Five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. always seems to find a way to leave his mark on the drag strip. His impressive 2009 campaign was another prime example as he continued his journey deep into the record books with an NHRA-leading seven national event victories and 13 races atop the Full Throttle standings.
Although his quest for three championships in a row wasn't realized, his dominance over the sport for the better part of the season proved once again he has few peers on the quarter mile.
Adding his 13 Sportsman wins to his 48 Pro Stock victories, Coughlin's 61 career race titles places him in a tie for ninth place on NHRA's all-time list with seven-time Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher. It's an incredible sum for a driver still in his 30s; especially considering the NHRA has been in existence since 1951.
The son of legendary Top Fuel racer and businessman Jeg Coughlin Sr., Jeg Jr. has now been winning drag races for two decades, spanning back to his first victory at his home track of National Trail Raceway just outside of Columbus, Ohio, when he was just 20 years old.
Within two years, the youngest of Jeg Sr.'s four sons was a world champion, taking the NHRA's Super Gas title in his JEGS-branded hot rod.
By 1997, Coughlin set his sights on the professional ranks but not before he became the first -- and to date, only -- drag racer to win national events in four separate categories -- Super Stock, Super Gas, Comp, and Pro Stock.
Coughlin was an immediate winner as a professional, taking the trophy
at the '97 Supernationals in Houston in just his second pro start.
Within a year he was ranked No. 2 in the world, while also earning
membership in the prestigious Speed Pro 200-MPH Pro Stock Club.
Interestingly, by the time he began his first championship season
by winning six of the first seven events on the 2000 schedule, no
one seemed surprised by the racing prowess of the young gun from Delaware,
Ohio. He went on to win 10 national events that season, as well as
the invitation-only Holley Dominator Duel for the second straight
year, and wrapped up the NHRA Pro Stock championship with several
races to spare.
Coughlin won the title again in 2002, claiming eight national event wins during a thrilling and dominating second-half surge that sent his rivals into the off-season looking for massive horsepower gains to try and keep up with the sport's new top gun.
Remaining a fixture in the title chase over the next few seasons, Coughlin had to wait until 2007 to sit on top of the Pro Stock mountain again, mastering the first year of the NHRA's new Countdown to 1 playoff system to capture his third Pro Stock championship on the final day of the year.
The same was true in 2008 as Coughlin defended his championship with another solid playoff performance, out-running the other major players during the Countdown to 1 to clinch the big trophy for good at the season-ending NHRA Finals.
Looking forward, Coughlin is faced with the daunting task of trying to catch the few legends left ahead of him in the record books, although with expanded plans to race a variety of Sportsman events in addition to a full Pro Stock schedule in 2010, his ascension may be even quicker than expected.
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: 38 (June 23, 1970)
Family: Single, son Jeg III (Feb. 13, 1997)
Education: Bachelor of Business Administration from Ashland University
(1993)
2009 Car: JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt
Crew Chief: Roy Simmons
Years racing: 22 (ten in professional ranks)
Pro wins/final rounds: 44/73 NHRA Pro Stock
