Courtesy of the NHRA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A brand new car and a special throwback scheme already will make this weekend a special one for Jeg Coughlin Jr. Add in a victory at the massive 50th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway and it would likely mark one of the biggest NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series race weekends in the five-time Pro Stock world champion’s storied career.

Jeg Coughlin Jr.. NHRA photo

It all adds up to a thrilling time for Coughlin as he debuts his new 2019 JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro at one of the biggest races of the year. Coughlin, who won the most recent race in Phoenix, will also display a special throwback scheme that his father, Jeg Coughlin Sr., ran from 1972-1975. Coming on a weekend where the NHRA celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Gatornationals with the pinnacle of the NHRA Legends Tour and the “Unfinished Business” showdown featuring eight legendary NHRA drivers in a head-to-head competition, Coughlin couldn’t be more excited.

“We’d love to break (the new car) in with a big weekend in Gainesville,” said Coughlin, who has two career Pro Stock wins at Gainesville. “Those of us on the Eastern portion of the country, there isn’t much better than winning the Gators, especially when you see the names of all the former winners. (The throwback scheme) something we started working on when NHRA announced the festivities they had planned for the 50th Gators. It’s fun to salute the history of this event and Dad’s racing days at the same time.”

Jeg Coughlin Jr.. NHRA photo

Richie Crampton (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Tanner Gray (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the must-see event that will be televised on FOX Sports 1, including finals coverage on Sunday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. (ET). It is the third of 24 races in 2019 and more than 20 NHRA Legends will be on hand, with legendary drivers Don Garlits, Don Prudhomme, Shirley Muldowney, Ed McCulloch, Warren Johnson, Joe Amato, Kenny Bernstein and Terry Vance will all compete in the “Unfinished Business” race as part of the unforgettable weekend.

Despite the victory in Phoenix, Coughlin moved ahead with great anticipation to jump in the new car. It’s a sign of how much he trusts his team as Elite Motorsports, and Coughlin expects to run strong right out of the gates in Gainesville.

“This new car, obviously it’s a bit different than what we’ve run the last nine months, is working extremely well in testing,” Coughlin said. “It’s been really fast no matter what we try with it, so the brain trust here at Elite Motorsports is very excited. The car feels amazing. It fits my frame perfectly, so the comfort level is already very high. I’m extremely optimistic, with the talent we have, that we won’t miss a beat.”

Coughlin knows he’ll have to pick up right where he left off in Phoenix to grab a third career Pro Stock victory at the Gatornationals. Pomona winner Bo Butner is the current points leader in the class, while Coughlin sits in fifth behind teammates Matt Hartford and Erica Enders, as well as Jason Line, who has four Gainesville wins. Greg Anderson also has four event victories, meaning Coughlin will have his work cut out for him. But after last year’s second-place finish, the veteran has championship hopes in 2019.

“The season is young and we’ve got a lot of racing left, but we’re really looking forward to the rest of the year,” said Coughlin, who has 62 career wins. “We would love to put that No. 1 on the side of the car at the end of the year, but there’s a lot of season left.”

Richie Crampton is after another Top Fuel wins in a class that includes standouts like defending champ Steve Torrence, Brittany Force and Antron Brown.

Jack Beckman will look for back-to-back Funny Car wins at Gainesville against the likes of defending world champ J.R. Todd, points leader Robert Hight and Ron Capps.

Pro Stock Motorcycle makes its annual debut at Gainesville, as defending world champ Matt Smith will look to keep Eddie Krawiec from his fourth straight win at the event. Others to watch include Hector Arana Jr., Scotty Pollacheck and Andrew Hines.

The event is also the season-opening race for the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service and features thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where future stars of the sport hone their skills, as well as the Mickey Thompson Tires NHRA Top Fuel Harley Drag Racing Series.

On Sunday, Grammy Award-winning country music artist Lee Greenwood will perform “God Bless The U.S.A.” as part of NHRA’s Salute To First Responders during the pre-race ceremonies.

As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers with an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 1:15 and 5:00 p.m. on Friday and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday at 12:00 and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visitwww.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. Military and first responders can save 20 percent on general admission tickets at the gate. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS

WHAT:              50th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, the third of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. Competition also will be featured in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series and the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Series.

WHERE:            Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Fla. The track is located on 11211 North County Road 225 in Gainesville.

WHEN:              Thursday through Sunday, March 14-17

SCHEDULE:      THURSDAY, March 14 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying at 8:00 a.m.

                         FRIDAY, March 15 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations at 8:00 a.m.

                         E3 SPARK PLUGS NHRA PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

                         MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:15 and 5:00 p.m.

                         SATURDAY, March 17 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations at 8:00 a.m.

E3 SPARK PLUGS NHRA PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 11:15 a.m. and 2:50 p.m.

                         MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:00 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.

SUNDAY, March 18 – Pre-race ceremonies, 9:45 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11:00 a.m.

TELEVISION:    Friday, March 15, FOX Sports 1 (FS1), will televise one hour of qualifying at 11:30 p.m. (ET)

                         Saturday, March 16, FOX Sports 1 (FS1), will televise one hour of qualifying at 9:00 p.m. (ET)

                         Sunday, March 17, FOX Sports 1 (FS1) will televise three hours of finals coverage at 7 p.m. (ET).

2018 EVENT

WINNERS:         Richie Crampton, Top Fuel; Jack Beckman, Funny Car; Tanner Gray, Pro Stock; Eddie Krawiec, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

MOST VICTORIES:      Warren Johnson, 9, PS; John Force, 8, FC; Eddie Krawiec, 6, PSM; Don Prudhomme, 5, FC; Tony Schumacher, 5, TF; Joe Amato, 4, TF; Greg Anderson 4 PS; Kenny Bernstein, 4, FC/TF; Larry Dixon, 4, TF; Don Garlits, 4, TF; Jason Line, 4, PS; Ed McCulloch, 4, FC; Dave Schultz, 4, PSM; Terry Vance, 4, PSM.  

TRACK RECORDS:        Top Fuel – 3.682 seconds by Tony Schumacher, March ’17; 331.28 mph by Clay Millican, March ‘18.

                            Funny Car – 3.828 seconds by Robert Hight, March ’17; 334.82 mph by Hight, March ’17.

                            Pro Stock – 6.473 seconds by Mike Edwards, March ’12; 214.69 mph by Erica Enders, March ’14.

                            PS Motorcycle – 6.750 seconds by Eddie Krawiec, March ’12; 201.01 mph by Hector Arana Jr., March ’18.

NATIONAL RECORDS:        Top Fuel – 3.628 sec. by Clay Millican, Feb. ’18, Pomona, Calif.; 336.57 mph by Tony Schumacher, Feb. ‘18, Phoenix

            Funny Car – 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. ’17, Brainerd; 339.87 mph by Robert Hight, July ’17, Sonoma, Calif.

Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.;  215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ’14, Englishtown N.J.

                         PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.

TICKETS:          For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets