After finishing a career-best sixth overall in the Pro Stock championship points last season, Troy Coughlin Jr. arrived at this weekend’s Flav-R-Pac NHRA Northwest Nationals with a clear and simple plan – win his first Wally in Pro Stock at the NHRA Northwest Nationals.
The third-generation driver was named to Drag Illustrated Magazine’s 30-Under-30 list of up-and-coming young people in the sport of drag racing. But, the humble Ohio youngster quietly moved onto the professional drag racing scene during the pandemic to drive the legendary yellow-and-black Chevrolet Camaro of RJ Race Cars.
Like his dad, and his dad’s dad, and his uncle Jeg, Troy Coughlin Jr. has his sights set on winning a NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series world championship in Pro Stock. His uncle, Jeg Coughlin Jr., had wheeled the family's coat of arms to five Pro Stock championships and 65 class wins before retiring at the conclusion of 2020.
From the get-go, the younger Coughlin has taken all of the pressure to win his first in stride. His first final round in Pro Stock back in 2020 ended with the win light flashing in the other lane. That’s right he lost to his uncle, Jeg. Since that time, Troy has reached two more final rounds and finished the 2021 season sixth overall in the Pro Stock standings.
T.J. Out Duels Enders at NHRA Northwest Nationals
Fifty years ago the NHRA Pro Stock division was formed and one year later Jeg Coughlin Sr. began trailering his JEGS-sponsored yellow and black racecar to the track. During his 24-year professional drag racing career, grandpa won a lot of races. Now the torch has been passed to “T.J.”. Coughlin eliminated Fernando Cuadra, Camrie Caruso, and defending world champion Greg Anderson for a final round showdown with Erica Enders. It was Enders eighth final round of the 2022 NHRA Camping World season.
Considering the family linage it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Troy Coughlin Jr. found his way to the winner’s podium at Pacific Raceways over the weekend. After all, the third-gen Pro Stock racer eats, sleeps, and breathes drag racing and three of the four drivers in the Pro Stock semifinals at Pacific Raceway were Elite Motorsports teammates. In the Final, Coughlin posted a quicker 6.638 ET at 208.68 mph to defeat his teammate’s 6.644-second elapsed time at a faster 209.17 mph.
Photo courtesy of Team JEGS
UP COMING:
Menards NHRA Nationals Presented by PetArmor
NHRA teams have two weeks off before heading to the House of Speed at Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, Kansas for the 33rd annual Menards NHRA Nationals on August 12-14. Race fans are guaranteed a thrilling event with all four NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Pro classes and Pro Mod in the lineup.