Sportsman wins (class): 13/18 (Seven in Super Stock, Four in Super
Gas,
one in Competition, and one in Top Dragster)
Career-best elapsed time: 6.554 seconds Richmond, VA 2008
Career-best mph: 210.14 mph Atlanta, GA 2009
RANKING
All-time NHRA professional championships John Force 14 Funny Car
* Bob Glidden 10 Pro Stock
Tony Schumacher 7 Top Fuel
* Kenny Bernstein 6 Funny Car/Top Fuel
Warren Johnson 6 Pro Stock
* Dave Schultz 6 Pro Stock Motorcycle
* Joe Amato 5 Top Fuel
Jeg Coughlin Jr. 4 Pro Stock
* Don Prudhomme 4 Funny Car
* Gary Scelzi 4 Top Fuel/Funny Car
* Lee Shepherd
4 Pro Stock
All-time NHRA professional championships among active racers John
Force 14 Funny Car
Tony Schumacher 7 Top Fuel
Warren Johnson 6 Pro Stock
Jeg Coughlin Jr. 4 Pro Stock
Greg Anderson 3 Pro Stock
Andrew Hines 3 Pro Stock Motorcycle
Angelle Sampey
3 Pro Stock Motorcycle
All-time Pro Stock championships * Bob Glidden 10 (1974-1975, 1978-1980,
1985-1989)
Warren Johnson 6 (1992-1993, 1995, 1998-1999, 2001)
Jeg Coughlin Jr. 4 (2000, 2002, 2007-2008)
* Lee Shepherd 4 (1981-1984)
Greg Anderson 3 (2003-2005)
* Darrell Alderman
3 (1990-1991, 1994)
All-time Pro Stock championships among active racers Warren Johnson
6 (1992-1993, 1995, 1998-1999, 2001)
Jeg Coughlin Jr. 4 (2000, 2002, 2007-2008)
Greg Anderson 3 (2003-2005)
Jim Yates 2 (1996-1997)
Jason Line 1 (2006)
Mike Edwards 1 (2009)
Age at time of fourth championship Driver Titles Year Age at fourth
title
* Bob Glidden 10 1979 35
Tony Schumacher 7 2006 36
* Don Prudhomme 4 1978 37
Jeg Coughlin Jr. 4 2008 38
* Lee Shepherd 4 1984 40
* Kenny Bernstein 6 1988 44
John Force 14 1994 45
* Gary Scelzi 4 2005 45
* Dave Schultz 6 1993 45
* Joe Amato 5 1991 47
Warren Johnson
6 1998 55
* Retired or deceased
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• Four-time Full Throttle Pro Stock world champion (2000, 2002,
2007,2008)
• Sportsman world champion in Super Gas category (1992)
• NHRA Rookie of the Year (1998)
• Became 10th driver in NHRA's 58-year history to win 50 national
events (2007)
• Three-time winner of K&N Filters Horsepower Challenge
(1999, 2000, 2009)
• 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)
RACE STATS
Jeg Jr. Championships
Year Event Location Class By Cls
2010 AAA Nationals St. Louis, MO Top Dragster 2
2010 O'Reilly Spring Nationals Houston, TX Pro Stock 49
2009 Mac Tools US Nationals Indianapolis, IN Pro Stock 48
2009 Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals Reading, PA Pro Stock 47
2009 UA NHRA Nationals Englishtown, NJ Pro Stock 46
2009 UA NHRA Nationals Chicago, IL Pro Stock 45
2009 O'Reilly Midwest Nationals Madison, IL Pro Stock 44
2009 Las Vegas Nationals Las Vegas, NV Pro Stock 43
2009 Arizona NHRA Nationals Phoenix, Ariz. Pro Stock 42
2008 ACDelco Nationals Las Vegas,NV Pro Stock 41
2008 Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals Reading, PA Pro Stock 40
2008 ACDelco Nationals Gainesville,FL Pro Stock 39
2007 AAA Finals Pomona,CA Pro Stock 38
2007 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Brainerd, MN Pro Stock 37
2007 O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Ntls Bristol, TN Pro Stock
36
2007 Torco Race Fuels NHRA Nationals Joilet, IL Pro Stock 35
2006 JEGS.com Cajun SPORTSnationals Belle, Rose, LA Top Dragster
2005 AAA Auto Club Finals Pomona, CA Pro Stock 34
2003 Car Quest Nationals Chicago,IL Pro Stock 33
2003 Fram Autolite Nationals Sonoma,CA Pro Stock 32
2003 Sears Craftsman Nationals St. Louis,MO Super Stock 7
2002 ACDelco Las Vegas,NV Pro Stock 31
2002 O'Reily Fall Nationals Dallas,TX Pro Stock 30
2002 Sears Craftsman Nationals Chicago,IL Pro Stock 29
