• Claimed his first major event win in 1984 when he won the Quick Rod class at the IHRA Winter Nationals in Darlington, S.C.
• Won his first NHRA national event title in the Super Gas class at the 1992 NHRA Winston Finals in Pomona, Calif.
• Finished a career-best No. 2 in Super Gas national championship standings
• Won the first of his four NHRA divisional championships in 1994 when he claimed the North Central Division Super Gas title.
• Turned Pro in 1999 when he made his debut in the Pro Stock Truck class
• Won his first professional title at the 1999 Pontiac Excitement Nationals in Columbus, beating Brad Jeter to win the Pro Stock Truck title.
• Finished No. 4 in Pro Stock Truck NHRA championship in 2000, his career best finish as a professional.
• Shared a memorable Coughlin family double win on Father’s day in 2003 when he won the Super Stock title and brother Mike won in Super Comp at their home track, National Trail Raceway.
• Won the 2005 NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals as a car owner after allowing Brad Plourd to drive his JEGS Mail Order Super Comp dragster at drag racing's most prestigious event.
• Won a second event as a car owner later in 2005 when he lent his Super Stock Cavalier to NHRA World Champion Anthony Bertozzi at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif.
• Won the $5,000 first place prize at a major E.T. bracket racing event at Farmington Dragway in Farmington, N.C. in 2006
• Won the 2007Top Dragster Shootout specialty event at the JEGS NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio
• Won the 2007NHRA North Central Division Top Dragster Championship after winning three events in his new JEGS.com dragster
• Won a second NHRA North Central Division Top Dragster championship in 2009 following a clutch victory at the final event of the season in Las Vegas, Nev.
Quick Facts
John Coughlin
Hometown: Delaware, Ohio
Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio
Age: 53 (DOB January 20, 1963)
Family: Diana (wife), Cody (son) & Kennedi (daughter)
Years racing: 30
Professional victories: 2 (Pro Stock Truck)
Professional final rounds: 3 (Pro Stock Truck)
Sportsman wins: 3 (2 in Super Gas, 1 in Super Stock)
Sportsman final rounds: 3
Total NHRA national event victories: 5
Total NHRA national event final rounds: 6
Total NHRA divisional event victories: 14
Total NHRA divisional event final rounds: 20
Career-best elapsed time: 6.512-seconds, Reynolds, Ga. 2010
Career-best speed: 215.86 mph, Reynolds, Ga. 2010
John Coughlin
John Coughlin used to call the world of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) home. Coughlin made this his passion for over two decades, day-in, and day-out. Fast forward to the present, Coughlin is a strong believer that home is where your family is.
He couldn’t be happier that he’s shifted gears in life, focusing on his role as father and the constant supporter of his children’s dreams and endeavors. The five-time NHRA national event winner has no regrets as he’s made sure he is front-and-center while his fast-paced son Cody Coughlin forges a new path of success in racing for the Coughlin family. Additionally, he supports his daughter Kennedi Coughlin while she follows in the footsteps of her mother Di as an experienced second-generation cheerleader.
Being a national event winner in three different eliminators, Coughlin’s primary focus has not only been on his family, but also manufacturing the successful, continued growth of JEGS Automotive, Inc., a leader in the e-commerce world of high performance automotive parts. Coughlin manages the day-to-day operations of the family-owned business as the president and co-owner of JEGS Automotive, Inc.
It is easy to tell where his priorities are as he navigates the twists and turns of his family’s course; Cody is pursuing a career in NASCAR, and Coughlin has been with his son every step of the way, helping to direct his motorsports rise. Coughlin has proven as capable a strategist as he is a wheelman, and has taken his experience and knowledge as a competitor and brought it into his role as a guiding father intent on giving his family the best.
Coughlin and his wife Di have assembled an elite staff of strategists, coaches, and racing veterans to surround Cody with a support structure to help navigate his career. At the same time, he juggles the demanding NASCAR schedule, Coughlin supports Kennedi as she pursues varsity cheerleading, and the various responsibilities and busy schedule that comes with her accomplishments. Kennedi is also a Kent Smith Photography ambassador, which gives Coughlin more opportunities to be her greatest fan.
