Mike Edwards Wins Pro Stock, Jeg Coughlin Ends Season on Top

The winner of the 2009 Pro Stock championship is Mike Edwards, after topping the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona. The race itself was only a formality for Edwards, who was named NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock champion for the first time.

"It's an unbelievable feeling. I'm surrounded by a great bunch of guys. I feel like there's times I've let them down and they've never given up on me," Edwards, who debuted in 1982, said. "It's been a long time coming, we've all just been pulling from the same end of the rope . it's been worth the wait."

Although he did not manage to secure the fifth Pro Stock championship and third consecutive world title, JEGS.com driver Jeg Coughlin Jr. managed to win the most races in 2009 (seven) and achieved more Full Throttle top standings than any other driver in the sport.

"It's hard to be upset after a year like this," Coughlin says on JEGS.com. "Of course we wanted to win the title again and we had the car to do it, but even though we didn't realize that goal this time through we still had a heckuva year. I think we can all leave town with our heads held high. I know I'm very proud of this race team and this organization."

"The Countdown system stacks the importance to the final six race," Coughlin continued. "The first two years of the Countdown's existence, we were the team that managed to find another gear in the playoffs and we came away with a pair of championships. This year it kind of went the other way; we were flying high in the regular season and stumbled ever so slightly down the stretch. That was the difference."

"I congratulate Mike and his team. They were spectacular and it's neat to see a guy that's put his heart and soul into this sport for so long finally realize his dream."