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Jeg Coughlin Jr. : Story
As the son of a drag racing legend and little brother
to three successful racing brothers, Jeg Coughlin Jr.
was probably genetically predisposed to straight-line
success. But even the most optimistic of sporting prognosticators
would be surprised by the accomplishments of this 38-year-old
superstar, who has already etched his name in NHRA's record
books as one of the best to ever don a helmet.
By the end of his 2007 championship charge, Coughlin
had amassed a stunning total of four world titles and
51 national event victories. Only eight people in the
56-year history of the sport have more race wins and
his peers in the championship column read like a Hall
of Fame roster, with the likes of John Force, Don Prudhomme,
Gary Scelzi, Tony Schumacher, Kenny Bernstein, Joe Amato,
Warren Johnson, Lee Shepherd, and Bob Glidden joining
him on his lofty perch of competitors with four or more
series titles.
Helping his father Jeg Coughlin Sr. prepare a Top Fuel
dragster for competition as a boy, Jeg Jr.'s racing
career started early, but with his parents placing an
emphasis on education over weekend's at the drag strip,
he didn't start winning trophies until he was well into
his college studies.
He was 20 when he won his first national event at Columbus'
National Trail Raceway, a rather senior age for someone
born into the sport to claim their first trophy. But
he quickly made up for lost time and within two seasons
was crowned the best Super Gas racer in the world.
The accolades rolled in from there. In 1997, he became
the first (and to date, only) racer to win national
events in four separate categories -- Super Stock, Super
Gas, Comp, and Pro Stock -- in the same year. He turned
professional near the end of that very season and he
quickly proved he belonged at the top level of drag
racing by winning his second race behind the wheel of
a Pro Stock car at the SuperNationals in Houston.
Within
a year, Jeg went from promising rookie to championship
contender, finishing a respectable second in the 1998
points standings while earning membership in the exclusive
Speed Pro 200-MPH Pro Stock Club.
By 2000, Jeg had established himself as a dominant force
in Pro Stock, winning six of the first seven events
and 10 races overall. He won the invitation-only Holley
Dominator Duel for the second straight year and clinched
the NHRA Pro Stock championship well before the end
of the season.
Jeg won the title again in 2002, claiming eight national
event titles along the way in an exciting chase that
featured him making one of the best second-half surges
ever.
Never finishing lower than sixth in any of his other
pro campaigns, Coughlin returned to the top of the drag
racing world in 2007 with Victor Cagnazzi Racing. Competing
under a brand-new playoff-style points system, the man
many of his peers regard as the best Pro Stock racer
in the class mastered one of the toughest fields ever
assembled to win his third Pro Stock title on the last
day of the season.
Considering he's still in his thirties, Coughlin's
already stellar resume will certainly get better in
the year's ahead. With continued corporate funding from
the family's mail order business -- JEGS High Performance
-- and plenty of encouragement from his son Jeg III,
Jeg Coughlin Jr. is always ready to chase more of his
dreams down the quarter-mile.
Quick
Facts
Driver, JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt
National Hot Rod Association Pro Stock class
Hometown: Delaware, Ohio Height: 6-foot-0
Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio Weight: 185 pounds
Age: 37 (June 23, 1970)
Family: Single, son Jeg III (Feb. 13, 1997)
Education: Bachelor of Business Administration from Ashland
University (1993)
2008 Car: JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt
Crew Chief: Roy Simmons
