Five-time world champion drag racer Jeg Coughlin Jr. is best known for his exploits behind the wheel of his 210-mph JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt Pro Stock car. But when the affable pro from Delaware, Ohio, isn't zipping dow the strip, he can usually be found at the local bowling alley, knocking down pins.

So when he got  a chance to visit the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas, prior to the start of this past weekend's race in Ennis, Coughlin jumped at the opportunity. A United States Bowling Congress member and long-time league bowler, Coughlin was joined at the IBC by fellow Pro Stock driver, Allen Johnson, a youth bowler when he was a boy.

The trip included a guided tour of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, a look behind the scenes of the research side of the International Training and Research Center, and some time on the lanes with USBC Silver coach Bryan O’Keefe and Team USA member Mike Fagan on the training side of the ITRC.

NHRA stars visit International Bowling Campus

Five-time world champion drag racer Jeg Coughlin Jr. is best known for his exploits behind the wheel of his 210-mph JEGS.com Chevrolet Cobalt Pro Stock car. But when the affable pro from Delaware, Ohio, isn't zipping dow the strip, he can usually be found at the local bowling alley, knocking down pins.

So when he got  a chance to visit the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas, prior to the start of this past weekend's race in Ennis, Coughlin jumped at the opportunity. A United States Bowling Congress member and long-time league bowler, Coughlin was joined at the IBC by fellow Pro Stock driver, Allen Johnson, a youth bowler when he was a boy.

The trip included a guided tour of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, a look behind the scenes of the research side of the International Training and Research Center, and some time on the lanes with USBC Silver coach Bryan O’Keefe and Team USA member Mike Fagan on the training side of the ITRC.

"I think from a novice standpoint, learning about the different balls and lane conditions was great, and I have a lot to digest from this tour," said Coughlin, who averaged 183 in 63 games last year at Delaware Lanes in his hometown. "The museum and hall of fame were neat to see, and I really enjoyed the technology side of things. There are a lot of similarities between racing and bowling."

During an NHRA-leading seven-win season in 2009, Coughlin and nine of his fellow drivers and crew members, including Johnson, made time to compete in the 2009 USBC Open Championships in Las Vegas, which featured a near-record 17,200 teams.

As Coughlin continues to learn the nuances of bowling, his experience at the world’s largest participatory sporting event and the IBC will stand out.

"Being here and being at the Open were real eye-openers for me," said Coughlin, who ranks ninth all-time with 66 career NHRA wins and fourth with 52 Pro Stock victories. "I’ve bowled locally at home, but the atmosphere and the conditions are a lot different. I know I have a lot to learn, but I’m looking forward to it."

Now, the 1998 NHRA Rookie of the Year has found a way to combine his passions for racing and bowling. He plans to install a pair of bowling lanes in his new shop at his home just north of Columbus, Ohio.

"I think it will be fun for family and friends to be able to enjoy the sport of bowling, too," Coughlin said. "And with the traveling I do, it is nice to be able to stay close to home when I’m in town but still spend time doing something I enjoy."

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