It took just seven years for Jeg Coughlin Jr. to establish himself as one of the top NHRA racers of all time. The winner of three national championships and 46 national event titles, the youngest of the four Coughlin brothers is also the most successful.

A natural driving talent, Jeg was just 20 when he claimed his first national event title at the NHRA Springnationals in Columbus. Two years later, he claimed his first national championship, winning the Super Gas crown.

Though he has always been competitive, the versatile Coughlin established himself as one of the all-time greats in 1997 when he set an NHRA record by winning national events in four separate classes – Super Gas, Super Stock, Comp, and Pro Stock. He also came within an eyelash of winning the national championship in Super Stock and Comp, finishing second in both eliminators.

Midway through the 1997 season, Jeg joined his older brother Troy in the tough Pro Stock division and he did not disappoint, winning the Matco Tools SuperNationals in Houston in just his second start.

Jeg picked up where he left off the following year, winning four more times on his way to a second place finish in the Pro Stock standings. In 1998, he also became the second member of the Speed Pro 200-Mph Pro Stock Club.

By 2000, Jeg had established himself as a dominant force in Pro Stock, winning six of the first seven events and ten races overall. He won the Holley Dominator Duel for the second straight year and clinched the NHRA Pro Stock championship well before the end of the season.

After a fifth-place finish in 2001, Jeg won the title again in 2002, claiming eight national event titles along the way. Two more wins, six runner-up finishes and a third place finish in the points standings followed in 2003. At the conclusion of the season, Jeg held the longest consecutive qualifying streak in Pro Stock, having made the field at 35-straight events.

The Pro Stock class has never been more competitive than it was during the 2004 season, yet Jeg remained consistent, finishing in the top ten for the seventh consecutive season. In a season where several former national champions did not make the top ten, Jeg posted a solid sixth-place finish.

After joining Don Schumacher’s team in 2005, Jeg enjoyed another solid season, winning the season-ending Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona and finishing sixth in the points standings for the second-straight year. Surprisingly, he announced at the end of the season that he was taking an indefinite leave of absence from the Pro Stock class.

Even while he was enjoying success in Pro Stock, Jeg never lost touch with his sportsman racing roots. Driving his brother, John’s car in Super Stock, Jeg claimed a win at the 2003 Sears Craftsman Nationals in Madison and he capped the year with an incredible performance at the prestigious Moroso 5-Day E.T. Race in West Palm Beach, Fla. At that event, which is widely regarded as the toughest E.T. bracket race in the world, Jeg won two of the five events, and easily clinched the overall points title.

A year later, Jeg accomplished an amazing feat when he accepted an invitation from Michael Ogburn’s West Coast Hemi’s team to drive their ’68 Barracuda in the prestigious Mopar Performance Hemi Challenge, held during the 50th NHRA U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis. Although he had never made a run in the car prior to the event, Jeg won handily, defeating a large and talent-filled field of Super Stock veterans.

Jeg is presently racing in several NHRA sportsman and E.T. bracket events with his Team Jeg’s dragster and his latest hot rod, a ’67 Chevy Nova. Through the first half of the 2006 season, he has already won several major races including the Top Dragster title at the Jegs.com NHRA Cajun SPORTSnationals in Belle Rose, La., and a $20,000 bracket race win at Tri-State Dragway in Hamilton, Ohio. Jeg resides in Delaware, Ohio with his son, Jeg III

• JEG COUGHLIN Jr Personal Info:

DOB: June 23, 1970 Hometown: Delaware, Ohio
Child: Jeg III (Jeggie) Sponsor: SLAMMERS Ultimate Milk
Primary Car: 2006 Chevy Cobalt NHRA – PRO STOCK Chassis: Cagnazzi RacingEngine: Cagnazzi Racing – 500 C.U. Chevrolet - Manufacture: GM Racing / Chevrolet Racing

• Career National Championships: 3 (2- Pro Stock and 1- Super Gas)

2006 National Championships: -Career Wins/Final Rounds: 47/68 
2006 Wins/Final Rounds: 1/1
Career Victory Ranking: 11th (47)
2006 Victory Ranking: -
Career Pro Stock Victory Ranking: 4th (34)
2006 Pro Stock Victory Ranking: -
Pro Wins/Final Rounds: 34/52
Lucas Oil Series wins: 28 (13 National and 15 Divisional)
Years In Pro Stock: 8 full seasons (98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05) and last 3 events in 1997
Wins/Final Rounds: '05: 1/2 '04: 0/1 '03: 2/7 '02: 8/10 '01: 3/3 '00: 10/14 '99: 5/6 '98: 4/8 '97: 1/1

