NHRA - JEGS Team Event Preview

The NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Nationals in Concord will mark the ninth race in the ten-event 2011 Get Screened America Pro Mod Series. Troy Coughlin will be competing in his second event with his brand new turbocharged JEGS.com Chevy Camaro.

Troy’s new turbocharged Camaro was built by Jerry Bickel Race Cars and features a 504-cid engine built by noted turbocharger expert Ken Duttwieler. The car is tuned by Jake Hairston, whose family owns the Pontiac GTO that Troy raced for the first seven events this season.

There are two events remaining in the 2011 Get Screened America Pro Mod series and Troy is currently ranked tenth, in the points standings. He is currently three points ahead of 11th ranked Dennis Radford.

At the most recent Get Screened America Pro Mod event in Indianapolis, Ind., Troy enjoyed a successful debut with his new car as he qualified No. 10 in the 16-car field with a 6.025 at 248.84 mph. Troy ran a 6.10 in round one but was unable to stop series points leader Khalid Balooshi.

Troy finished fourth in the 2010 Get Screened America Pro Mod Series. He was the only driver to qualify for all ten events last season.

Troy’s younger brother, Jeg, a five-time NHRA world champion helped christen zMax Dragway in 2008 when he made the inaugural run down the four-wide track in his JEGS.com Pro Stock car.

At the 2010 O’Reilly Auto Parts Nationals in Concord, Troy was the No. 10 qualifier in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series and lost in round one against Scott Ray.

Troy’s first Pro Mod victory came at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in New Jersey in 2005 when as he drove his supercharged Mustang to as win over Zack Barkledge in the final round.

Troy is one of the few Pro Mod competitors who have raced all three current engine combinations; turbocharged, supercharged, and nitrous oxide assisted.

Before moving to the Pro Mod class, Troy enjoyed success in the NHRA Pro Stock class, recording two wins in 12 final round appearances. He also won the $50,000 top prize at the 2000 Winston No Bull Showdown at Bristol Dragway, a special non-points event for Pro Stock competitors.

Troy has won NHRA national event titles in three classes; Pro Stock, Pro Mod, and Super Gas. His first title came in Super Gas at the 1991 U.S. Nationals.

Troy is a former National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) Pro Street champion. While racing his Pro Street car, he also won the $50,000 Big Dog event at Piedmont Dragway in Greensboro, N.C.

In 2007, Troy became the first NHRA Pro Mod racer to win a round of competition with a turbocharged race car when he stopped Doug Palmer in Bristol, Tenn.

The Coughlin family, including John, Troy Sr., Mike, Jeg, and Troy Jr. has combined for 91 NHRA national event victories since 1990. The Coughlin’s have won in 9 different eliminators including Pro Stock, Pro Stock Truck, Pro Mod, Comp, Super Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Top Sportsman, and Top Dragster.