An inadvertent rules infraction cost Bucky Hess his Super Stock Hemi Shootout win at the NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals and effectively eliminated him from contention in the three-race Hemi Shootout series.

According to NHRA Division IV Director Craig Hutchinson, Hess failed the post-race tech inspection because “his carburetor didn’t meet specifications for class.” Hutchinson confirmed the infraction disqualified Hess from the event and he would be stripped of all points earned at the SPORTSnationals.

Though Hutchinson declined comment, apparently, a new carburetor installed by Hess for the race had screws in the butterflies that were not OEM type.

“I feel bad for Bucky,” said Jeg Coughlin Jr., who was eliminated by Hess with a holeshot in the Shootout semis. “I mean, I know rules are rules, but there’s minor infractions and major and this seemed like a pretty minor one–and I understand Westcott had some minor issues, too–but that’s the way it goes sometimes.”

By default, co-finalist Charlie Westcott Jr. was named the official event winner.

Jamie Garrison hasn’t yet found the right combination for his ex-Troy Coughlin driven ‘03 Cavalier, placing 24th of 26 entries after four rounds of Top Sportsman qualifying.

1. Troy Coughlin 6.616/209.79
2. Earl Folse 6.806/203.40
3. Lee Adkins Jr. 6.848/201.22
4. Greg Lair 6.900/200.32
5. J. Lee Didier II 6.920/199.88
6. Keith Raftery 6.945/203.16
7. Joseph Mohana 6.955/199.70
8. Bert Prejean 6.957/200.77
9. Scott Randall 6.958/201.97
10. Tommy Turner 6.962/200.08

Jeg Coughlin Jr. slotted into the 22nd position in Top Dragster qualifying, but has been very consistent, running a pair of 7.44s backed up with a 7.43 in hus final attempt.

1. Freddie Sandrock 6.800/199.64
2. John Garner 6.979/193.54
3. Andre Landry 7.002/192.60
4. Michael Kile 7.036/196.42
5. Timmy Graves 7.097/187.86
6. Brandon Chauvin 7.107/188.17
7. Loretta Eckert 7.126/190.00
8. Gary Mock 7.144/191.67
9. George Tyler 7.144/188.75
10. Chris Bermond 7.183/191.29

No Problem track owner and founder Pat Joffrion shows how it’s done in Super Stock qualifying with his 1998 Z-28 motivated by an LT-1 350. Joffrion went 10.964 seconds, 0.586 under his SS/K Automatic index, to place 62nd of 71 entries.

1. Charlie Westcott 9.551 -1.249 (under index)
2. Jerry Silveus 9.457 -1.243
3. Gilbert Johnson Jr. 10.300 -1.200
4. Allen Sherman 9.021 -1.179
5. Charlie Wescott Jr. 8.622 -1.178
6. Scooter Anderson 9.595 -1.155
7. Randall Klein 11.296 -1.154
8. Tim Cole 8.719 -1.131
9. Joey Wilkes 8.674 -1.126
10. Bucky Hess 8.681 -

Steven Hall of Sweeney, TX, wound up 11th on the Stock qualifying list with his 1967 C/SA Mustang.

1. Robert Shaw 14.397 -1.403 (under index)
2. Kent LaPorte 11.719, -1.231
3. Jim Hale 11.070, -1.230
4. Charlie Smith 10.501, -1.199
5. Floyd Russo Jr. 10.540, -1.160
6. Woodro Josey 10.544, -1.156
7. John McCarthy Jr. 14.401, -1.149
8. Greg Turk 12.015, -1.135
9. Fred Henson 10.177, -1.123
10. Steve Wann 10.432, -1.118

Hammond, LA’s Adam Hickey just missed making the top-10 in Comp qualifying after going 0.506 under the B/SR index with an 8.094-seconds pass in his 1933 Plymouth-bodied roadster.