Career Best ET: 6.685
Career Best Mph: 206.67 mph
Began Racing: 1989
Began Pro Stock: 1997
First Career Win: 1990 NHRA Spring Nationals (Columbus, Ohio) - Super Gas

• For More Info on Jeg:

Info - http://teamjegs.com/drivers/jeg.asp 

Images - http://teamjegs.com/multimedia/photos2.asp#jegjr 

Date of Birth: Jan. 1, 1983 
Hometown: Elyria, Ohio 
Team Owner: Victor Cagnazzi 
Crew Chief: Tommy Utt 
Car: 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt 
Engine: Cagnazzi Racing

This 25-year-old superstar is considered by many to be the most gifted driver to come along in years. In 2007 Connolly posted his fourth straight top five professional finish, and was one of only four men in the exclusive “Countdown to One” World Championship Chase. Connolly also became only the 4th driver in drag racing history to win 5 consecutive NHRA Pro Stock events. Dave’s humble nature and inviting personality are a perfect compliment to his competitive spirit behind the wheel.

2007: Competed in inaugural Countdown to 4 and Countdown to 1; His five wins in a row from Reading, Pa. through Richmond, Va. tied for second with most consecutive wins in Pro Stock; Posted career-best time and speed; Finished in POWERade Series top five for fourth consecutive year

2006: Tied his top career POWERade Series points performance with third-place finish; Earned four victories in seven final-round appearances; Posted career-best time and speed; Finished in POWERade Series top five for third consecutive year

2005: Opened up the season with a win at Pomona, earned second win of the season at Las Vegas 1; Posted career-best speed; Finished in POWERade top five for second consecutive year; Won King Demon Crown bonus event for Pro Stock after finishing second in 2004

2004: Earned first career national event victory in Brainerd – the first of three season victories; Made a career-high eight final round appearances; Recorded career-best performance numbers; Earned first No. 1 qualifying award (Memphis); One of only two drivers to beat champion Greg Anderson in a final-round match-up; Runner-up in King Demon Crown bonus event for Pro Stock

2003: Qualified for 11 of 13 events in which he competed; established career-best numbers for time and speed

2002: Earned NHRA Division 3 Super Gas championship

1999: Top E.T. Bracket Finals champion

A 22-year old newcomer from Australia who has already proven he has what it takes to win. Voted Australian Drag Racing Series rookie of the year, Tucker reached 4 final rounds (winning 2), on his way to a second place finish in the Australian Pro Stock Championship With his movie-star good looks and unmatched charisma with the fans, Tucker is destined to take the American Drag Racing Circuit by storm, adding an international flavor.

Overview:

Cagnazzi Racing announced the signing of Australian Pro Stock driver Shane Tucker as the newest addition to its team, which already fields the cars of Dave Connolly and Jeg Coughlin. Tucker nearly won the 2005-06 Australian Pro Stock championship in his rookie season, finishing second by just five points.

Hailing from Carsbrook, Queensland, Tucker is the reigning rookie of the year on the Australian circuit in his Pontiac Grand Am and is in contention for this year's Pro Stock championship.

"The kid is well-spoken, charismatic, and a hard worker," owner Victor Cagnazzi said. "Shane is a good fit for our organization."

Australian Pro Stock cars use small-block engines and run 7.20s at 190 mph.

"These 500-cubic-inch American Pro Stock cars are a bit different from our Pro Stockers," Tucker said. "I know they're a tough ride and a bit finicky, so I'll have my hands full getting used to it, but I can't ask for better mates than Dave and Jeggie to help me get up to speed.

"This is a dream come true for me. I couldn't have ever imagined I'd be given such a great opportunity with a first-class team such as Cagnazzi Racing."

"We are in the process of soliciting sponsors for Shane," Senior Vice President Dan Pikarsky said. "Shane has movie-star good looks and will bring a young, hip factor to whoever he represents. I honestly believe he will be a good addition to the team and the Pro Stock class and will be a good ambassador for the sport."

Tucker will begin competing as soon as sponsorship is in place. Meanwhile, he will continue to compete in the Australian National Drag Racing Association, continuing his driver-development skills, getting seat time, and working toward the 2006-07 Australian championship.