These days Coughlin can be found either at the track with his son Cody, or in the grandstands cheering for his daughter. He is recognized as one of the most personable and charismatic people wherever he is found. His family is at the core of his heart, and though his accomplishments and racing titles are vast at home, he is a dad and husband; titles he considers the best accomplishments of all.
| John NHRA National Event Victories | |||
| Year | Event | Location | Class |
| 2003 | Pontiac Excitement Nationals | Columbus, OH | Super Stock |
| 2000 | Sears Craftsman Nationals | St. Louis, IL | Pro Stock Truck |
| 1999 | Pontiac Excitement Nationals | Columbus, OH | Pro Stock Truck |
| 1993 | Budweiser Springnationals | Columbus, OH | Super Gas |
| 1992 | Winston Finals | Pomona, CA | Super Gas |
| NHRA Divisional Championships | |||
| Year | Event | Location | Class |
| 2009 | Division III Champion | Top Dragster | |
| 2007 | Division III Champion | Top Dragster | |
| 1995 | Division III Champion | Super Gas | |
| 1994 | Division III Champion | Super Gas | |
| NHRA Divisional Wins | |||
| Year | Event | Location | Class |
| 2009 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Las Vegas, NV | Top Dragster |
| 2009 | Route 66 Raceway | Joilet, IL | Top Dragster |
| 2008 | Indianapolis Raceway Park | Indianapolis, IN | Super Stock |
| 2007 | Atco Raceway | Atco, NJ | Super Stock |
| 2007 | Beech Bend Raceway | Bowling Green, KY | Top Dragster |
| 2007 | Route 66 Raceway | Joliet, IL | Top Dragster |
| 2007 | Orlando Speed World Dragway | Orlando, FL | Top Dragster |
| 2002 | National Trail Raceway | Columbus, OH | Super Stock |
| 1998 | U.S. 131 Dragway | Martin, MI | Super Stock |
| 1995 | Houston Raceway Park (Div. 4) | Houston, TX | Super Gas |
| 1995 | Quaker City Dragway | Salem, OH | Super Gas |
| 1994 | Indianapolis Raceway Park | Indianapolis, IN | Super Gas |
| 1993 | Firebird Raceway (Div. 7) | Chandler, AZ | Super Gas |
| 1991 | U.S. 131 Dragway | Martin, MI | Super Gas |
| Special Events | |||
| Year | Event | Location | Class |
| 2007 | JEGS Top Dragster Shootout | Columbus, OH | Top Dragster |
• Claimed his first major event win in 1984 when he won the Quick Rod class at the IHRA Winter Nationals in Darlington, S.C.
• Won his first NHRA national event title in the Super Gas class at the 1992 NHRA Winston Finals in Pomona, Calif.
• Finished a career-best No. 2 in Super Gas national championship standings
• Won the first of his four NHRA divisional championships in 1994 when he claimed the North Central Division Super Gas title.
• Turned Pro in 1999 when he made his debut in the Pro Stock Truck class
• Won his first professional title at the 1999 Pontiac Excitement Nationals in Columbus, beating Brad Jeter to win the Pro Stock Truck title.
• Finished No. 4 in Pro Stock Truck NHRA championship in 2000, his career best finish as a professional.
• Shared a memorable Coughlin family double win on Father’s day in 2003 when he won the Super Stock title and brother Mike won in Super Comp at their home track, National Trail Raceway.
• Won the 2005 NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals as a car owner after allowing Brad Plourd to drive his JEGS Mail Order Super Comp dragster at drag racing's most prestigious event.
• Won a second event as a car owner later in 2005 when he lent his Super Stock Cavalier to NHRA World Champion Anthony Bertozzi at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif.
• Won the $5,000 first place prize at a major E.T. bracket racing event at Farmington Dragway in Farmington, N.C. in 2006
• Won the 2007Top Dragster Shootout specialty event at the JEGS NHRA Northern SPORTSnationals at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio
• Won the 2007NHRA North Central Division Top Dragster Championship after winning three events in his new JEGS.com dragster
• Won a second NHRA North Central Division Top Dragster championship in 2009 following a clutch victory at the final event of the season in Las Vegas, Nev.