JEG'S: Drag Cars and Stock Cars

"Big Yellow" rolls on to ovals

JEG'S Mail Order, "Big Yellow" in motorsports performance parts, is shifting a few extra gears toward popular stock car arenas.

JEG'S Automotive recently signed NASCAR driver and TV commentator Kenny Wallace as company spokesman to carry the familiar yellow and black JEGS logo onto Speed TV. Wallace will also place the JEGS logo on the No. 78 Furniture Row Nextel Cup car and campaign his Late Model and Modified Stock Cars with prominent JEGS signage. JEGS has been the primary sponsor for Hooters Pro Cup series standout Gary St. Amant in 2005 and 2006.

"Big Yellow" has big numbers. As JEG'S Automotive, Inc. motors toward its 50th anniversary, the Delaware, Ohio firm founded by Jeg Coughlin Sr. has more than 300 employees delivering over $200 million worth of automobile products ordered from a 200 page catalog that is sent to over 10 million addresses across the world.

Scott Woodruff, JEGS Director of media and motorsports marketing, is optimistic about the company direction that is now navigated by Jeg Sr's sons, John, Troy, Mike and Jeg Jr.

"The four Coughlin brothers grew up in drag racing but they have always been fans of all types of motorsports," Woodruff said. "We believe our increased involvement in the sport through Kenny Wallace and other programs we have on the horizon are a natural step for our company."

Fans can take the following step into the minds of professional drivers Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Gary St. Amant as Zoomster.com goes trackside.

DRAG CARS

Jeg Coughlin Jr.

Two-time NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Car Champion

Dwight asked Jeg Coughlin Jr.:

Do motorsports champions share common traits and abilities and if so could you identify a few?
"I'm sure champions in any form of motorsports or any sport for that matter do share common traits. I'd say the ability to focus is probably key, right up top. You've got to have a great team behind you, no matter what. In the motorsports world you're really only as good as your team. A driver can certainly make a difference here and there, but at the end of the day you need to have a good chemistry, a good balance of talent. I'd say there's a lot of commonalities whether you're racing here for win lights or racing for a checker flag. You've got to drive aggressive and drive smart and always have your head on straight."

What should new NHRA fans know about drag racing?
"Our sport truly has something for everybody. We've got 8000 horse power Top Fuel and Funny Cars. We've got 1400 plus hp Pro Stock Cars with the doors functioning looking like a showroom type car other than the big scoop in the front and the big tires. We've got the midway with the vast supporters of the sport out here like Holley and Edlebrock and all the great performance products, POWERade obviously being the series sponsor. All the Lucas Oil Racing Series, there's something out here for everybody there too. Not everybody is here to watch Pro Stock Car run or a Top Fuel Car run. They enjoy watching the stock eliminators and super stock and super comps and what have you. This truly is a sport with something for everybody. You can walk right up to the ropes of Jeg Coughlin's pit, right up to John Force's pit. That's something that's unmatched in any other professional sport."

Do race car drivers ever stop learning?
"No. I don't think so. I've been out of the sport for about 10 months. I bracket raced in my dragster and our Chevy II just about every week. I made several hundred runs this year. I felt like I learned some things mentally that made me stronger. We'll have to see how well we develop in the Pro Stock ranks, hopefully we run well."

When you're winning what does that do for your team's confidence?
"Results are always great on morale. No question, especially in Pro Stock and probably Pro Stock Bike world. It's there in the fuel cars too, but it's such a research and development effort that's so important. The wheels can never stop turning as far as trying to find another couple horse power or find a little more efficiency in the way the car runs or reacts."

Do you think successful race car drivers have better focus and understanding than the average person?
"I don't know. I'm sure our keenness and senses are a little sharper in some areas but certainly out here on the drag strip you can't afford any mistakes. It's a zero-tolerance world. The more mentally you are prepared as a driver when you hit the start line the better off you are going to be."

Do you believe successful drivers handle stress and pressure better than the average person?
"We definitely are taxed in those areas throughout the weekend. Being here at Las Vegas Motorspeedway being a prime example. We broke a throttle linkage the first run and spun the tires extremely hard and we weren't qualified coming into Saturday. Qualifying is stressful enough. The race day is actually relaxed and you're out there to race and have fun and just drive aggressive and win. You're not going to race if you don't get qualified. I find more pressure on qualifying. Handling the stress and the pressure, I'd say we well-rounded enough we should handle it in other avenues a little better too."

Additional Comments:
"It feels great to be back. I've been pleasantly surprised with the welcome I've gotten from all the fans and the media as well. It's been a lot of fun. I guess I took a lot of that kind of stuff for granted. I'm out here racing and talking to the fans all the time. I've made a lot of great friends out here in the way of fans and other racers. It feels great to be back. This whole racing organization is a front running team and they've made me feel right at home. I'm ready to get out and hopefully challenge for some wins."

STOCK CARS

Gary St. Amant

Two-Time ASA stock car champion

Dwight asked Gary St. Amant:

Do you think motorsports champions have common traits and skills? If so, can you identify a few?
"I would have to say yes. I think one of the biggest things on winning a championship over the long haul is that you have to have patience. I would say that's one of the biggest attributes of winning a championship is patience. That's probably the No.1 thing I think about. Another thing is right up there with that is every champion is also a winner. They never quit. They always keep going. Winners never quit and quiters never win thing. I think that really holds true for a champion."

Focus is important. Is there a secret to focusing?
"I don't really think there's any secret. Some people have the mentality that they can stay focused through hard times, good times, whatever could come at you they can stay even-keeled. As far as any one thing goes to say that a person is focused or not focused I think that is all within each individual person as to how well they can focus."

Not everybody can do what you do. Do race car drivers have something that the average fan doesn't have?
"Just the desire to race, the desire I would say. There are a lot of people out there if they would have become racers they could have had the same success as a lot of guys. I think back to Jimmie Johnson as somebody I spent a lot of time with and before he ever got to be a champion I saw Jimmie. You knew by his demeanor that he was going to go somewhere. He was spinning out eight times every practice session when I saw him, but I knew he was going to end up going some place just because of the way he handled adversity."

Do race car drivers ever stop learning?
"No way, no way. They never stop learning. About 10 years ago setup-wise there was only one setup to run. Once you go there you quit learning. You gotta run that. The way everything has evolved in the sport you have to have an open mind all the time and be willing to try new things. If you have a closed mind, you're not going to win."

What energizes you and your team over the long haul the stock car racing season?
"Well as far as myself goes, just the passion for racing. It burns inside of me every day of the year. It really doesn't take that much for me. As far as keeping the team pumped up I guess I would say you have to have a bit of success here and there. A few 'attaboys', here and there to keep the team energized. One thing that definitely keeps a team energized is success."