'Turbo Troy' ready for return to Pro Mod action

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 28) -- Pro Mod's only twin-turbo powered driver will return to action for drag racing's biggest event when veteran racer Troy Coughlin wheels his JEGS.com Pontiac GTO into Indianapolis for the 53rd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

Coughlin's hot rod has undergone massive changes since the last AMS Pro Mod Challenge event eight weeks ago at Bristol Dragway in Tennessee. In order to keep pace with recent rule changes in the Pro Mod class, Coughlin has enlisted the help of his decorated father Jeg Coughlin Sr. to find a better baseline tune-up for his larger engine, three-disk clutch, and five-speed manual transmission.

"This has been the longest break in the schedule and we really needed it to get a handle on this new configuration," Troy Coughlin said. "We were jazzed about our first elimination-round win in Bristol but the facts were the turbo car was still significantly behind the others. We're not out here to goof around; we're out here to win. As such, these changes were necessary and even though it's been a lot of work, I'm glad the series organizers made these modifications to the rules."

With four races left in the 2007 AMS Pro Mod Challenge, Coughlin will be looking to make marked progress and maybe steal away a win or two as he prepares for an all-out assault on the Pro Mod class in 2008.

Indianapolis is a good starting point for the former Sportsman and Pro Stock star. In 1991, Troy collected his first NHRA national event trophy at the sport's most prestigious event, driving his Oldsmobile Cutlass past fellow Ohio native Maryann Jackson for the U.S. Nationals Super Gas title.

"Just qualifying for Indy would be a thrill but I honestly believe we'll have a chance to do more than that," Troy said. "We're heading over early and plan on stopping in Norwalk (Ohio) for a quick test session and then we'll be hard at it in Indy.

"Having won there before, even though it was year's ago, still helps you out mentally because you don't feel this pressure of 'Oh wow, it's Indy, I'd love to win here one day.' We can just go in there and do our deal and have some fun.

"I'm really anxious to see how we stack up against everyone else now and the only way you can truly do that is to run a race and see where you are at the end of the day."