1. Craig Bourgeois 6.889 -0.651 (under index)
2. Michael Johnson 8.722 -0.638
3. David Rampy 7.312 -0.638
4. Dick Maris 6.988 -0.622
5. Shane Heckel 6.670 -0.620
6. Joey Tanksley 7.010 -0.600
7. Raymond Martin 7.782 -0.598
8. Jeff Miller 8.211 -0.579
9. Scott Cashio 8.897 -0.553
10. Adam White 6.991 -

With plenty of support from family, friends, and team Troy Coughlin won his first race of the year, defeating Greg Lair in the Top Sportsman Shootout at the JEG’S.com Cajun SPORTSnationals at No Problem Raceway Park in Belle Rose, LA.

After placing his 2004 Cavalier on top of the Top Sportsman qualifying list with a 6.616-seconds pass, Troy Coughlin was a picture of consistency Saturday afternoon in winning the special Quick 8 doorslammer race at the JEG’S.com Cajun SPORTSnationals.

Coughlin easily handled Keith Raftery and his Lake Charles, LA-based ‘03 Grand Am in round one with a 6.693, then took out the ‘57 BelAir of Lee Adkins Jr. with a 6.687 in the second round. Adkins, from Linden, TN, ran his best pass of the weekend, though, a 6.798 at 201.01 mph, after struggling with nitrous timing issues earlier in the weekend.

On the other side of the ladder, Greg Lair from Canyon, TX, took his ‘05 Grand Am to the final after beating the ‘04 Cavalier of Naples, FL’s Tommy Turner with a 6.966-seconds run in the opening round and Bert Prejean of St. Amant, LA, whose 2006 GTO broke on the line in the semis.

Coughlin said his team just performed routine maintenance and “made sure the adjustments were right” in preparation for the final. “I have to thank Team Jeg’s for giving me such a ‘positive’ racecar to drive,” he said. “It’s been performing perfectly and is just so easy to drive.”

In the final, Coughlin left first with a .062 reaction to Lair’s .088, then raced to the win with a 6.684 at 209.59 mph, the fastest speed of the meet so far. Lair, who on his tech card lists his engine size only as “Big,” covered the Belle Rose quarter mile in 6.921at 199.37 mph.

Later, Coughlin said his team was in test mode on Friday, experimenting with new shocks and settings, but for today’s eliminations they “went back to the log book and found some similar track and air conditions and took it from there.”

Charlie Westcott Jr. (far lane) actually got the jump on Bucky Hess off the start of the Mopar Hemi Shootout at the Cajun Sportsnationals, but his car immediately lost traction and Hess went on to celebrate in victory lane with Jeg Coughlin Jr. (right).

Bucky Hess said he felt like the underdog going into the Super Stock Hemi Shootout final at No Problem Raceway Park, but it was number-one qualifier Charlie Westcott Jr. who faltered, sending the $5,000 paycheck home with Hess to Bunker Hill, WV..

“I didn’t even see him so I just said, ‘Sorry, Charlie,’ and kept going,” Hess said. “I’ve been wanting a long time to say that. Once I got a fender on him I knew he wasn’t going by.”

Westcott, who started his raceday with an impressive 8.62-seconds solo pass, had an early shutoff bye in the second round, then dodged a bullet in round three when he lost traction early, but opponent Joey Wilkes went red off the start. In yet another single lane pass, Westcott regained the handle in the semis and posted an 8.680 at 152.93 mph. His luck ran out in the final, however, as his ‘68 Cuda lost traction immediately off the start while Hess motored on to the win in 8.741 seconds at 153.07 mph.

“This car is pretty aggressive on the launch and it’s hard to get it to hook up, especially when it’s hot like this,” Westcott said, explaining he had it set up “a lot softer” for the 130-degree track. “It just wouldn’t hold it.”

Hess got past Fred Henson in the opening round, had a bye in the second, and beat a redlighting Jim Pancake in the quarter finals. In the semis, a .029 reaction advantage earned Hess the win over Jeg Coughlin Jr. as his 8.707 at 152.57 beat the 8.688/150.97 combo put together by Coughlin.

“The Hemi Shootout was really something we were gunning for here and I got beat on a holeshot, which kinda sucked, to say the least,” Coughlin later said.

In the No Problem winner’s circle, Hess credited his wife Regina, son Travis, and daughter-in-law Lauren for helping him pick up his second NHRA Mopar Hemi Shootout win after he won the inaugural event at Indianapolis in 2001. He also said teaming up with Joe Clark to start his own engine program two years ago was a critical factor for success.

