Lucas Oil Raceway, Indianapolis (Indianapolis, Ind.) Aug. 31 – Sept. 5
The Chevrolet Performance NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis will also mark the seventh race in the ten-event 2016 J&A Service NHRA Pro Mod Series. Defending and two-time series champion Troy Coughlin will be behind the wheel of turbocharged JEGS.com Chevy Corvette.
Troy enters the U.S. Nationals as the second-ranked Pro Mod driver in the series. He is currently 131 points out of first place.
At the most recent NHRA Pro Mod event in Norwalk, Troy Sr. qualified in the No. 5 spot, and defeated Chuck Little before a close -.001-second red-light ended his weekend against current points leader Rickie Smith.
Troy won his first NHRA national event title at the U.S. Nationals in 1991 when he drove his Pro Stock-style Olds to the win in Super Gas. Troy defeated Mary Ann Jackson in the final.
Troy is one of just five Pro Mod racers who have qualified for all six events contested this season. In six races, Troy has qualified no worse than No. 7. His best starting spot is No. 2, which he has accomplished three times in Houston, Atlanta, and Bristol.
At the 2015 U.S. Nationals, Troy qualified No. 4 in the Pro Mod field before losing a close race against Mike Janis in round one.
Troy’s first Pro Mod victory came at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in New Jersey in 2005 when as he drove his supercharged Mustang to as win over Zack Barkledge in the final round.
Troy is one of the few Pro Mod competitors who have raced all three current engine combinations; turbocharged, supercharged, and nitrous oxide assisted
Before moving to the Pro Mod class, Troy enjoyed success in the NHRA Pro Stock class, recording two wins in 12 final round appearances. He also won the $50,000 top prize at the 2000 Winston No Bull Showdown at Bristol Dragway, a special non-points event for Pro Stock competitors.
All told, Troy has ten NHRA national event wins in 24 final round appearances in Pro Mod, Pro Stock, and Super Gas competition.
Troy is a former National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) Pro Street champion. While racing his Pro Street car, he also won the $50,000 Big Dog event at Piedmont Dragway in Greensboro, N.C.
Troy’s JEGS.com Corvette is tuned by noted turbocharger expert Steve Petty. In NHRA Pro Mod configuration, the car has run in the 5.7s at nearly 260-mph.
The Coughlin family, including John, Troy, Mike, Jeg Jr. and Troy Jr. has combined for 110 NHRA national event victories since 1990. The Coughlin’s have won in nine different eliminators including Pro Stock, Pro Stock Truck, Pro Mod, Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Top Sportsman and Top Dragster.
Collectively, the Coughlin family has won the U.S. Nationals nine times. Jeg Coughlin Jr. has four wins (three in Pro Stock and one in Super Gas). Troy, won the Super Gas title in 1991. Mike collected two wins in the Pro Stock Truck class in 1999 and 2001 and third generation racer Troy Coughlin Jr. won the Super Comp title in 2010 and the Super Gas title last year. In addition, John Coughlin won the U.S. Nationals as a car owner in 2005 when Brad Plourd drove his JEGS Mail Order dragster to the Super Comp title.
JEGS family patriarch Jeg Coughlin Sr. drove to two U.S. Nationals finals during his career. He was runner-up in Little Eliminator in 1959 and runner-up in Pro Comp in 1975.
Troy Coughlin – By the Numbers (NHRA U.S. Nationals Edition)
1 – U.S. Nationals victory for Troy Coughlin (1991 Super Gas)
5 – JEGS Mail Order entries in action at Indy in the following classes; Pro Stock, Pro Mod, Super Comp, and Super Gas
9 – Wins for the Coughlin family at the U.S. Nationals
10 – Number of classes where the Coughlin family has earned an NHRA national event victory
110 – Combined NHRA national event victories for the Coughlin family