Years racing: 22 (nine in professional ranks)
Pro wins/final rounds: 38/22 NHRA Pro Stock
Sportsman wins (class): 13 (Seven in Super Stock, Four
in Super Gas,
one in Competition, and one in Top Dragster)
Career-best elapsed time: 6.58 seconds Gainesville, Fla.,
2007
Career-best mph: 210.01 mph Gainesville, Fla., 2007
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Three-time POWERade Pro Stock world champion
(2000, 2002, 2007)
Sportsman world champion in Super Gas category (1992)
NHRA Rookie of the Year (1998)
Became 10th driver in NHRA's 57-year history to win
50 national events (2007)
Two-time winner of Holley Dominator Duel (1999, 2000)
Only driver in history to win national events in four
categories in one season --
Pro Stock, Super Stock, Competition, and Super Gas (1997)
Four-time NHRA Division 3 champion (Super Gas, 1992;
Super Stock, 1994; Competition and Super Stock, 1997)
Moroso 5-Day Champion (Super Pro, 2003)
Two-time Hemi Shootout winner (Indianapolis, 2004; and
Las Vegas, 2006)
| Year |
Event |
Location |
Class |
| 1990 |
Budweiser Springnationals |
Columbus,OH |
Super Gas |
| 1992 |
U.S. Nationals |
Indianapolis,IN |
Super Gas |
| 1994 |
Slick 50 Nationals |
Houston, TX |
Super Stock |
| 1994 |
Western Auto Nationals |
Topeka,KS |
Super Stock |
| 1995 |
Atsco Nationals |
Phoenix,AZ |
Super Stock |
| 1996 |
Pontiac Excitement Nationals |
Columbus,OH |
Super Stock |
| 1996 |
Pioneer Keystone Nationals |
Reading,PA |
Super Gas |
| 1997 |
Fram Nationals |
Atlanta,GA |
Competition Elim. |
| 1997 |
Mopar Parts Nationals |
Englishtown,NJ |
Super Gas |
| 1997 |
Sears Craftsman Nationals |
St. Louis,MO |
Super Stock |
| 1997 |
Champion Auto Stores Nationals |
Brainerd,MN |
Super Stock |
| 1997 |
Matco Tools SuperNationals |
Houston,TX |
Pro Stock |
| 1998 |
Mopar Parts Nationals |
Englishtown,NJ |
Pro Stock |
| 1998 |
Pontiac Excitement Nationals |
Columbus,OH |
Pro Stock |
| 1998 |
Mopar Parts Nationals |
Denver,CO |
Pro Stock |
| 1998 |
Matco Tools SuperNationals |
Houston,TX |
Pro Stock |
| 1999 |
AutoZone Winternationals |
Pomona,CA |
Pro Stock |
| 1999 |
Mopar Parts Nationals |
Denver,CO |
Pro Stock |
| 1999 |
Colonel's Truck Accessory Nationals |
Brainerd,MN |
Pro Stock |
| 1999 |
True Value Nationals |
Reading,PA |
Pro Stock |
| 1999 |
AAA Winston Finals |
Pomona,CA |
Pro Stock |
| 2000 |
AutoZone Winternationals |
Pomona,CA |
Pro Stock |
| 2000 |
CSK Nationals |
Phoenix,AZ |
Pro Stock |
| 2000 |
Summit.com Nationals |
Las Vegas,NV |
Pro Stock |
| 2000 |
O'Reily Nationals |
Houston,TX |
Pro Stock |
| 2000 |
Moto1.net Nationals |
Richmond,VA |
Pro Stock |
| 2000 |
Adavance Auto Parts Nationals |
Atlanta,GA |
Pro Stock |
| 2000 |
Matco Tools Nationals |
Englishtown,NJ |
Pro Stock |
| 2000 |
U.S. Nationals |
Indianapolis,IN |
Pro Stock |
| 2000 |
Advance Auto Parts Nationals |
Topeka,KS |
Pro Stock |
| 2000 |
AutoZone Nationals |
Memphis,TN |
Pro Stock |
| 2001 |
Summit.com Nationals |
Las Vegas,NV |
Pro Stock |
| 2001 |
MAC Tools Gatornationals |
Gainesville,FL |
Pro Stock |
| 2001 |
Pep Boys NHRA 50th Ann Nationals |
Pomona,CA |
Pro Stock |
| 2002 |
Sears Craftsman Nationals |
St. Louis,MO |
Pro Stock |
| 2002 |
Lucas Oil Norhwest Nationals |
Seattle, WA |
Pro Stock |
| 2002 |
Rugged Liner Nationals |
Brainerd,MN |
Pro Stock |
| 2002 |
U.S. Nationals |
Indianapolis,IN |
Pro Stock |
| 2002 |
O'Reily Mid South Nationals |
Memphis,TN |
Pro Stock |
| 2002 |
Sears Craftsman Nationals |
Chicago,IL |
Pro Stock |
| 2002 |
O'Reily Fall Nationals |
Dallas,TX |
Pro Stock |
| 2002 |
ACDelco |
Las Vegas,NV |
Pro Stock |
| 2003 |
Sears Craftsman Nationals |
St. Louis,MO |
Super Stock |
| 2003 |
Fram Autolite Nationals |
Sonoma,CA |
Pro Stock |
| 2003 |
Car Quest Nationals |
Chicago,IL |
Pro Stock |
| 2005 |
AAA Finals |
Pomona,CA |
Pro Stock |
| 2006 |
JEGS Cajun SPORTSnationals |
Belle Rose,LA |
Top Dragster |
| 2007 |
Torco Race Fuels NHRA Nationals |