“You’ve got to have your own engines now, there’s just no way around it if you want to win,” Hess said. “And this is actually my bracket motor. People don’t want to hear that or believe that, but it’s true. I didn’t have enough time to get my good one ready.”

Jim Pancake entered his original Hemi Cuda in the bracket race last night in order to find a nagging transmission problem that was hurting his time and speed at mid-track. This morning he also changed the rearend in his car and installed a new torque converter.

With the final round of Super Stock qualifying and the first-round of heads-up class eliminations in the books, Charlie Westcott Jr., in his 1968 “WarFish” Cuda from Parma, MI, secured the number-one position for the SS/AH Shootout with an 8.622 seconds bye run at 152.92 mph. He finished 5th overall on Super Stock qualifying, led by Westcott’s father in a 327 Chevy-powered ‘98 Grand Am, going 1.249 under his 10.80 GT/E index. And again, most Hemi competitors improved over their second round times.

Also winning in round one of the shootout were Joey Wilkes, Bucky Hess, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Jim Pancake, Michael Ogburn, Jerry Jenkins, Rick Houser, and Joe Teuton Jr. With the exception of Westcott, every winner came in the right lane.

Hemi Shootout Final Qualifying Order
1. Charlie Westcott Jr. 8.622/152.92
2. Joey Wilkes 8.674/152.52
3. Bucky Hess 8.681/153.63
4. Jeg Coughlin Jr. 8.689/150.90
5. Jim Pancake 8.708/152.19
6. Michael Ogburn 8.727/149.45
7. William Brooks 8.760/150.51
8. Jerry Jenkins 8.762/150.25
9. Rick Houser 8.783/150.75
10. Fred Henson 8.794/148.33
11. Rick Houser 8.799/147.89
12. Joe Teuton Jr. 8.802/150.40
13. Bob Wolwitz 8.872/146.70
14. John Gifford 8.885/146.93
15. Darrell Marvel 8.894/147.52
16. Randy Hopkins 8.910/146.78
17. Matt Hensley 9.086/150.40

Once qualifying concluded on the first day of the JEG’S.com NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals, the track hosted a free crawfish feast for the racers with a live band providing the entertainment. No Problem Raceway also features a full-service bar below the tower, complete with live television feeds and large picture windows facing the starting line so patrons won’t miss any of the on-track action. To employ a well-worn cliche, a good time was had by all.

1. Troy Coughlin (shown) 6.616/209.79
2. Greg Lair 6.938/198.61
3. Keith Raferty 6.945/203.16
4. Joseph Mohana 6.955/199.67
5. Bert Prejean 6.957/200.77
6. J. Lee Didier 6.966/199.45
7. Tommy Turner 6.990/199.55
8. Scott Randall 7.013/197.68
9. Daniel J. Morrow 7.051/195.30
10. Steve Holloway 7.140/192.74

1. Freddie Sandrock 6.808/199.64
2. John Garner (shown) 6.979/193.54
3. Andre Landry 7.002/192.60
4. Michael Kile 7.036/193.05
5. Timmy Graves 7.097/187.86
6. Brandon Chauvin 7.107/187.70
7. Loretta Eckert 7.125/190.00
8. Gary Mock 7.144/191.67
9. George Tyler 7.144/187.73
10. Chris Bermond 7.183/191.29

1. Craig Bourgeois
2. Michael Johnson
3. Dick Maris
4. Shane Heckel
5. David Rampy
6. Hoey Tanksley
7. Raymond Martin
8. Jeff Miller (shown)
9. Scott Cashio
10. Adam White

1. Charlie Westcott
2. Gilbert Johnson Jr.
3. J. Allen Sherman
4. Charlie Westcott Jr.
5. Jerry Silveus
6. Bucky Hess
7. Tim Cole
8. Jeg Coughlin Jr.
9. Randall Klein
10. Shaun LeBlanc (shown)

