JEGS Team Hoping to Add to Indy Memories
Courtesy of Jegs
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – For more than 50 years, the North Central Division of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series raced at 
historic Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and throughout the years, the JEGS Mail Order team has enjoyed it’s fair share of success at the venerable old drag strip.
Family patriarch Jeg Coughlin Sr. earned Indy titles in Pro Comp and Top Fuel in 1976 and 1978 respectively, and brothers John, Troy Sr., Mike and Jeg Coughlin Jr. have also recorded victories at the facility.
This weekend, Team JEGS drivers Mike, Troy Jr. and Samantha Coughlin will return to Lucas Oil Raceway in search of more glory at the traditional North Central Division season-opening tilt. Mike will be seeking to defend his title in the Top Sportsman class, while Samantha and Troy Jr. will do battle in the highly competitive Super Comp category. Troy Jr. also will race his uncle John’s dragster in the Spitzer Race Cars Top Dragster class.
“We are absolutely ready to go this weekend,” said Mike, who will once again be behind the wheel of his 210-mph JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt. “This is our first [Lucas Oil Series] race of the year and it’s always one of the biggest and one of the best.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to win Indy in two of the last four years so hopefully we can keep that going. I raced last month at the JEGS Cajun SPORTSnationals in Belle Rose [La.] and even though I lost early, the car was flawless. We didn’t do anything other than normal maintenance before this weekend.”
Mike will have additional motivation as he’s also in contention for a spot on the JEGS Allstars team, which will be headed to Joliet, Ill., later this summer. Currently, Mike trails leader Donald Horne by just 22 points.
“I haven’t qualified for the JEGS Allstars in a few years and that’s something I’d really like to do,” Mike said. “We’re going to give it everything we have this weekend. My dad, Jeg Sr., has been helping us along with Greg Cody, Tony Collier, and my son Clay. This is a total team effort.”
Fresh off his $20,000 win at last weekend’s Super Spring Buck Blast at South Georgia Motorsports Park, Troy Jr. will head to Indy seeking titles in two classes. Although he’s won a pair of NHRA national events, including the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, and numerous high stakes E.T. bracket races, Troy Jr.’s trophy case still lacks a Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series points meet Wally.
“I definitely want to win one of those little gold men [NHRA Wally trophies],” Troy Jr. said. “I know I’ve got two good race cars underneath me so it’s up to me to get it done. I haven’t raced many Super Comp or Top Dragster races this year but I feel like I’m very well prepared.”
While her husband Jeg Coughlin Jr. is in Houston racing in Pro Stock and Stock eliminator, Samantha will be in Indianapolis behind the wheel of her JEGS.com Super Comp dragster. Like the rest of the Coughlin family, she has a strong track record at Lucas Oil Raceway with a pair of semifinal finishes in her last two races there.
“This is our first points meet of the year so I’m hoping we can get off to a good start,” Samantha said. “Last year, I got down to the last three cars and had a chance to race my brother Jason in the final round. That was really cool. This year, I’m looking forward to racing with T.J. and Mike. T.J. is so modest but he’s has been doing so well lately. I’ve taken a lot of lessons from him and we always have a lot of fun together.”