2002 O'Reily Mid South Nationals Memphis,TN Pro Stock 28
2002 U.S. Nationals Indianapolis,IN Pro Stock 27
2002 Rugged Liner Nationals Brainerd,MN Pro Stock 26
2002 Lucas Oil Norhwest Nationals Seattle, WA Pro Stock 25
2002 Sears Craftsman Nationals St. Louis,MO Pro Stock 24
2001 Pep Boys NHRA 50th Ann Nationals Pomona,CA Pro Stock 23
2001 MAC Tools Gatornationals Gainesville,FL Pro Stock 22
2001 Summit.com Nationals Las Vegas,NV Pro Stock 21
2000 AutoZone Nationals Memphis,TN Pro Stock 20
2000 Advance Auto Parts Nationals Topeka,KS Pro Stock 19
2000 U.S. Nationals Indianapolis,IN Pro Stock 18
2000 Matco Tools Nationals Englishtown,NJ Pro Stock 17
2000 Adavance Auto Parts Nationals Atlanta,GA Pro Stock 16
2000 Moto1.net Nationals Richmond,VA Pro Stock 15
2000 O'Reily Nationals Houston,TX Pro Stock 14
2000 Summit.com Nationals Las Vegas,NV Pro Stock 13
2000 CSK Nationals Phoenix,AZ Pro Stock 12
2000 AutoZone Winternationals Pomona,CA Pro Stock 11
1999 AAA Winston Finals Pomona,CA Pro Stock 10
1999 True Value Nationals Reading,PA Pro Stock 9
1999 Colonel's Truck Accessory Nationals Brainerd,MN Pro Stock 8
1999 Mopar Parts Nationals Denver,CO Pro Stock 7
1999 AutoZone Winternationals Pomona,CA Pro Stock 6
1998 Matco Tools SuperNationals Houston,TX Pro Stock 5
1998 Mopar Parts Nationals Denver,CO Pro Stock 4
1998 Pontiac Excitement Nationals Columbus,OH Pro Stock 3
1998 Mopar Parts Nationals Englishtown,NJ Pro Stock 2
1997 Matco Tools SuperNationals Houston,TX Pro Stock 1
1997 Champion Auto Stores Nationals Brainerd,MN Super Stock 6
1997 Sears Craftsman Nationals St. Louis,MO Super Stock 5
1997 Mopar Parts Nationals Englishtown,NJ Super Gas 4
1997 Fram Nationals Atlanta,GA Competition Elim. 1
1996 Pioneer Keystone Nationals Reading,PA Super Gas 3
1996 Pontiac Excitement Nationals Columbus,OH Super Stock 4
1995 Atsco Nationals Phoenix,AZ Super Stock 3
1994 Western Auto Nationals Topeka,KS Super Stock 2
1994 Slick 50 Nationals Houston, TX Super Stock 1
1992 U.S. Nationals Indianapolis,IN Super Gas 2
1990 Budweiser Springnationals Columbus,OH Super Gas 1
Jeg Jr. World Championships
2008 POWERade World Champion Pro Stock 4
2007 POWERade World Champion Pro Stock 3
2003 Moroso 5-Day Champion Super Pro 1
2002 POWERade World Champion Pro Stock 2
2000 Winston World Champion Pro Stock 1
1992 Winston World Champion Super Gas 1
Jeg Jr. Divisional Championships
Year Event Class By Cls
2003 Moroso 5-Day Champion Super Pro 1
1997 Division III Champion Super Stock 2
1997 Division III Champion Competition 1
1994 Division III Champion Super Stock 1
1992 Division III Champion Super Gas 1
Jeg Jr. Divisional Wins
1997 Firebird Raceway (Div. 7) Chandler, AZ Comp 4
1997 Thunder Valley Dragway (Div. 4) Noble, OK Super Stock 5
1997 Thunder Valley Dragway (Div. 4) Noble, OK Comp 3
1997 U.S. 131 Dragway Martin, MI Comp 2
1997 Indianapolis Raceway Park Indianapolis, IN Comp 1
1996 Beech Bend Raceway Bowling Green, KY Super Stock 4
1996 U.S. 131 Dragway Martin, MI Super Stock 3
1996 Quaker City Dragway Salem, OH Super Stock 2
1994 Edgewater Sports Park Cleves, OH Super Stock 1
1993 Beech Bend Raceway Bowling Green, KY Super Gas 5
1993 Great Lakes Drag-O-Way Union Grove, WI Super Gas 4
1992 U.S. 131 Dragway Martin, MI 4
1992 Beech Bend Raceway Park Bowling Green, KY Super Gas 3
1992 U.S. 13 Dragway Delmar, DE Super Gas 2
1992 Indianpolis Raceway Park Indianapolis, IN Super Gas 1
Jeg Jr. Final Rounds
Year Event Result Opponent
2010 St. Louis R/U Warren Johnson
2010 Houston Win Allen Johnson
2009 Indianapolis Win Greg Stanfield
2009 Reading Win Johnny Gray
