For Team JEGS drivers, racing with family takes precedence over everything else

For Team JEGS drivers, racing with family
takes precedence over everything else
CHARLOTTE (April 24) — Six-time world champion drag racer Jeg Coughlin Jr. leads a strong contingent of talented JEGS-sponsored racers into this weekend’s ninth annual NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals that will vie for wins in Pro Stock, Top Alcohol Dragster, Super Gas and Super Comp.

More importantly, the driver of the JEGS.com/Elite Performance Pro Stock Camaro will be racing with his family, as his teammates for this event consist of his wife Samantha, his nephew Troy Jr., and his niece Paige. The Charlotte group, which includes Jeg’s brother Troy, the father of Troy Jr. and Paige, who will be on hand to offer support, also will be rooting for 13-year-old Clay, who will be racing his Junior Dragster in Columbus with his dad Mike, the brother of Jeg Jr. and Troy.

Jeg Coughlin Jr.
Yes, there are many fast-moving parts to the Coughlin clan, and to a person, they wouldn’t want it any other way.

“Racing has always been a family affair for us,” Jeg Jr. said. “My three brothers and I grew up following dad (Jeg Sr.) around the Midwest when he was competing. That got all of us interested in the sport and in turn many of our kids enjoy racing these days.

“It’s also a huge part of our business. JEGS Automotive was born out of a need my father discovered in his youth that people wanted high performance parts to improve the cars they were racing. It’s all grown together hand-in-hand since then.”

Jeg Jr. could be in for a big weekend in Charlotte as his racing fortunes took a massive upturn in Houston, where he qualified No. 2 and raced to his best finish of the year after switching to a new car.

“We’ve been chasing it all year and it was very satisfying and rewarding to seemingly have it all come together for us this past weekend in Texas,” Coughlin said. “We’re hungry for a victory and doing it together with family around would make it very special.

“Charlotte will be my wife’s first race of the year. We are both excited about that. Troy Jr. made some laps in her car in Richmond a week or so ago and it went really, really well so I am excited to see her compete in Super Gas and Troy Jr. to race again in his Top Alcohol Dragster. That car is very fast. Plus, it’s Paige’s first national event so it’ll be quite a memorable affair all the way around.

“It’s another weekend of racing with my family so I’m super happy. That’s how we like it.”