Just when people try and forget about Troy Coughlin Jr., he shows why he one of the top Pro Stock drivers in the sport of drag racing.
Coughlin’s latest statement came Saturday when he cashed in with a huge win at the star-studded 2025 SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout in Bradenton, Fla.
Coughlin, driving a Camaro for Elite Motorsports, claimed the $125,000 top prize when Cory Reed recorded a redlight in the final round.
“You know, we’ll take them any way we can get them. Had a lot of great fortune today, these Jegs.com Elite (Motorsports) guys, they worked their tails off, getting this thing to work, and my gosh, we just had great fortune,” Coughlin said. “Between Cory going red in the final, who just had an awesome day of driving, which he’s an excellent dude. I’m really happy to race with him too. Man, in the semis, I was 60. I didn’t really drive my very best. I know I could do better, but we got away with it tonight.”
Coughlin’s victory parade in the 16-car field consisted of wins over Bo Butner, reigning NHRA world champion Greg Anderson, David Cuadra and then Reed. Against Anderson, Coughlin clocked a 6.609-second pass to edge Anderson’s 6.619-second effort.
“These guys, their hard work has showed off on the car. The semis against David, I got there two thou (6.571 seconds to 6.598 by Cuadra because of the car. So, you live and die by it, but we’ll go back home. We’ll get on the simulator and keep digging, keep working.
“You’re going for blood every run you make. You got to be a gladiator in these cars. You got to from Q1 to E4, you got to be on kill.”
No matter how Coughlin was turning on win lights he was happy with the most important result.
“It’s a lot of fun, especially for such a tremendous group at Elite Motorsports and the family that we have and the relationships that we build over the years,’ he said. ‘It just makes it that much more meaningful to come out here and win with each other, for each other. Team Yellow is a very tight-knit group within Elite Motorsports, along with the entire team. There’re so many people to thank, it’s difficult. You got Mark Ingersoll, Tim Freeman, Anthony Lum, Chase Freeman, who’s incredible, Kyle Bates. I mean, everybody on my car, Alex Laney, Kelly Murphy, Stevo. I’m absolutely humbled and so blessed, and God is great.”
Coughlin also isn’t taking anything for granted as he prepares to compete at NHRA’s season-opening Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 7-9.
“The mental side of drag racing is just absolutely awesome. I love it. I’ve always loved the sport psychology side of it,” Coughlin said. “We’re going to keep digging at it. We’re going to keep working. I just can’t wait to get to Gainesville.”
