POMONA >> One would think with six championships and 76 national event wins on his resume dating back to 1997, Pro Stock drag racer Jeg Coughlin Jr. might be considering slowing down.
Think again. The 45-year-old will enter the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series with the enthusiasm of a younger driver. The first action will be two qualifying runs Friday afternoon in the season-opening Winternationals.
Coughlin is seeking to rebound from a 2016 season that produced some of the poorest numbers as a full-time racer. He finished 10th in the points, the lowest for a full season, and reached just one semifinal in 24 event.
“It’s a fresh start to another journey and we really like our chances to run for the championship with our Chevrolet,” said Coughlin, who will be sponsored by the family’s Jegs.com business. “I’ll be racing a brand-new RJ Racecars Camaro and I can tell you it’s the nicest car I’ve ever driven. I never even sat in one of Rick and Rickie Jones’ car before my three-race stint with this (Elite Motorsports) team in the middle of 2015, but the two I’ve driven since then have been really nice pieces.
“Having a new car, being back in a Chevrolet, being a part of this team that won back-to-back titles with (teamate) Erica (Enders) in 2014 and 2015, having two very talented teammates in Erica and Vincent (Nobile), all of these things really have us excited.”
And if that wasn’t quite enough, Coughlin will get a front-row seat as nephew Troy Coughlin Jr. begins his Top Fuel career. Jeg will be with father Jeg Sr.; brothers Troy Sr. and Mike (top dragster) and 10-year-old nephew Clay watching Troy. Jr.
“We are very excited as a team to kick the season off in Pomona this weekend. Testing in our new Chevy went fantastic,” Jeg Jr. said. “The car is very stable, looks kick butt and most importantly was fast! This is going to be very exciting year for me.
“I am sitting within the familiar and iconic Jegs ‘yellow’ and by early numbers, have an extremely drivable and fast car.”
Pro Stock rules were changed before the 2016 season and Coughlin said the team is still learning.
“There’s still a lot to be learned with the electronic fuel injection and correctly applying the power these massive engines produce,” said Coughlin, who will also compete in Super Gas. “Most of the guys on this team cut their teeth with GM cars and engines, so that will help a bunch.
“The biggest challenge last season was the 10,500 RPM limitation. We just never found a happy place with the motor at that RPM. We all believe we’ve got that fixed this time through.”
In passing
• Papa John’s Pizza, which recently signed a long-term deal with Don Schumacher Racing and Top Fuel dragster driver Leah Pritchett, has been named NHRA official pizza partner. Papa John’s has more than 5,000 locations in 44 countries.
• Thanks to its success last year with John Force Racing, Chevrolet is optimistic about 2017.
“Last year, JFR had competitive cars,” Chevrolet NHRA program manager Roger Allen said. “John won four races while Robert Hight and Courtney Force also won in Funny Car. Now, with a year of development and getting more consistent, I think those cars are going to be as good as anybody.”
• Auto Club Raceway is one of four NHRA tracks where Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson has not won. He wants to change that this weekend.
“It will be exciting to get back to Pomona and hopefully we can run well and at least get some round wins under our belt,” said Wilkerson, who came close in 1998 as a runner-up. “I’ve been close, but I’ve never won there and I’d sure like to. You better believe I’m looking forward to that one.”
• Last November at the 2016 season finale at Pomona, Tommy Johnson Jr. won the Auto Club Finals driving for Terry Chandler. That gives him plenty of confidence for the season opener.
“Not a lot has changed on our team. We’re bringing back the same combination we ran at the Finals so we should roll out of the trailer and be competitive right from the get-go,” the Don Schumacher Racing driver said.
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