Troy Coughlin Jr. bags first national event trophy in Las Vegas (NHRA/JEGS)

Troy Coughlin Jr. bags first national event trophy in Las  Vegas

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 1) -- Troy Coughlin Jr. survived eight  grueling rounds of 
Super Comp eliminations to win his first NHRA national event  trophy Sunday 
at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The victory is the first  for the 
third-generation of Coughlins and comes just two weeks after Troy Jr.'s  
father, Troy Coughlin Sr., won the world championship in the National Muscle 
Car  Association. 

"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.

"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."

T.J.'s JEGS.com dragster ran  extremely well all weekend but it was his 
work in the cockpit that made the  difference. The final was a good example as 
he left on opponent Anthony Castillo  and posted a winning 9.061 to 
Castillo's 9.068 on the 9.05-second  index.

"I tried my best all weekend and just kept my cool," T.J. said.  "It is so 
neat to have both my uncle Jeg and Pa Pa (Jeg Sr.) here. They helped  me out 
all day and it's incredible to have them up there on the starting line  
reading the track and helping me line up for each race. Those guys are living  
legends and it's hard to describe how that feels.

"I'm so proud to be the  first third-generation Coughlin to win. Now my 
cousin Cody needs to get out here  and win one also. He's next.

"We're staying out here and racing the  divisional event next weekend with 
my uncle John so maybe we can get two in a  row. I don't know; I'm in La-La 
Land right now."

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