NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Jeg Coughlin Sr., center, with sons, from left, Troy, Mike, Jeg Jr., and John.

The JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals presented by Quick Fuel will bring NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series racers from all over the nation to Beech Bend Raceway Park on May 27-29, but winning at the lone Sportsman-only national event of the year might mean more to one family than most.

NHRA Drag Racing is a family affair for the Coughlins, who boast three generations of racers. Since the family first got into drag racing in the 1950s, it has won numerous championships in the professional and sportsman ranks, but a victory at this year’s JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals would be extra special as the event makes its triumphant return to the multipurpose motorsports park’s dragstrip on this Memorial Day weekend.

"Growing up in the sport, in the early- to mid-‘80s, the premier national event of the year for the Sportsman racers was the SPORTSnationals," said five-time Pro Stock world champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. "I always enjoyed watching the race. When the NHRA was talking about bringing back the format of the SPORTSnationals, we were excited to support the NHRA and all the Sportsman racers across to country and help give them an opportunity to showcase the premier sportsman event of the year.”

JEGS Automotive Inc., which has sponsored the SPORTSnationals since 2005, has come a long way from its humble beginnings in the 1950s. Jeg Coughlin Sr. opened JEGS Automotive Inc. in a small garage in Columbus, Ohio, as a way for him to find the best parts for his own hot rods. As his success on the racetrack grew, so did the demand for the high-performance parts he was using, and soon a business was born.

Not only did Jeg Sr. help foster a successful business, but he also created one of the most successful drag racing teams in the history of the sport. With a combined eight NHRA national championships, 16 divisional championships, and hundreds of victories at the national, divisional, and local levels, Team JEGS has certainly made its mark in the drag racing history books.

The SPORTSnationals has already made history this year, too, as the event will boast a guaranteed purse of nearly $99,250, an all-time SPORTSnationals record. With contingency awards in excess of $275,000 and special bonus races, the total award posting approaches $380,000 – a dramatic increase over the $50,700 posted at the inaugural SPORTSnationals in 1974.

Troy Coughlin Jr.

Two members of the Coughlin clan will be chasing their share of the lucrative prize and national points at the storied Kentucky track next weekend. Troy Coughlin Jr. will be competing in Super Gas and Super Comp, while his uncle Mike Coughlin will compete in Top Dragster. 

Troy Coughlin Jr., the 2015 Pro Mod Rookie of the Year award winner, already has an impressive résumé, winning big-money bracket races as well as scoring victories at NHRA divisional and national races, including the prestigious U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis twice. He is also the 2013 Division 3 Super Gas champion.

Mike is no different. After celebrating his 30th year in drag racing in 2015, Mike decided to switch to the Top Dragster class and is competing at NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events on the national and divisional level. He's had several successful seasons racing his JEGS.com Chevrolet in Top Sportsman, including winning a national event in Norwalk, Ohio, in 2014.

Even though competition will be stiff, the Coughlin family knows it’s all about supporting the grassroots level of NHRA Drag Racing and helping develop the new stars of the sport.

"As a company, we're always proud to partner with the NHRA in the premier events we have like the SPORTSnationals, the JEGS Allstars event and the Super Quick Series,” Jeg Coughlin Jr. said. “We're excited to see the turnout (in Bowling Green). The talk has been huge among the competitors, and it's likely to be the largest SPORTSnationals in history. Good luck to all the competitors."

Eliminations for all classes will be held on Sunday with national points at stake in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Memorial Day Monday is planned as a travel day or, if needed, as a completion day.

To kick off the event’s return to Kentucky with proper Southern hospitality, JEGS, NHRA, and the Dallas Jones family will be hosting a huge Southern cookout for all racers and crews in the “Shady Grove” pavilion adjacent to the pit area following Friday’s racing. In addition, Beech Bend Amusement Park and Splash Lagoon Water Park will be open Friday evening for a special JEGS Family and Friends Night.

General admission tickets for the JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals presented by Quick Fuel are $20 for adults.  Children 12 years old and younger are allowed free entrance with a paid adult ticket, and every ticket includes a pit pass.  For information, contact Beech Bend Raceway Park at 270-781-7634 or visit www.BeechBend.com.