NHRA Pro Mod - Troy Coughlin Eyes New Goal Heading Into E-town

ENGLISHTOWN, June 1, 2011: JEGS.com pilot Troy Coughlin has won a world championship and drag races across the country. He's competed in a variety of racecars and has usually found success. But in his chosen sport there's always another milestone to reach, another goal to attain, and for Coughlin the next big objective is claiming a Wally trophy in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

Coughlin has won Pro Mod races before. In fact, he won an Iron Eagle trophy during the 2005 running of the NHRA SuperNationals, which once again take center stage this weekend at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. But back then Pro Mod was run strictly as an exhibition class and winners didn't get a coveted Wally, the longtime object of desire for drag racers.

All that changed a year and a half ago when NHRA made Pro Mod an official class, giving racers like Coughlin a new brass ring to reach for.

"Winning a Wally is something pretty special," said Coughlin, who earned Wallys in Super Gas and Pro Stock competition in the past. "When they started handing them out in Pro Mod it instantly became something we all wanted. Of course, there's only one winner a weekend and a few of the guys have taken more than one in the last year and a half, but we certainly have our eye on getting one for ourselves, hopefully sooner rather than later."

Coughlin enters the Englishtown race with a unique racecar, one that is powered by a 396-cid turbocharged engine. It's the only small block in competition -- making Coughlin a bit of a cult hero among the true gearheads in the stands -- and yet he proved at the last tour stop in Atlanta that he can run competitive 5.95-second passes at 250 mph.

"We're getting closer to the big block cars," Coughlin said. "If we can make a perfect run under perfect conditions, we can get close enough to have a chance. It's been a fun little journey with this car and even though we'll be switching to a big block when we get our new car later this summer, we have some real affection for this little GTO.

"I think the fans appreciate what we're trying to do. Everyone can see what we're up against and they appreciate the fact we're giving those big blown cars a run for their money."

The NHRA SuperNationals marks the fifth of 10 races on the schedule where Pro Mod joins the fray, thereby marking the halfway point of the season.

Professional qualifying begins Friday with two rounds of Pro Mod scheduled for 3:15 and 5:30 p.m. EDT at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.