The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Pro Stock - Coughlin Preview Atlanta


PHOTO (select to view enlarged photo)

Atlanta, May 3, 2012: Jeg Coughlin Jr. is making his return to the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series after a one-year hiatus. Jeg Jr is driving the all-new JEGS Mopar Dodge Avenger in the Pro Stock class. In his first outing since his return, he drove to a runner-up finish at the O’Reilly Auto Parts Winternationals.

After the first six rounds in Pomona, Phoenix, Gainesville, Las Vegas, Charlotte, and Houston Jeg Coughlin Jr. is ranked 12th in the NHRA Full Throttle points standings.

Jeg Coughlin Jr. is a four-time NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock champion. He earned season titles in 2000, 2002, 2007 and 2008. As a sportsman driver, Jeg Jr also claimed the NHRA Super Gas championship in 1992.

Jeg Coughlin Jr. is a two-time winner of the Atlanta event. He defeated Bruce Allen to win his first title in 2000 and defeated Allen Johnson in the final of the 2010 event, scoring his landmark 50th Pro Stock title. In addition to his two wins, Jeg Jr was a runner-up in 2009 to Mike Edwards.

As a sportsman racer, Jeg Jr also won the Competition Eliminator title in Atlanta in 1997.

In 12 career appearances at Atlanta Dragway, Jeg Coughlin Jr. has an 18-8 record in Pro Stock eliminations.

During his hiatus from Pro Stock racing in 2011, Jeg Jr returned to his roots and spent much of the year racing in various sportsman classes. He enjoyed tremendous success, winning the Super Comp title at the JEGS NHRA Pacific SPORTSnationals in Fontana, Calif., and numerous major E.T. bracket racing titles.

At the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event last month in Las Vegas, Jeg Jr scored his 68th career national event title when he drove his JEGS.com dragster to the Super Comp title.

In 289 career Pro Stock races, Jeg Jr has reached the final round 85 times, recording 52 wins. Including his 16 sportsman victories, Jeg Jr has won a total of 68 times, good for tenth place on NHRA’s all time wins list. During his career, Jeg Jr has appeared in 106 final rounds, 85 as a professional and 21 as a sportsman racer.

In 2010, his most recent season in Pro Stock competition, Jeg Coughlin Jr won four Pro Stock races in seven final round appearances. He also claimed a win in the Top Dragster class at the St. Louis event.

Jeg Jr’s best elapsed time in a Pro Stock car is 6.520-seconds and his best speed is 212.29-mph both recorded at the inaugural Four-Wide Nationals in Concord, N.C. in 2010.

With 52-career Pro Stock wins, Jeg Jr ranks fourth all-time among Pro Stock drivers. Only Warren Johnson (96), Bob Glidden (85) and Greg Anderson (72) have more titles.

Coughlin’s JEGS Mopar Dodge Avenger is powered by Mopar Hemi engines supplied by JNR Racing, the JEGS in-house engine program founded by JEGS, Nick Ferri, and Roy Simmons. Former FIA European Drag Racing champion Tomi Laine is Jeg Jr’s crew chief in 2012.

Jeg Jr is the only driver in the 61-year history of NHRA to win national event titles in six different categories. He has won in Pro Stock, Comp, Super Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Top Dragster.

Prior to the Atlanta event, Jeg Jr will attend the annual Night of Champions event at the Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta. The special event recognizes all of the past professional champions in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Jeg Jr will once again be pulling double-duty at the Atlanta event as he will also be behind the wheel of his JEGS.com Drag Pak Challenger in Stock Eliminator. Earlier this season, longtime family friend Jeff Taylor drove the same car to a win at the Gainesville Raceway Lucas Oil Series event.