1. Robert Shaw
2. Kent LaPorte
3. John McCarthy Jr.
4. Fred Henson
5. Steven Wann (shown)
6. Joey Wilkes
7. Jim Hale
8. Phil Jackson
9. Floyd Russo Jr.
10. Dempsey Pendarvis

Top to Bottom: Parma, MI’s Charlie Westcott Jr. took over the top qualifying spot in the Hemi Shootout in round two and sits 4th overall on the Super Stock list. Nearly all of the Hemi entrants improved their times in the second go round, including Jerry Caro who went from an 8.871 to 8.845, but actually dropped one position to 11th. Michael Ogburn, teammate to Jeg Coughlin Jr., also went quicker, but fell one place to 8th on the list.

1. Charlie Westcott Jr. 8.670/152.11
2. Bucky Hess 8.685/154.07
3. Jeg Coughlin Jr. 8.689/150.90
4. Joey Wilkes 8.760/151.09
5. Jim Pancake 8.764/151.58
6. Rick Houser 8.783/150.75
7. Jerry Jenkins 8.794/150.53
8. Michael Ogburn 8.821/148.59
9. Joe Teuton Jr. 8.823/150.40
10. Fred Henson 8.825/149.12
11. Jerry Caro 8.845/147.67
12. Darrell Marvel 8.894/147.52
13. John Gifford 8.933/146.80
14. Randy Hopkins 8.961/146.10
15. Matt Hensley 9.132/150.03
16. William Brooks 9.203/139.76

All words and photos by Ian Tocher

It’s the land of voodoo, gumbo and ‘gators, but like the sign says out front: No Problem, as the JEG’S.com NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals is underway at No Problem Raceway Park in Belle Rose, LA.

In a national event designed to showcase NHRA Sportsman competitors, approximately 400 drivers will race for valuable national points and part of a guaranteed purse of more than $50,000 in six classes: Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street. The first leg of a three-race Super Stock Hemi Shootout also will be contested, and in non-points special events, Top Sportsman and Top Dragster racers will tackle the Belle Rose quarter mile, along with Bob Vandergriff making exhibition/test passes in his UPS-backed Top Fuel dragster.

Tonight, a 128-car bracket race will be held only for cars also entered in the SPORTSnationals, with $5,000 going to the winner if a full field signs up.

Top to Bottom: Jeg Coughlin Jr. grabbed the early lead in qalifying for the Hemi Shootout and sits 6th overall in Super Stock qualifying. Right behind him is Bunker Hill, WV's Bucky Hess, while Randy Hopkins placed his Cable, WI-based '68 Dart 12th.

1. Jeg Coughlin Jr. 8.705/151.09
2. Bucky Hess 8.709/153.06
3. Charlie Wescott Jr. 8.717/151.49
4. Joey Wilkes 8.760/151.09
5. Jim Pancake 8.764/151.58
6. Rick Houser 8.783/150.75
7. Michael Ogburn 8.835/148.35
8. Joe Teuton Jr. 8.856/149.23
9. Fred Henson 8.863/148.22
10. Jerry Caro 8.871/146.85
11. Jerry Jenkins 8.918/149.61
12. Randy Hopkins 8.961/146.10
13. John Gifford 8.988/145.99
14. Matt Hensley 9.132/150.03
15. William Brooks 10.430/90.54

In addition to his stint in Michael Ogburn’s Hemi-powered '68 Barracuda, Jeg Coughlin Jr. also plans to drive his JEG'S Mail Order dragster in the new Top Dragster division in Belle Rose. The Top Dragster class features a qualified 32-car field with elapsed times in the mid 7-second zone. (DRO file photo)

Jeg Coughlin Jr. has made three guest appearances behind the wheel of Michael Ogburn’s vintage West Coast Hemi’s Super Stock ’68 Barracuda and on all three occasions, he has reached the final round. The two-time NHRA Pro Stock champion hopes to continue riding the wave of success during this weekend’s Jegs.com NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals at No Problem Raceway Park in Belle Rose, La. Coughlin will be looking to claim the $5,000 top prize in the Mopar Hemi Challenge event on Saturday, April 22.

