In 2026, the familiar yellow and black of JEGS will once again dominate the NHRA Pro Stock pits — this time with double the presence. Elite Motorsports and JEGS have announced a dual-team effort featuring six-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. and his nephew Troy Coughlin Jr., extending one of drag racing’s most recognizable family legacies.
The move marks a symbolic reunion for Jeg Jr., who spent much of his storied career behind the wheel of a JEGS-branded car before retiring in 2020. His return to the family colors under the Elite Motorsports banner reinforces both the company’s deep roots in drag racing and its future-focused partnership with one of the sport’s powerhouse teams.
JEGS CEO Gabe Mendoza called the collaboration more than a sponsorship deal — describing it as a nod to the company’s racing DNA and commitment to developing future champions. “We’re excited to double down on our racing heritage with two JEGS cars hitting the track in 2026,” Mendoza said. “This partnership with Elite Motorsports represents more than just sponsorship – it’s a celebration of the racing DNA that has driven JEGS for over six decades.”
For Jeg Jr., the 2026 season will be about rediscovering the familiar. After returning to full-time Pro Stock competition in 2024 under the SCAG Power Equipment colors, he quickly proved he hadn’t lost his touch — winning four races in six final rounds and finishing fifth in the standings.
With three events remaining in the 2025 season, he sits ninth in points, still within striking distance of another top-five finish. Now, he returns to the same color scheme that launched his career and helped define his family’s legacy.
“The 2026 season will kick off with a lot of familiarity for me, and I couldn’t be more proud to drive the brilliant, bold and famous yellow and black JEGS machine,” Jeg Jr. said. “Racing beside Troy Jr. … will really be a statement, and I can tell you we are both excited to unite with the millions of JEGS customers and fans along the NHRA 20-race tour in 2026.”
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The Coughlin family has been synonymous with performance for more than 60 years. Founded by patriarch Jeg Coughlin Sr. in 1960, JEGS evolved from a small Columbus, Ohio, speed shop into one of the largest suppliers of high-performance automotive parts in the world.
The company’s connection to drag racing is personal — each generation of Coughlins has carried the family colors down a quarter mile. The brand’s visibility in Pro Stock underscores a long-running commitment to both grassroots racers and championship-level teams.
Troy Coughlin Jr., who assumed the Pro Stock seat in 2021 after his uncle’s retirement, has become a force in his own right. In just four full seasons, he’s collected five national event wins and appeared in 11 final rounds, highlighted by a career-best fourth-place finish in the 2022 standings.
“There is a huge sense of pride wearing the yellow and black of JEGS. It’s one of the greatest honors of my career,” Troy Jr. said. “Jeg Jr. has helped me learn driving, drag racing, and the business side of JEGS. We’re extremely blessed and grateful, with high expectations to perform our best for the brand and family.”
The pairing of uncle and nephew under matching banners creates a unique storyline for the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season — one that intertwines family, heritage, and corporate identity. Few names in drag racing carry the same intergenerational resonance as Coughlin, and this collaboration strengthens JEGS’ commitment to the sport it helped build.
Before the 2026 campaign begins, both drivers remain focused on closing out the current season strong. The Coughlins and the Elite Motorsports team will head to the Texas NHRA FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex on Oct. 10-12, the fourth of six Countdown to the Championship events.
