Jeg Coughlin Jr. enters Phoenix with the Pro Stock points lead

Phoenix, AZ – The JEGS Mail Order team will be represented at this weekend’s NHRA Arizona Nationals by Pro Stock driver Jeg Coughlin Jr., the current points leader.

Two weeks ago in Pomona, Calif., Jeg Jr. began his pursuit of a sixth NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock title (and seventh championship overall) with a victory at the 60th annual NHRA Winternationals.

Jeg Jr. is racing as a member of Elite Motorsports. His Chevy Camaro carries the familiar yellow and black colors of JEGS Mail Order along with the special-edition JEGS 60th anniversary logo.

Last year, Jeg Jr. finished as the No. 2 ranked driver in the Pro Stock class behind Elite teammate Erica Enders. It was the second-straight year he’s been the championship runner-up. Jeg Jr. has now finished in the top 10 on 19 occasions in his professional career, which began in 1997.

Jeg Jr. has announced 2020 as his last full-time season in professional drag racing. Coughlin’s final campaign is dubbed the “Breaking Barriers Tour,” in reference to his many racing accomplishments.

Jeg Jr. will continue racing as a teammate to three-time champion Erica Enders. The Elite Motorsports team also includes Alex Laughlin, Aaron Stanfield, and Marty Robertson, who is making his Pro Stock debut this season. Jeg Jr.’s crew chief is Rickie Jones, who has extensive experience in the class as a driver, chassis builder and tuner. The Elite team also features crew chiefs Rick Jones, Mark Ingersoll and Brian “Lump” Self. The crew chiefs regularly share data.

Jeg Jr. has won at least one national event at 24 different facilities, including Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. The only current stops on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour where he has not won are the races in Norwalk, Ohio, and Epping, N.H.

In Pomona, Jeg Jr. qualified No. 1 and went to the final round, where he defeated Jason Line. Jeg Jr. also had low elapsed time of each qualifying and elimination round. He scored 130 points, the maximum points available under the current NHRA scoring system.

During his career, Jeg Jr. has won the Pro Stock title three times in Phoenix. He claimed his first win in 2000 by beating Mark Pawuk in the final round and stopped Kurt Johnson to win his second title in 2009. Last year, he added a third win when he stopped Matt Hartford in the final.

As a sportsman driver, Jeg Jr. also won two more Phoenix titles. He earned the Super Stock title in 1995 and returned in 1997 to claim the Comp title at the track’s Division 7 Lucas Oil Series event.

In 19 previous appearances at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, Jeg Jr. has a won-loss record of 27-16 in Pro Stock competition.

In his 19 appearances in Phoenix, Jeg Jr. has qualified in the top half of the field 12 times including a best of No. 3 in 2004.

Jeg Jr. is a five-time NHRA 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 64 Pro Stock wins, Jeg Jr. ranks fourth all-time among Pro Stock drivers. Only Warren Johnson (97), Greg Anderson (94), and the late Bob Glidden (85) have more titles.

In 448 career Pro Stock races, Jeg Jr. has reached the final round 112 times, recording 64 wins. Including his 19 sportsman victories, Jeg Jr. has won a total of 83 times. Jeg Jr. has appeared in 137 final rounds, 112 as a professional and 25 as a sportsman racer.

During his Pro Stock career, Jeg Jr. has competed in 448 events and has a round-win record of 675-368. He has failed to qualify just 16 times.

Jeg Jr. has been the low qualifier 33 times in Pro Stock including the Pomona season-opener this year.

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.