World Wide Technology Raceway (St. Louis) September 27-29
The JEGS Mail Order team will be represented at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals in St. Louis by Jeg Coughlin Jr., who will be competing in the Pro Stock class.
Jeg Coughlin Jr. is continuing his pursuit of a sixth NHRA Mello Yello Pro Stock title (and seventh overall) at this weekend’s St. Louis event. Jeg Jr. will once again be racing as a member of the Elite Motorsports team.
Earlier this year in Phoenix, Jeg won his 62nd Pro Stock event and 81st overall when he defeated Matt Hartford in the final round. The final round represented the 1,000th round of professional competition for Jeg Jr.
Last season, Jeg Jr. finished at the No. 2 ranked driver in the Pro Stock class. He finished in the top ten for the 18th time in his career, which began in 1997.
Jeg Coughlin Jr. is once again racing as a teammate to two-time world champ Erica Enders. The Elite team also includes Pro Stock racers Alex Laughlin and Richard Freeman. Jeg Jr.’s crew chief is multi-talented Rickie Jones, who has extensive experience as a driver, chassis builder, and tuner. The Elite team also includes crew chiefs Rick Jones, Mark Ingersoll and Brian “Lump” Self, who regularly share data.
Following a semifinal finish in Reading, Jeg Jr. is the No. 6 ranked driver in the Pro Stock class. He is 95-points behind leader Jason Line with five races remaining.
Jeg Jr. has won at least one NHRA national event at 24 different facilities including World Wide Technology Raceway (formerly Gateway Motorsports Park). The only stops on the on the NHRA Mello Yello tour where he has not won a race are Norwalk, Ohio and Epping, N.H.
Since Jeg Jr. has already clinched his spot in the Countdown to the Championship meaning he will finish in the top ten in Pro Stock for the 19th time in his career.
Jeg Jr. has won two Pro Stock titles in St. Louis. He defeated Greg Anderson to win in 2002 and stopped Jason Line in the final round of the 2009 event. Jeg was also a runner-up in Pro Stock here in 1998, 2007, and 2010.
In 18 career appearances in St. Louis, Jeg Jr. has a round win record of 29-16 in Pro Stock competition.
As a sportsman racer, Jeg Jr. has won three titles at the St. Louis track. He won the Super Stock title in 1997 and 2003 the Top Dragster title in 2010.
Jeg Jr. has qualified in the top half of the Pro Stock field in 14 of his 18 appearances at Gateway Motorsports Park including a best of first last season. Jeg Jr. has qualified No. 1, 30 times in his professional career.
Jeg Jr. is a five-time NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock champion. He earned season titles in 2000, 2002, 2007-2008 and 2013. As a sportsman driver, Jeg Jr. also claimed the NHRA Super Gas championship in 1992.
Jeg Jr. is the only driver to win national event titles in seven different categories. He has won in Pro Stock, Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Top Dragster.
Jeg Jr. is the only professional racer in history to win a national event title from all 16 starting spots. During his Indy win in 2000, Jeg qualified No. 16.
With 62 Pro Stock wins in his career, Jeg Jr. ranks fourth all-time among Pro Stock drivers. Only Warren Johnson (97), Greg Anderson (93), and the late Bob Glidden (85) and have more titles.
In 442 career Pro Stock races, Jeg Jr. has reached the final round 108 times, recording 62 wins. Including his 19 sportsman victories, Jeg Jr. has won a total of 81 times, good for ninth place on NHRA's all-time list. During his career, Jeg Jr. has appeared in 133 final rounds, 108 as a professional and 25 as a sportsman racer.
During his Pro Stock career, Jeg Jr. has competed in 442 events and has a round-win record of 659-364. He has failed to qualify just 16 times.
Jeg Jr. has been the low qualifier 30 times in Pro Stock including the Seattle event in August.
Overall, the Coughlin family, including John, Troy, Mike, Jeg Jr. and Troy Jr. have combined for 124 NHRA national event victories since 1990. The Coughlin's have won in 11 different eliminators including Pro Stock, Pro Stock Truck, Pro Mod, Top Alcohol Dragster, Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Top Sportsman and Top Dragster.
Team JEGS – By the Numbers (AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals edition)
5: St. Louis wins for Jeg Coughlin Jr. (two in Pro Stock, two in Super Stock, one in Top Dragster)
7: Different classes where Jeg Coughlin Jr. has won at least one NHRA national event title (the only driver in history to do so)
11: Number of classes where the Coughlin family has earned an NHRA national event victory
18: Top-10 finishes for Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the Pro Stock class since 1998
124: Combined NHRA national event victories for the Coughlin family