After another strong qualifying effort, Jeg Coughlin Jr. primed for final race of the year
POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 11) — Proving the noticeable uptick in performance he enjoyed two weeks ago in Las Vegas wasn’t an anomaly, five-time Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. earned his best starting spot since grabbing the pole in Bristol, Tenn., Saturday at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona. Continue reading After another strong qualifying effort, Jeg Coughlin Jr. primed for final race of the year →

Championship charge comes up just short
for Top Dragster driver Mike Coughlin
LAS VEGAS (Nov. 8) — Top Dragster drag racer Mike Coughlin took his bid for the 2017 world championship to the final race on the Division 7 schedule only to come up a few rounds short of ultimate glory. Finish aside, Coughlin says the memories he made and the comradery he felt made this year one of his best ever, including his Division 3 championship-winning seasons of 2007 and 2009 when he raced Top Sportsman.

“This year was super special and really fun, especially down the stretch,” Coughlin said. “There was a tight group of us all fighting for the championship right to the end and even though we all desperately wanted to end up on top, we all supported each other the best we could. It was one of those deals where you’d say, ‘well if it can’t be me, I hope it’s you,’ only there were four or five of us all feeling that way.

“This is the way drag racing always has been and it’s refreshing to see it’s still that way. My heartfelt congratulations to Lynn Ellison on winning it all. I’m happy for Paul Nero and Steve Casner for finishing second and third, and Jeff Strickland and John Strassweg for pushing us to our fourth-place finish. John and Lynn are both Division 3 guys also so it was a great year for the North Central guys, which is extra cool.”

Coughlin’s chance at the championship came to an end in the second round of last weekend’s race at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when he drew his first red-light foul of the season in his JEGS.com dragster. He needed to win the event outright to steal away the title.

“We went down swinging,” Coughlin said. “That was the first time I’d gone red all year and of course it came at the worst time. I was really amped up and the day was changing from dusk to dark, which made it extra tricky. I just didn’t do a good job calculating the delay.

“It’s funny with these LED bulbs. In the dark you tend to be slower than you are during the day, but when it comes to dusk you’re kind of in between the two.

“Heck, we fought until they told us it was over. We finished fourth in the world and didn’t break a thing all year except in pre-season testing. What a job by the guys — Greg Cody, Dave Raurk, Ryan Micke and Tony Collier — and a big thanks to Jerry and Traci Albert for coming with us to Vegas to support the team and help out.”

Although his 2017 campaign just ended, Coughlin already is thinking about 2018 and another run for the title.

“The only thing we’ll change on the car in the off-season is the number,” Coughlin said. “I honestly can’t ask for more than what we had this year. It was a heckuva lot of fun and the car was perfect all season.

“I’m thankful for my wife Kriss and our boys Jack and Clay, my dad, my brothers, and everyone at JEGS for their incredible support.”

With six Pomona wins, six-time champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. ranks track as one of his favs
POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 7) — Auto Club Raceway in Pomona always has been a favorite spot for six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. who has amassed six of his 76 career victories at the historic facility on the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds.

With the 53rd annual Auto Club NHRA Finals on tap this weekend, Coughlin is hoping to find some more Pomona magic to close out 2017 with a long-awaited victory. Continue reading With six Pomona wins, six-time champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. ranks track as one of his favs →

Team JEGS Prerace Notes
Auto Club NHRA Finals
Team JEGS Prerace Notes
Auto Club NHRA Finals
Pomona, Calif.
Nov. 9-12

The JEGS Mail Order team will be represented at this week’s season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals by six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. behind the wheel of the JEGS.com Elite Motorsports Pro Stock Camaro.

Jeg Jr. will be driving a Rick Jones Race Cars-built Chevy Camaro as a member of the Elite Motorsports team. Continue reading Team JEGS Prerace Notes Auto Club NHRA Finals →

Troy Coughlin closing in on third Pro
Mod title from unfamiliar lead position
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 25) — Troy Coughlin may be a two-time champion in the J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, but he’s never entered the final race of the year with the points lead. That’ll change this weekend at the 17th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals when he arrives at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a 26-point cushion over Mike Castellana.

“Unchartered territory,” Coughlin said with a laugh. “Seriously, I’m not surprised at all because every single year it goes down to the wire. This year is certainly no different and we weren’t expecting anything less.”
Continue reading Troy Coughlin closing in on third Pro Mod title from unfamiliar lead position →

Team JEGS Pre-race Notes
NHRA Toyota Nationals
Team JEGS
Pre-race Notes
NHRA Toyota Nationals (Las Vegas)
Oct. 27-29

The JEGS Mail Order team will be represented at this week’s NHRA Toyota Nationals by six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr., driver of the JEGS.com Elite Motorsports Pro Stock Camaro, and by two-time Pro Mod champ Troy Coughlin in his twin-turbo JEGS.com Chevrolet Corvette C7.

