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NHRA speed genes: JEGS family
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Paige Coughlin
If science ever discovers a speed gene that enables certain humans to control motors and machines no doubt generations going forward will benefit. Before future miracles happen, the racing world will have to rely on those who excel. Presently sometimes that rare excellence occurs in families. One family besides the Andretti clan is the Coughlin kin.
Wins and championships don’t come easy to families or individuals in top levels of motorsports like NASCAR and NHRA drag racing.
It seems the JEGS Coughlin family will run out of racing events before they run out of generations to go racing, win races and achieve championships. Last week it was John. In Pro Stock for the last two years it was all Jeg Jr. Two weeks ago it was Troy Jr. with a win. Three weeks ago it was Troy Sr. and brother Michael with a championship. A month before it was Cody. Young Paige Coughlin, just nine-years-old, hasn’t joined championship ranks but she’s only racing in NHRA’s Junior Dragster class right now.
Ashley Force and her college age sisters don’t have to worry about a female Coughlin challenging them any time soon, but Paige is only one of Troy Coughlin’s three daughters. The future is wide open.
Fortunately the world wide JEGS mail order company is a major distributor of high performance parts with a state-of the-art facility in Delaware, Ohio that is fully capable of housing the latest trophies. Perhaps in the future as the Coughlin family keeps growing and the wins keep mounting they may have to build an addition to house all of the trophies. Too many trophies might get in the way of production.
JEGS Director of media and motorsports Scott “Woody” Woodruff is reminded of the wins on his way to work everyday.
“We get to have our annual ‘changing of the numbers’ on the signs as you drive into Delaware, OH," Woodruff said.
Home of JEGS
5 time World Champions
12 time Divisional Champions
Woodruff said, “I would like to change them to below:”
Home of JEGS
6 time World Champions (add Troy's Pro Street championship)
15 time Divisional Champions (add Cody-USAC, Mike-Top Sportsman and John-Top Dragster)
The JEGS teams have access to the best parts, but it takes determination and teamwork to take good parts to victory.
Troy Coughlin Jr., age 19, won his first national event in Super Comp class in Las Vegas.
"Ever since I was 5 years old I've been dreaming of this moment and now that it's finally here I don't even know what to say," the 19-year-old driver said. "I remember my uncle Jeg coming off a plane with a Wally trophy and I thought, 'I've got to get one of those,' and now here it is.”
Troy Coughlin Sr., age 45, drove his Pro Street machine to the top division in the National Muscle Car Association.
"I watched Dad win, my uncles Jeg, Mike, and John win, and it's always so cool. I really don't think the fact I've won one myself has even sunk in yet because it doesn't even seem real. Now I know what it feels like. "
Mike Coughlin wrapped up his second North Central Division Dart Top Sportsman Series championship.
"Wow, what a barn burner," said Coughlin, who has now won the title in two of the last three seasons. "It all came down to one race and we were able to get it done when it really counted. I needed to win the final in order to lock up the title. The whole day I just kept telling myself, 'One more round. One more round.'
"I can’t say enough about the job our JEGS team has done this year," Coughlin said. "Once again my car was just about perfect.”
Cody Coughlin, 13-years-old, is the youngest member of Team JEGS, but he was the first family member to clinch a championship in 2009. Young Coughlin secured the title of USAC’s "Generation Next" .25 Midget class.
"We couldn't be prouder of Cody," said his beaming father John Coughlin.
John Coughlin won the Top Dragster title in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“I’m still a little shocked at what just happened,” said Coughlin. “I had to win this race and did it. This race was six rounds instead of the five that we usually run so that made it more difficult but the whole time I kept thinking about my brother Mike. He was in a similar situation in Top Sportsman and he won his last race and that showed me that is was possible. It’s still incredible to think that we were able to win a championship this way.”
It’s probably only a matter of time in NHRA Pro Stock. Five-time champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. plans to use his team time to continue winning ways.
"We're certainly not going to hang our heads about our performance with the Pro Stock car” Coughlin said. “The fact we have more wins than anyone in the sport this year speaks volumes about our capabilities. This is a team full of champions and I have every confidence we'll contend for the 2010 title from the start.
"Right now we'll focus on closing the year strong and beginning our preparation for next year.”
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