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DELAWARE, Ohio (December 22, 2006) - A second-place finish in his first year racing in the National Muscle Car Association's Pro Street category made 2006 the most successful season of drag racing ever for veteran racer Troy Coughlin. Zooming to four runner-up finishes in seven national events, the 42-year-old from Delaware, Ohio, was a title contender from the onset in his JEGS Mail Order Chevrolet Cavalier.
"It was an incredibly rewarding year for me," Coughlin said. "I think what I'll remember the most is the hard work the guys put in to give me such a competitive racecar. I can't remember too many passes we lost to mechanical failures. In fact, I can't remember any, and that's a tribute to the diligence of the crew guys.
"As a racer, it's a great feeling to arrive at an event knowing you have a car that can win. Sometimes you show up and you think that if breaks go my way I can win, but not this year. This year I knew we could win. That's all you can ask for."
A veteran of NHRA Pro Stock racing with numerous accolades on his resume, Coughlin has been drag racing since he was old enough to drive. Following in the footsteps of his famous father Jeg Sr., who raced Top Fuel cars when he was younger, Troy has displayed a passion for the sport from Day 1. For him to declare 2006 as his best season yet speaks volumes about what he was able to accomplish.
"I finished second in my division way back when I was driving in Super Comp and that was pretty special because so many cars compete in that class, but this year topped it," Coughlin said. "Everyone in Pro Street that we ran against was an accomplished, big-time sportsman racer who knew what he was doing behind the wheel. There weren't any gimmes.
"To run against the very best and be a part of the championship chase right down to the very last race was exciting. We made our charge and came up just a little bit short against Vinny [Budano], who I consider one of the best ever, so it’s hard not to be extremely proud of our effort from start to finish."
Coughlin's runner-up finishes came in Columbus, Ohio, -- at his home track -- Reading, Pa., Atlanta, and Memphis, Tenn. The final three runner-up finishes came in succession in the final three races of the year. As he competed in the NMCA, Coughlin also supervised the construction of a Jerry Haas-built, turbocharged Pontiac Pro Mod car that he plans to run in 2007. The idea is for Coughlin to make a run at the championship of the AMS Pro Mod Challenge, which takes place over 10 select races on the NHRA's POWERade tour.
"I've had so many people call and tell me how excited they are that we'll be out there with this JEGS Pontiac next year and that is so cool," Coughlin said. "What has me the most revved-up is that we'll be running at NHRA events so I'll be back racing with my brothers and enjoying the family time we cherish so much.
"I can think of eight, 10 guys that can easily win the championship and there's probably a few out there lurking so the competition will be brutal. I know we'll be going for it every weekend. We have a lot of testing left to do but we'll be ready when the first race comes. Hopefully next year will be our first championship year."
Information regarding JEGS Mail Order can be found at JEGS High Performance - Car, Truck, Street, and Drag Racing Performance Parts and for media/fan resources check out Team Jegs : Race Team.
Troy Coughlin is proud looking back at 2006
DELAWARE, Ohio (December 22, 2006) - A second-place finish in his first year racing in the National Muscle Car Association's Pro Street category made 2006 the most successful season of drag racing ever for veteran racer Troy Coughlin. Zooming to four runner-up finishes in seven national events, the 42-year-old from Delaware, Ohio, was a title contender from the onset in his JEGS Mail Order Chevrolet Cavalier.
"It was an incredibly rewarding year for me," Coughlin said. "I think what I'll remember the most is the hard work the guys put in to give me such a competitive racecar. I can't remember too many passes we lost to mechanical failures. In fact, I can't remember any, and that's a tribute to the diligence of the crew guys.
"As a racer, it's a great feeling to arrive at an event knowing you have a car that can win. Sometimes you show up and you think that if breaks go my way I can win, but not this year. This year I knew we could win. That's all you can ask for."
A veteran of NHRA Pro Stock racing with numerous accolades on his resume, Coughlin has been drag racing since he was old enough to drive. Following in the footsteps of his famous father Jeg Sr., who raced Top Fuel cars when he was younger, Troy has displayed a passion for the sport from Day 1. For him to declare 2006 as his best season yet speaks volumes about what he was able to accomplish.
"I finished second in my division way back when I was driving in Super Comp and that was pretty special because so many cars compete in that class, but this year topped it," Coughlin said. "Everyone in Pro Street that we ran against was an accomplished, big-time sportsman racer who knew what he was doing behind the wheel. There weren't any gimmes.
"To run against the very best and be a part of the championship chase right down to the very last race was exciting. We made our charge and came up just a little bit short against Vinny [Budano], who I consider one of the best ever, so it’s hard not to be extremely proud of our effort from start to finish."
Coughlin's runner-up finishes came in Columbus, Ohio, -- at his home track -- Reading, Pa., Atlanta, and Memphis, Tenn. The final three runner-up finishes came in succession in the final three races of the year. As he competed in the NMCA, Coughlin also supervised the construction of a Jerry Haas-built, turbocharged Pontiac Pro Mod car that he plans to run in 2007. The idea is for Coughlin to make a run at the championship of the AMS Pro Mod Challenge, which takes place over 10 select races on the NHRA's POWERade tour.
"I've had so many people call and tell me how excited they are that we'll be out there with this JEGS Pontiac next year and that is so cool," Coughlin said. "What has me the most revved-up is that we'll be running at NHRA events so I'll be back racing with my brothers and enjoying the family time we cherish so much.
"I can think of eight, 10 guys that can easily win the championship and there's probably a few out there lurking so the competition will be brutal. I know we'll be going for it every weekend. We have a lot of testing left to do but we'll be ready when the first race comes. Hopefully next year will be our first championship year."
Information regarding JEGS Mail Order can be found at JEGS High Performance - Car, Truck, Street, and Drag Racing Performance Parts and for media/fan resources check out Team Jegs : Race Team.