Jeg Jr’s Camaro and Troy’s Corvette will once again be adorned in pink as part of breast cancer awareness month. Continue reading Team JEGS Las Vegas Preview →

Jeg Coughlin Jr. hoping to celebrate a championship in Vegas, just not his own
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 24) — Several times in the past, Pro Stock veteran Jeg Coughlin Jr. has arrived at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the annual NHRA Toyota Nationals with world championships hanging in the balance. That’s the case once again this time through, only rather than bagging another one for himself, six-time champ Coughlin is hoping to celebrate his brother Troy’s third title in the Pro Mod class.

“The Pro Stock championship is out of reach for us this year but Troy is leading the Pro Mod points with a great chance to wrap up his third title in the last six years this weekend,” Jeg said. “It’s a very exciting time for him and everyone on his team, as well as the 350-plus associates at JEGS and the rest of our extended family.

“We’ve come in here fighting from behind and we’ve also come in here in the lead trying to hold everyone off. Most of the time we’ve come out on top, and a few times we came up a little short, but certainly we know the magic of this racetrack and the importance it holds for drag racers. That’s especially true for Troy because Pro Mod finishes its season here, whereas the other pro categories have one more race to go after Vegas.” Continue reading Jeg Coughlin Jr. hoping to celebrate a championship in Vegas, just not his own →

St. Louis setback aside, Team JEGS racer
Mike Coughlin still eyeing national title
ST. LOUIS (Oct. 22) — This weekend’s All-American Hot Rod Showdown at Gateway Motorsports Park didn’t go as planned for Top Dragster title contender Mike Coughlin, but the always-upbeat drag racer hasn’t lost his desire or zest for winning this year’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series championship.

After qualifying a lofty third with a steady pass of 6.012 seconds at 227.11 mph, Coughlin suffered a mechanical issue in the first round of Saturday’s eliminations and lost to Jim Prevo. Continue reading St. Louis setback aside, Team JEGS racer Mike Coughlin still eyeing national title →

Team JEGS/Prerace Notes
NHRA Division 3 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series
Team JEGS/Prerace Notes
NHRA Division 3 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series
Gateway Motorsports Park, Madison, Ill. (Oct. 20-22)

Mike Coughlin will be racing his JEGS.com Top Dragster in this weekend’s All-American Hot Rod Showdown, the North Central Division season finale in St. Louis. Mike will be joined by his niece, third-generation racer Paige Coughlin, who will be making her fourth career start in Super Comp behind the wheel of her JEGS.com dragster.

Mike will be racing the same Top Dragster he drove to a win earlier this season in his 2017 debut at the Circle K Winternationals in Pomona. In that event, Mike ran as quick as 6.05 seconds and defeated Andy Spiegel in the final round. Continue reading Team JEGS–Gateway Preview →

Top title contender Mike Coughlin primed
for All-American Hot Rod Showdown
MADISON, Ill. (Oct. 18) — With just two races left in his season, Top Dragster drag racer Mike Coughlin is hoping this weekend’s All-American Hot Rod Showdown at Gateway Motorsports Park will be enough of a success that he can further zero in on this year’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series
world championship.

Mike Coughlin
Coughlin currently ranks third in his class, both nationally and in the North Central Division, and a successful outing in St. Louis could be pivotal in his dream of earning his first national title and third divisional crown. Continue reading Top title contender Mike Coughlin primed for All-American Hot Rod Showdown →

Missed connection lands JEGS.com’s Jeg Coughlin Jr. on the early departure list
DALLAS (Oct. 15) – If the devil is truly in the details, then the misfortune that befell five-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. and his JEGS.com/Elite Performance team Sunday in the first round of eliminations at the AAA Texas NHRA Fallnationals was certainly of demonic descent.

A loose wire foiled the chances of the Ohio native to claim the 59th career national event win of his already legendary career. Continue reading Missed connection lands JEGS.com’s Jeg Coughlin Jr. on the early departure list →

Smiles coming easier for five-time Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. after car upgrade
DALLAS (Oct. 14) — Five-time Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. and his race crew are as excited as they’ve been since mid-May when they raced to the finals of the Menards Heartland Nationals. That’s because prior to this weekend’s 32nd annual AAA Texas NHRA Fallnationals, Coughlin’s JEGS.com/Elite Performance Chevrolet Camaro was modified by car builder Rick Jones and the early results are very promising.

“If the corners are up on my mouth a bit it’s certainly because we’re as close to the front of the pack as we’ve been in quite a while,” Coughlin said. “We’ve been in the top half of the field in all four sessions here and ended up qualified No. 9, which is pretty wild. We started off No. 5, got bumped to sixth, got bumped to eighth and ended up 9th. When you’ve got a tight field like we’ve got this weekend, that can certainly happen. Continue reading Smiles coming easier for five-time Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. after car upgrade →

Team JEGS Pre-race Notes
AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals
Team JEGS
Pre-race Notes
AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals
(Dallas) Oct. 13-15,

The JEGS Mail Order team will be represented at this week’s 32nd annual AAA Texas NHRA Fallnationals by six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. behind the wheel of the JEGS.com Elite Motorsports Pro Stock Camaro.

