Veteran racer Mike Coughlin will take the wheel of a Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Mountain Motor Pro Stock entry for Elite Motorsports in the 2025 season. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Coughlin’s NHRA license.
Coughlin has been in discussions with Elite Motorsports owner Richard Freeman for the past two years.
“Our families have dealt with each other for a long time in the drag racing space,” Coughlin said. “Being involved with Elite, it’s a highlight. The team is really second to none. Everything is done right and if it’s not right, they make it right. That’s just the way they roll. I’m looking forward to being around and associated with that level of professionalism and for the chance to represent Jason and Nikki Johnson of JHG.”
He will join his brother, six-time world champion Jeg Jr., and nephew Troy Jr. under the Elite banner. Coughlin began his career in 1985 in the Super Gas class and won his first NHRA national event in Pro Stock Truck in 1999.
“Our goal for the Mountain Motor Pro Stock program from the very beginning was to have rental customers just like our highly successful NHRA Pro Stock program,” said Freeman. “I started driving when we purchased the program from JR Carr along with Erica. Then our great friends Bo and Randi Lyn Butner started driving and this helped to further strengthen our successful Mountain Motor Pro Stock program on and off the track to where we are today and in the future. A big thank you to the Butner’s for what they did to help get us to this point and reach the goal we started with.
“We are excited that another veteran and uber-talented driver like Mike Coughlin thought of Elite Motorsports when it came to making plans for 2025. It’s going to be great to see Mike back behind the wheel of a 5-speed, he was a real threat to win at every Pro Stock Truck race back in the day and this is going to be a lot of fun to see him racing with us for JHG in Mountain Motor Pro Stock and winning.”
Jason Johnson, owner of JHG, praised Coughlin’s addition to the team. “He is going to make a great addition to the Johnson’s Horsepower Garage family,” Johnson said.
Coughlin has wins across five different NHRA categories, including six in Pro Stock Truck and three in Top Alcohol Dragster. He will make his Mountain Motor Pro Stock debut at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway and plans to compete in the full eight-race schedule.
“I’m looking forward to driving a five-speed again. I’m excited about the challenge, all the procedure that goes with it. It really is different than anything out there,” Mike said. “It’s probably one of the hardest things to drive but also one of the most fun, it really is a good time. I’m going to enjoy Mountain Motor Pro Stock, all the power and torque they make. It’s similar to a Top Sportsman engine combination, but it’s a five-speed. It’s going to be fun.”
