Back in 2020, Troy Coughlin Jr. had the pleasure of being a Pro Stock teammate with his uncle Jeg Coughlin at Elite Motorsports owned by Richard Freeman.
However, Troy Jr. still didn’t see this coming. Jeg, a five-team Pro Stock world champion (2000, 2002, 2007-2008 and 2013), is joining the Elite Motorsports team for the final two races of the 2023 season – Las Vegas (Oct. 26-29) and Pomona, Calif. (Nov. 9-12).
And Troy Jr. is thrilled to have his uncle in the fold.
“Racing with somebody like that is not only an honor, but he elevates your game. He makes you better,” Troy Jr. said. “He does the same thing on a text message too, but him being there racing actually makes it even more fun and more enjoyable. Racing with family is what the sport has always been for me. So, having him out there with us is completely awesome. It’s surreal and there’s nothing like it. I’m really excited for the weekend.”
Jeg is breaking in a new RJ Race Cars Camaro for Erica Enders for the 2024 season. Enders arrives in Vegas first in the points as she eyes his sixth world championship. Jeg last competed fulltime in Pro Stock in 2020 when he won two races and finished third in the points standings during a season, which was abbreviated because of COVID-19 limitations.
“He’s been pretty excited,” Troy Jr. said of his uncle. “We’ve always chatted about Pro Stock. But he sounds pretty fired up to me. I think just having him back out there is going to be not only a blast, but I think I’m going to learn even more and continue the growth of becoming a better driver every day.”
Troy Jr. enters Vegas sixth in the points standings on the strength of two wins at Gainesville, Fla., and Denver, but he knows he can get even better.
“Well, it’s not over yet. But If I had to give myself a grade, I’ve got like to say that I was a C-Plus,” Troy Jr. said about his 2023 season. From the driver’s seat, I can do a heck of a lot better. But there’s some things I’ve picked up that I’m learning and doing a better job with and things that I’d like to do better at and looking forward to continuing that journey. It (Pro Stock) is extremely competitive, and you have to be on your toes every single run you make, whether it’s Q1 or E4.
“I mean, you’re trying to get every little thousandth of a second out of it. You’re trying to stage extremely shallow. You’re trying to bang the gears absolutely perfect, right on the top of the limiter and you’re trying to be low every single round. That’s the challenge. You’re trying to be flawless, and I think that’s the addicting part to it.”
Troy Jr. does have some found memories at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“I won my first national event there in Super Comp when I was 19,” Troy Jr. said about his 2009 at the fall race in Vegas. “It’s a great track and the surface is amazing and there’s a lot of positives.”
Troy Jr. knows nothing will come easy for drivers in the final two races of 2023.
“Well, it’s definitely going to be a fight to the finish for certain,” Troy Jr. said. “I’m really just trying to show up and be my very best and be as smooth as I possibly can to try and squeeze all the E.T. out of this thing I can and drive the best I can. But really having Uncle Jeg there is going to do nothing but elevate our game and be really exciting and I think it’s going to add a lot of great flavor to our team and I’m sure there’s going to be a ton of fans who are going to be extremely excited to see him There, that haven’t seen him in a while. It’s always fun at the ropes. They’ll ask how he’s doing so people are going to get to see him. So, I know I’m excited.”
