NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Troy Coughlin Jr. had some big shoes to fill when he slid in behind the wheel of the familiar yellow and black JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro. His uncle, Jeg Coughlin Jr., had wheeled the family's coat of arms to five Pro Stock championships and 65 wins in the category before retiring at the conclusion of 2020. The younger Coughlin, though, took the pressure in stride.

"It's an honor to race in this class," said Coughlin. "When you look at the great names that have been in Pro Stock — my Uncle Jeg and my dad, but also names like Warren Johnson and Bob Glidden — this is a dream for me. It's been unreal, and it's a learning experience every day."

The Sportsman-racer-turned-Pro first stepped up in 2017 with a turn in Top Fuel, but after a tough year, he returned to Top Alcohol Dragster and set to work on refining his skills. Final rounds and victories came his way, and by 2020, he was ready for a new challenge: racing with the best of the best in a class that demands constant progress and absolute perfection. 

Coughlin's first final round in Pro Stock in 2020 ended with the win light flashing in the other lane — to his uncle, Jeg. Since that time, he's reached two more final rounds and finished the 2021 season No. 6 in the Pro Stock standings. 

"You're never truly in your comfort zone," he admitted. "You're always 'in it to win it,' so to speak. And you have to really enjoy it, and you have to be creative as a driver to become mentally strong. You have to club the Tree and bang your shifts and make multiple laps a day [in testing]. But the more you enjoy it, the more simple the mental side of it becomes, and building your routine and sticking with what works for you brings confidence."

The class has shown a great shift over the course of the past few years, with heavy hitters like Jeg Coughlin and three-time series champion Jason Line stepping out of the seat, but it has also allowed for an influx of talented new drivers with fresh perspectives and an eagerness to learn. 

Last season, NHRA Rookie of the Year Dallas Glenn joined the fold to upset the competition, and Kyle Koretsky won his first race in his sophomore year. The Cuadra brothers, Fernando Jr. and Cristian, committed to racing alongside their father, Fernando Sr., and 18-year-old Mason McGaha was picking up speed in his second year as teammate to his father, Chris. This year, young Camrie Caruso will be joining the ranks as the second full-time female Pro Stock driver in the class. 

"[The diversity] is what makes it exciting," said Coughlin. "It's exciting for the fans, and I'd encourage you to buy a ticket if you haven't. It's going to be a fun season. 

"I'll be focused on hitting the Tree and trying to get fast, because it's a whole different motion from the alcohol car to the Pro Stock car. That's been a big learning adjustment for me, but in drag racing, there is no ceiling for learning. You learn every day." 

As the tour heads to Auto Club Raceway at Pomona to kick off a new season of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series with the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com, Coughlin is eager to achieve what only 70 drivers since 1970 have been able to accomplish: win a Pro Stock trophy. 

"We have a new clutch guy, Ricky Calloway, joining us this year, but for the most part, we have the same group," said Coughlin. "What I love most about drag racing is the team behind me. Without them, I'm absolutely zero. I'm most excited about finally get that elusive first professional victory. I can't wait to win one of those things with my guys there to enjoy it."