experience will also help to boost the team's effort. In addition to winning two Pro Stock championships, Coughlin's resume also includes the 1992 Super Gas championship and the 2004 Super Stock Hemi Challenge title. With his sights set on his third NHRA Pro Stock Series Championship, Coughlin is also looking forward to becoming a part of Team Mopar.

"I have seen the relationship, from a distance, that Mopar has extended to the NHRA and Don Schumacher Racing and I know the partnership between us all should be pretty powerful," Coughlin said. "The key is to get the team acclimated with one another. With that said, we look to have the focus on the success of the program as we start the season. Our goal is to win races and accumulate enough points to be crowned the 2005 POWERade Pro Stock champions."

Pre-season testing is scheduled for mid-December, and the Jeg's Mail Order Dodge Stratus R/T team will make its debut at Pomona Raceway, Feb. 10-13, at the season-opening 45th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals.

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