Jeg Jr.’s Camaro will once be adorned in pink for the month of October as part of breast cancer awareness month.

Jeg Jr. will continue his pursuit of a sixth NHRA Mello Yello Pro Stock title (and seventh overall) at this weekend’s event. Jeg Jr. will be driving a Rick Jones Race Cars-built Chevy Camaro as a member of the Elite Motorsports team. Continue reading Team JEGS Pre-race–Texas →

Past Dallas winner Jeg Coughlin Jr. would love to shine again in the Lone Star State
DALLAS (Oct. 10) — The annual AAA Texas NHRA Fallnationals has become a special event for six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. through the years. He made his Super Stock debut there in 1993, his Pro Stock debut there in 1997, recorded runner-up finishes there in in 2000, 2003 and 2008, and won the event outright in 2002.

Now he’s hoping to add yet another Lone Star memory this weekend when he returns to action in his re-vamped JEGS.com/Elite Performance Chevrolet Camaro. Continue reading Past Dallas winner Jeg Coughlin Jr. would love to shine again in the Lone Star State →

Troy Coughlin takes giant step towards third Pro Mod title with crucial St. Louis win
ST. LOUIS (Oct. 1) — Troy Coughlin ran a gauntlet of top professionals in his twin-turbo JEGS.com Chevrolet Corvette C7 and won the sixth annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals Sunday at Gateway Motorsports Park to surge into the J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series points lead with one race remaining on the 2017 schedule.
Continue reading Troy Coughlin takes giant step towards third Pro Mod title with crucial St. Louis win →

Search for speed continues for six-time
world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr.
ST. LOUIS (Oct. 1) — After struggling with a car that refused to leave the starting line in a normal fashion in three of four qualifying sessions, Jeg Coughlin Jr. knew he needed a near-perfect run to beat first-round opponent Chris McGaha Sunday at the sixth annual AAA Insurance NHRA
Midwest Nationals.

Unfortunately, although Coughlin and his JEGS.com/Elite Performance Chevrolet Camaro race team gave their best effort, they didn’t quite have enough to win the race, with McGaha running a 6.542 at 211.93 mph to Coughlin’s 6.576 at 210.64 mph. Continue reading Search for speed continues for six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. →

Five-time St. Louis champ Jeg
Coughlin Jr. braced for elimination fight
ST. LOUIS (Sept. 30) — Feeling he has nothing to lose, six-time drag racing world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. will go all-out to win his sixth St. Louis trophy Sunday when action at the sixth annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals turns to sudden-death eliminations.

Coughlin qualified his JEGS.com/Elite Performance Chevrolet Camaro in the No. 12 position after a best pass of 6.579 at 209.98 mph during four rounds of time trials. Continue reading Five-time St. Louis champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. braced for elimination fight →

Gigantic day for two-time champion
Troy Coughlin in 2017 Pro Mod title chase
ST. LOUIS (Sept. 30) — After struggling through qualifying for the sixth annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, Troy Coughlin experienced one of the best single rounds of eliminations in his career Saturday afternoon when he upset reigning world champion and longtime nemesis “Tricky Rickie” Smith just moments after top qualifier and current points leader Mike Castellana lost to No. 16 qualifier Pete Farber. Continue reading Gigantic day for two-time champion Troy Coughlin in 2017 Pro Mod title chase →

Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking for sixth Gateway
victory at AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals
ST. LOUIS (Sept. 27) — When you’ve won 76 NHRA trophies, the current mark for six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr., it’s correct to assume you’ve won multiple races at a number of different racetracks. But even Coughlin has to admit the five trophies he’s won at Gateway Motorsports Park, the site of this weekend’s sixth annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, place this facility among his favorites on tour.

“Gateway Motorsports Park always has been a fun track to visit and the fact we’ve had great success here in the past adds a nice comfort level to the equation,” Coughlin said. “Personally, I hope the good vibes of the past help us turn this program to the positive end as we streak to the finish line of this season. Continue reading Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking for sixth Gateway victory at AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals →

Mike Coughlin anxious to advance at
‘most critical race’ of his 2017 championship charge
ST. LOUIS (Sept. 26) — With a pair of wins and a plethora of elimination-round victories, two-time Division 3 champion Mike Coughlin has raced himself into contention for the 2017 Top Dragster world title. Now, with just two divisional and one national event left on his schedule, this weekend’s sixth annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park could be the race that makes Coughlin’s season. Continue reading Mike Coughlin anxious to advance at ‘most critical race’ of his 2017 championship charge →