NHRA Grandsons Take Speed Genes and More to Different Tracks

Growing up fast seems to be a common Coughlin family reality as owners of JEGS Mail Order firm and Team JEGS drag racing teams, but two energetic grandsons are taking divergent motorsports paths to winner’s circles. 

Drag racer Troy Coughlin Jr., 20, and stock car driver Cody Coughlin, 14, seem to have speed in their blood, like many in their racing family. But one chooses to go straight on drag strips and the other prefers circle racing on ovals.

Troy Jr. recently won a coveted "Big Go" Super Comp trophy at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Indiana. Cody is a past champion in USAC .25 Midgets, and has moved up to the ASA Late Model Northern Series.

The JEGS high performance parts company is celebrating its 50th year in the distribution business this racing season, and speed is still a major factor. 

The patriarch, Jeg Sr., began racing and selling speed parts in the late '50s, but took time to rear four sons—John, Mike, Troy, and Jeg Jr—who helped build a flourishing business that now employs more than 350 associates in Delaware, Ohio. 

The family business has inspired second and third generations to participate in drag racing at sportsman and professional levels collecting wins and championships along the way.

Four-time NHRA Pro Stock Car champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. was recently described by ESPN TV commentator and former Top Fuel driver Mike Dunn as the all-time best drag racing driver in history. 

"I've grown up in this sport, and it's pretty much all I know as well,” Coughlin said. “Our business evolves around the sport. When I got into racing, that's all I wanted to do. 

“It's very flattering to say the least–his comments. To put me ahead of the greats in the sport currently and in the past is awesome.” 

 Troy Jr. is obviously elated over his big Indy win. 

"You've got to focus from the minute you get here until the minute you leave," Coughlin said. “Even now, I've already won the race, but I'm still thinking about the run I had. That's the mindset it takes.

“My dad, Troy, and uncles, John, Mike and Jeg, they have been so helpful to me. I know the hard work of 350-plus JEGS employees back home got me here too, and I thank them as well."

Young Coughlin looks to the next win with humility.

“I’m just trying to keep the same mindset and trying to figure out how to do it again at the next race,” Coughlin added. “I learned a long time ago that in order to be a good racer, you never stop learning so that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Cody Coughlin approaches his racing task with similar modesty as he described his first Late Model encounter. 

"I wanted to race hard and I wanted to be smart," Coughlin said. "You want to earn the respect of the guys you're racing with. I think we did all of that.

"It seems like I encountered all kinds of situations. At one point a guy spun out in front of me and I had to go real low and accelerate around him to keep from hitting him. Other times you'd be behind someone and they'd bottom out and sparks would shoot all over the place. It was like a battlefield out there.

“It actually went by really quick. That's how it goes when you're having fun.”

The younger Coughlin has Gary St. Amant, two-time ASA champion, as coach. 

"At times you forget he's 14," said St. Amant, who once tutored NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson. "Cody's a very mature kid. He certainly drives a racecar like a man. At the same time, you have to let him be a kid.

"The best thing I can say about Cody is he's gotten better every time out. And that's saying a lot. He's taking all the steps and doing it the right way. He was as raw as they come when he first started but he's handling it very well. I can't even imagine what he'll be like three or four years from now with a head start like this. He has the potential to be very special, like a Joey Logano-type driver."

Those words surely echo well in Cody’s ears, but resonate too throughout the racing family.

It seems that the Coughlin clan has at least two transparent common threads—speed genes for racing and humble traits for business and life. 

Whether their offspring learn to speed or have innate abilities is debatable to some, but probably ignorable to Troy Jr and Cody, as these two third-generation racers are just busy going forward.

One thing seems certain—having speed genes, humble traits and the means to race is a combination that enhances success. 

The top levels of NHRA and NASCAR are waiting. 

Photo credit: JEGS.com