Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Elite Motorsports proprietor Richard Freeman are again at it once more this 12 months as Coughlin appears to be like so as to add to an already embellished NHRA Professional Inventory résumé that’s tough to match.
After rejoining the NHRA Mission Meals Drag Racing Sequence tour for the complete slate final 12 months for the primary time since 2020, Coughlin would endure a 12 months stuffed with firsts.
Trying again, his storied Professional Inventory profession is highlighted by competing in his family-owned machine with the acquainted black and yellow-painted, JEGS-sponsored race automobile. Although retirement following the 2020 season with a view to give attention to the household enterprise turned the precedence as Coughlin put his helmet down — in the meanwhile.
The acquisition of JEGS by a third-party purchaser in 2022 opened Coughlin’s schedule and intrigue in a return.
In 2023, Coughlin and Freeman reconnected because the five-time Professional Inventory champion competed within the last two races of the season, which reignited a spark.
That swung the door open for a full-time return final 12 months, a novel situation that Coughlin had by no means been in earlier than in his over quarter-of-a-century profession.
“It was one of many first occasions I actually had gone below a full marketing campaign with a non-family-owned staff, non-family-sponsored staff, and so forth,” Coughlin stated.
“So for me, it was rather a lot much less hats to put on and I actually got here to take pleasure in that. Simply coming in as a driver and sort of a staff cheerleader. I’ve (received) so many teammates that certainly one of us doesn’t get you, the subsequent one will. That’s sort of the great thing about it.
“I actually take pleasure in all my teammates earlier than I got here in, throughout and nonetheless. In order that’s sort of enjoyable. Makes it much more enjoyable.”
Enjoyable was definitely had all through the season from a efficiency perspective.
4 victories all through the season, together with a win within the Texas Fall Nationals in the course of the Countdown to the Championship garnered Coughlin a fifth-place end within the standings.
It was positively nothing to be ashamed of in his first full-time stint in years. A profitable 2024 marketing campaign led to Freeman and Elite asking for Coughlin to return to the staff as soon as , one thing he doesn’t take calmly.
“That’s fairly cool. I imply, I’m not gonna lie, it’s flattering, if you’ll,” Coughlin started. “Richard and I’ve been pals for the reason that early 2000s. We frequently stated we have been going to race collectively sooner or later in time. I did drive certainly one of his automobiles in 2006 only for one race, a contest eliminator automobile or one thing.
“He’s a wheeler supplier. A lot of the people in our business know that he buys and sells a whole lot of race groups and race automobiles and trailers and all of the spare elements. He had purchased a automobile from the East Coast, truck, trailer automobiles, spare motors and he drug it to Indy for the most important race the 12 months, the U.S. Nationals.
“Requested me to return in and drive it and man, we have been doing very well with it,” Coughlin continued. “I feel he informed me after I received the second spherical, he says, ‘Hey, I simply offered your automobile.’ Already offered it earlier than we left the race observe, which was fairly cool.
“That’s all we deliberate on doing in any case. However, fast-forward one other 10 years from there, we sort of joined forces. JEGS did as a household sponsor and me as a driver and we raced collectively from ’16 to 2020.”
The Freeman-Coughlin connection isn’t the one side that was essential in his return. With out JEGS as a major companion for the primary time in his profession final season, Coughlin was added to the ever-growing SCAG Racing banner.
Spearheaded by CEO Randy Gloede and President Maria Oldenburg, SCAG has develop into an integral a part of the game in recent times.
SCAG Energy Gear additionally backs High Gasoline driver Justin Ashley, Humorous Automotive drivers Daniel Wilkerson and Dave Richards, together with Professional Inventory champion Erica Enders.
“The household that I’m related to, not simply Elite Motorsports, however your entire SCAG Energy Gear household is basically, very nice,” Coughlin started.
“Randy and his whole staff went to Wisconsin and Mayville to their headquarters and we went by means of about 4 or 5 of their eight or 9 amenities in that space. I recall calling my brother on the way in which to the airport, it simply appeared like such a household enterprise.
“That is no small enterprise. They do close to a billion-and-a-half in gross sales and make use of near 2,000 folks. However to have that feeling at such a degree made me need to get again to work.
“It’s been Randy and SCAG, Maria and your entire household have made it actual simple to work for as a result of I take pleasure in that sort of setting. And so right here we’re.”
It’s maybe the proper scenario that fell into Coughlin’s lap in what was initially purported to be his time to decelerate.
With one race full on the famed NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway earlier this month, Coughlin loved a semifinal look as he’s third within the standings.
A sixth Professional Inventory title is definitely a risk, given Coughlin’s historical past and Elite’s very good gear.
Whereas it’s too early to inform when Coughlin will resolve to completely name it a profession, he’s content material with nevertheless that actuality might shake out.
“I don’t have a timeline in thoughts,” Coughlin smiled. “Once we put this program collectively, we talked about perhaps doing it for, ‘Let’s do it for a 12 months, perhaps two years.’ I candidly stated to each Richard and Randy, each, I stated, ‘Pay attention, this may be at will. If for some purpose we don’t need to do that tomorrow, there’s no emotions harm right here.’
“I’ve had an incredible profession out right here. I’ve loved the hell out of it. If it’s one thing we need to do for a 12 months or two or three, then I’ll be one hundred pc in. So, now I’m all in.”
