There will be four JEGS Mail Order cars entered in this weekend’s North Central Division Lucas Oil Series event and JEGS SPORTSnationals race at National Trail Raceway, including Mike Coughlin in Top Dragster, his nephew Troy Coughlin Jr. niece, Paige Coughlin, and cousin, Makenna Brown, all in Super Comp.
In addition, longtime family friend and four-time world champ Jeff Taylor will be driving Jeg Coughlin Jr’s Dodge Drag Pak Challenger in Stock Eliminator.
Mike Coughlin is a two-time Division 3 champion in the Top Sportsman class (2007-2009). His crew chief is Greg Cody.
Mike is also one of the most successful racers in the history of the JEGS SPORTSnationals with four wins. Mike earned titles in 2005 (Super Comp), 2006, 2007, and 2009 (Top Sportsman).
Last season, Mike drove his supercharged dragster at back-to-back Top Dragster titles in Indianapolis and Chicago. They were Mike’s first Divisional wins in two years and the 13th and 14th of his career.
In addition to his success at divisional races, Mike is also 14-time NHRA national event winner. He has won national event titles in Pro Stock Truck, Super Comp, Top Sportsman, and Top Dragster.
Mike began his career in the Super Gas and Super Comp classes in the 1980s and has extensive experience in the heads-up “super classes”
Mike has earned five of his 14 NHRA national event wins at National Trail Raceway, which is his home track.
Troy Jr. is an eight-time NHRA national event winner and the first third-generation Coughlin to win a major event. Troy Jr. won the U.S. Nationals in Super Comp in 2010 and also won the Indy Super Gas title in 2014. His other wins have come in Las Vegas (2009), Gainesville (2013), Columbus (2014), Reading (2018), Norwalk (2019) and Reading (2019).
Troy Jr. was crowned the 2018 and 2019 North Central Region Top Alcohol Dragster champion. He was also crowned the 2013 NHRA North Central Division Super Gas champion.
Last season, Troy Jr. appeared in ten final rounds in Top Alcohol Dragster and earned five wins including national event titles in Norwalk and Reading. Troy Jr. has also earned victories at regional events at Atco Dragway, Beech Bend Raceway Park, and Virginia Motorsports Park.
During his career, the versatile Troy Jr. has raced in Top Fuel, Top Alcohol Dragster, Pro Mod, Super Comp, Super Gas, Top Dragster, E.T. Brackets, and Jr. Dragsters. More recently, he made his debut in the Pro Stock class last week and qualified for his first event.
In addition to his success in NHRA events, Troy Jr. also is regarded as one of the sport’s best E.T. bracket racers. He has accumulated several major victories including a $25,000 payday at the Atco Dragway Superbucks event and a $10,000 win the Spring Buck Blast at South Georgia Motorsports Park. He also won a $20,000 race at the Powerball of Bracket Racing event in Darlington, S.C.
Paige Coughlin made her debut in the Super Comp class in 2017 and has raced sporadically while continuing her education at Miami University of Ohio. Paige’s crew chief is Justin Beaver.
Last year, Paige finished as the No. 2 ranked driver in the NHRA North Central Division Super Comp standings. She has also earned a spot on the prestigious JEGS Allstars team for 2020.
Before transitioning to the Super Comp class, Paige got her start in racing behind the wheel of a Jr. Dragster.
Paige is the daughter of three-time NHRA Pro Mod series champion Troy Coughlin, and the younger sister of two-time Division 3 champion Troy Coughlin Jr.
After a successful career in the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League, Makenna Brown is making her national event debut in the Super Comp class behind the wheel of her JEGS.com dragster.
Troy and Paige Coughlin and Makenna Brown have kept their skills sharp this summer racing in several big dollar E.T. Bracket events including the recent SFG $1.1 Million Dollar Race at U.S. 131 Dragway in Martin, Mich.
Overall, the Coughlin family, including John, Troy, Mike, Jeg Jr. and Troy Jr. have combined for 126 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.
Jeff Taylor is a four-time world champion in Stock, Super Stock, and Comp Eliminator and a 46-time national event winner. He is also regarded as one of the sport’s premiere engine builders. He has previously raced as a member of the JEGS Mail Order team, most notably in 1997, when he helped Jeg Coughlin Jr. win in four different eliminators.
Team JEGS – By the Numbers
2 – Division 3 championships for Mike Coughlin
4 – JEGS.com entries in action this weekend at the JEGS SPORTSnationals
9 – SPORTSnationals wins for the Coughlin family
16 – Total North Central Division championships for the Coughlin family
20 – Different tracks where the Coughlin family has won at least one divisional event