“This is the first national event for me since I won Pro Stock at the 2005 NHRA Finals in Pomona and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Coughlin. “It is always fun to race with the West Coast Hemi’s team and we have a great track record together. They are expecting more than 20 Super Stock cars for the Hemi Challenge so the competition should be extremely tough, but I believe that we’re capable of putting our car in the winner’s circle again.”

The last time Coughlin drove Ogburn’s Barracuda, he won the Hemi Challenge race at the annual Mopars at the Strip event in Las Vegas. Racing against his teammate Jerry Jenkins in the final round, Coughlin used a nearly-perfect .001 reaction time to take the win. Coughlin also won the Hemi Challenge race at Indy in 2004 and was runner-up in 2005.

The Belle Rose race will be the first of three events in the recently announced Mopar Hemi Challenge series.  Hemi racers will also earn points at the JEG’S NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals in Columbus, Ohio and the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, where a series champion will be crowned. 

“I was at the inaugural Cajun SPORTSnationals race two years ago making exhibition runs in our Pro Stock car and I really enjoyed the experience,” he said. “A scheduling conflict prevented me from attending last year’s race but now I’m anxious to go back. [Track operator] Pat Joffrion puts on a great race and goes out of his way to make everyone feel welcome.”

Coughlin will be joined in Belle Rose by his older brother, Troy who plans to race his Chevy Cavalier in the Top Sportsman division. Troy also made exhibition runs in the JEG’S Mail Order Pro Stock entry at the inaugural Cajun SPORTSnationals two years ago and last year, he competed in the AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Series, earning a quarter-final finish.

WHAT: Third annual JEGS.com NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals, a national event exclusively for NHRA Sportsman competitors in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Sportsman competitors in six categories will be featured in competition, while five of those categories will earn points leading to 2006 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national championships. Featured NHRA Lucas Oil Series categories include Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street.

WHERE: No Problem Raceway Park, Belle Rose, La. Exit 1-10 at Sorrento (Exit 182). Follow exit to Hwy 70 (Sunshine Bridge -Donaldsonville). Cross Sunshine Bridge and remain in the left lane. Follow Hwy. 70 for 12 miles toward Morgan City. Three miles past the intersection of Hwy 70 & 1, turn right onto Hwy. 996. Track is one mile on the right.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, April 21-23.

PURSE: Guaranteed purse of more than $50,000.

SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, April 21:

Qualifying and time trials, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
TOP SPORTSMAN and COMP ELIMINATOR QUALIFYING at 1 and 5 p.m.
PROFESSIONAL EXHIBITION RACING throughout the day

SATURDAY, April 22:

Qualifying and time trials, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
TOP SPORTSMAN SHOOTOUT at 2, 4 and 6 p.m.
COMP ELIMINATOR QUALIFYING at 2 and 4 p.m.
PROFESSIONAL EXHIBITION RACING throughout the day

SUNDAY, April 23:

FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 9 a.m.
TOP SPORTSMAN/COMP ELIMINATOR round 1 begins at 10 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL EXHIBITION RACING throughout the day

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Stock and Super Stock class eliminations; Super Stock Hemi Shootout; Exhibition passes will be made by NHRA POWERade Series Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle teams.

DEFENDING WINNERS:

Michael Johnson (Comp); Hugh Meeks III (Super Stock); Jeff Strickland (Stock); Scotty Richardson (Super Gas); Mike Coughlin (Super Comp); Sid Norwood (Super Street).

ABOUT THE TRACK:

No Problem Raceway Park is a 200-acre, multi-use motorsports park located 55 miles southwest of New Orleans in Assumption Parish on Hwy. 996. Nestled on a ridge in the backwoods of Southern Louisiana, the quarter-mile track sits 12 feet above sea level. In addition to the drag strip, the facility also features a 14-turn, 1.8 mile road course. The track was built in Oct. 2001 by four drag racers with a $5 million initial investment. Pat Joffrion is the track’s general manager.

TICKETS:

For tickets contact No Problem Raceway Park, (985) 369-3692 or visit www.noproblemraceway.com

GENERAL ADMISSION (includes pit pass) – Friday: Adult, $20; Saturday: Adult, $20; Sunday: Adult, $20; Three-day pass: $55.