Joliet, IL |
Pro Stock |
| 2007 |
OReilly NHRA Thunder Valley Ntls |
Bristol, TN |
Pro Stock |
| 2007 |
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals |
Brainerd, MN |
Pro Stock |
| 2007 |
NHRA Auto Clun Finals
|
Pomona, CA |
Pro Stock |
| 2008 |
ACDelco Nationals
|
Gainesville, FL |
Pro Stock |
| |
|
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| |
Special Events |
|
|
| 1991 |
TRW All-Star Champion |
Columbus,OH |
Super Gas |
| 1993 |
Moroso Motorsports Park 5-Day (3) |
West Palm Beach, FL |
Super Pro |
| 1997 |
Federal Mogul All-Star Champion |
Columbus,OH |
Super Stock |
| 1999 |
Holley Dominator Duel Champion |
Englishtown,NJ |
Pro Stock |
| 1999 |
Winston Showdown Champion |
Bristol,TN |
Pro Stock |
| 2000 |
Holley Dominator Duel Champion |
Chicago,IL |
Pro Stock |
| 2003 |
Moroso Motorsports Park 5-Day (1) |
West Palm Beach, FL |
Super Pro |
| 2003 |
Moroso Motorsports Park 5-Day (4) |
West Palm Beach, FL |
Super Pro |
| 2004 |
HEMI Shootout Champion |
Indianapolis, IN |
SS/AA |
| 2006 |
Top Gun Challenge Champion |
Piedmont, NC |
Super Pro |
| 2006 |
JEGS US Open Champion |
Hamilton, OH |
Super Pro |
| |
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| |
World Championships |
|
|
| 1992 |
Winston World Champion |
|
Super Gas |
| 2000 |
Winston World Champion |
|
Pro Stock |
| 2002 |
POWERade World Champion |
|
Pro Stock |
| 2003 |
Moroso 5-Day Champion |
West Palm Beach, FL |
Super Pro |
| |
|
|
|
| |
Divisional Championships |
|
|
| 1992 |
Division III Champion |
|
Super Gas |
| 1994 |
Division III Champion |
|
Super Stock |
| 1997 |
Division III Champion |
|
Competition |
| 1997 |
Division III Champion |
|
Super Stock |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
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| |
Divisional Wins |
|
|
| 1992 |
Indianpolis Raceway Park |
Indianapolis, IN |
Super Gas |
| 1992 |
U.S. 13 Dragway |
Delmar, DE |
Super Gas |
| 1992 |
Beech Bend Raceway Park |
Bowling Green, KY |
Super Gas |
| 1992 |
U.S. 131 Dragway |
Martin, MI |
Super Gas |
| 1993 |
Great Lakes Drag-O-Way |
Union Grove, WI |
Super Gas |
| 1993 |
Beech Bend Raceway |
Bowling Green, KY |
Super Gas |
| 1994 |
Edgewater Sports Park |
Cleves, OH |
Super Stock |
| 1996 |
Quaker City Dragway |
Salem, OH |
Super Stock |
| 1996 |
U.S. 131 Dragway |
Martin, MI |
Super Stock |
| 1996 |
Beech Bend Raceway |
Bowling Green, KY |
Super Stock |
| 1997 |
Indianapolis Raceway Park |
Indianapolis, IN |
Comp |
| 1997 |
U.S. 131 Dragway |
Martin, MI |
Comp |
| 1997 |
Thunder Valley Dragway (Div. 4) |
Noble, OK |
Comp |
| 1997 |
Thunder Valley Dragway (Div. 4) |
Noble, OK |
Super Stock |
| 1997 |
Firebird Raceway (Div. 7) |
Chandler, AZ |
Comp |
Personal
- Works in family owned business, JEGS
Automotive/JEGS Mail Order.
- Is the youngest of the four Coughlin brothers.
- John can be found racing in
Top Dragster and Super Stock. Brother Troy
races in ProMod. Mike races in
Top Sportsman.
- Enjoys spending time with family, golfing, motocross,
karting and bracket racing.
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FRAM-AUTOLITE NHRA NATIONALS - Event Info
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Jeg Coughlin Jr - Sonoma, CA / Fast Facts
Monday, July 21, 2008
Coughlin up for R&R&R -- Rest, Relaxation, and Racing...
Monday, July 21, 2008
Three inches the difference as Coughlin bows out early in Seattle
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Coughlin improves as he braces for race day
Saturday, July 19, 2008
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| Pro Stock |
| 1 | Greg Anderson | 1,033 |
| 2 | Kurt Johnson | 954 |
| 3 | Jason Line | 944 |
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Next Event: July 25-27 21st annual Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals Sonoma, Calif. (PSM) |
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