2009 Englishtown Win Mike Edwards
2009 Chicago Win Mike Edwards
2009 St. Louis Win Jason Line
2009 Atlanta R/U Mike Edwards
2009 Las Vegas Win Greg Stanfield
2009 Houston R/U Ron Krisher
2009 Phoenix Win Kurt Johnson
2008 Richmond R/U Dave Connolly
2008 Dallas R/U Greg Stanfield
2008 Reading Win Dave Connolly
2008 Sonoma R/U Dave Connolly
2008 Chicago R/U Kurt Johnson
2007 Pomona R/U Greg Anderson
2007 Pomona 2 Win Justin Humphreys
2007 Las Vegas R/U Greg Anderson
2007 Brainerd Win Greg Anderson
2007 Bristol Win Kenny Koretsky
2007 Englishtown R/U Greg Anderson
2007 Chicago Win Jason Line
2007 St. Louis R/U Dave Connolly
2007 Las Vegas R/U Greg Anderson
2005 Panoma 2 Win Tom Martino
2005 Chicago 1 R/U Jason Line
2004 Gainesville R/U Greg Anderson
2003 Dallas R/U Greg Anderson
2003 Chicago 2 Win Greg Anderson
2003 Memphis R/U Greg Anderson
2003 Sonoma Win Greg Anderson
2003 Denver R/U Warren Johnson
2003 Chicago 1 R/U Kurt Johnson
2003 Gainesville R/U Kurt Johnson
2002 Las Vegas-2 Win Warren Johnson
2002 Dallas Win Gene Wilson
2002 Chicago-2 Win Ron Krisher
2002 Memphis Win Gene Wilson
2002 Indianapolis Win Jim Yates
2002 Brainerd Win Greg Anderson
2002 Seattle Win Mark Whisnant
2002 St. Louis Win Greg Anderson
2002 Englishtown R/U Greg Anderson
2002 Gainesville R/U Darrell Alderman
2001 Pomona-2 Win Mike Edwards
2001 Las Vegas Win Jim Yates
2001 Gainesville Win Mark Osborne
2000 Pomona-2 R/U Kurt Johnson
2000 Dallas R/U Kurt Johnson
2000 Memphis Win Scott Geoffrion
2000 Topeka Win Darrell Alderman
2000 Englishtown Win Greg Anderson
2000 Indianapolis Win Ron Krisher
2000 Brainerd R/U Kurt Johnson
2000 Seattle R/U Richie Stevens
2000 Atlanta Win Bruce Allen
2000 Richmond Win Jim Yates
2000 Houston Win Jim Yates
2000 Las Vegas Win WarrenJohnson
2000 Phoenix Win Mark Pawuk
2000 Pomona-1 Win WarrenJohnson
1999 Pomona-2 Win Warren Johnson
1999 Reading Win Mark Pawuk
1999 Brainerd Win Warren Johnson
1999 Denver Win Troy Coughlin
1999 Columbus R/U Warren Johnson
1999 Pomona-1 Win Troy Coughlin
1998 Pomona-2 R/U Richie Stevens
1998 Houston Win Tom Martino
1998 Topeka R/U Warren Johnson
1998 Denver Win Warren Johnson
1998 St. Louis R/U Kurt Johnson
1998 Columbus Win Jim Yates
1998 Englishtown Win Mike Edwards
1998 Pomona-1 R/U Jim Yates
1997 Houston Win Mark Osborne
Jeg Jr. Special Events
2008 Pontiac Showdown Champion Las Vegas,NV Pro Stock
2008 JEGS US Open Champion Indianapolis,IN Super Pro
2006 Hemi Shootout Champion Las Vegas,NV Super Stock
2006 Moroso Motorsports Park 5-Day (3) West Palm Beach, FL Super Pro
2006 Moroso "Race of Champions" West Palm Beach, FL Super
Pro
2006 AA Auto Salvage Superbucks Atco,NJ Super Pro
2006 JEGS US Open Champion Hamilton,OH Super Pro
2006 Top Gun Challenge Champion Piedmont,NC Super Pro
2004 MAC Tools US Nationals Indianapolis,IN Super Stock
2003 Moroso Motorsports Park 5-Day West Palm Beach, FL Super Pro
2003 Moroso Motorsports Park 5-Day West Palm Beach, FL Super Pro
2000 Holley Dominator Duel Champion Chicago,IL Pro Stock
1999 Winston Showdown Champion Bristol,TN Pro Stock
1999 Holley Dominator Duel Champion Englishtown,NJ Pro Stock
1997 Federal Mogul All-Star Champion Columbus,OH Super Stock
1993 Moroso Motorsports Park 5-Day West Palm Beach, FL Super Pro
1991 TRW All-Star Champion Columbus,OH Super Gas
PERSONAL
• Engaged to Super Comp racer Samantha Kenny
• Son Jeg III
• 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 Pro Street. Mike races in Top Sportsman.
• Enjoys spending time with family, golfing, motocross, karting
and bracket racing.
Drivers:
John Coughlin
Troy Coughlin
Mike Coughlin
Jeg Coughlin Jr.
Troy Coughlin Jr.
Cody Coughlin
