There are few types of cars in the world which will destroy a set of huge tires like an NHRA drag car and this week’s Tire Shredding Tuesday watches Jeg Coughlin in his Dodge Avenger Pro Stock race car as he “scuffs” a set of tires for future use. For those unfamiliar with scuffing tires, this is what many racers do with all of their tires so that when they hit the track – be it the NASCAR oval or the straight quarter mile – they arent on brand new tires. Scuffing allows the teams to remove he smooth outer layer of rubber and that usually translates to better traction than trying to put all of that power to the ground on brand spankin’ new tires.
While I was aware that NHRA team like Jeg’s Avenger Pro Stock team did scuff tires ahead of the actual racing, I never pictured the process being quite so cool. It appears that both of the doors have been removed to that a team member could stand on each side of the Jeg’s sponsored Dodge Avenger and literally hold it in place as Coughlin puts a serious smoking to the rear skins. After about 10 seconds of a healthy burnout, the crewmembers step away from the car as Jeg continues down the track with the tire smoldering. It might look crazy to have these guys stand there and hold a 6 second drag car in place but it also makes this one of the coolest burnout videos Ive seen. Enjoy!
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
