Dirt
Third-Generation Drag Racer Troy Coughlin Jr. Humbled by Top Fuel Opportunity
By Scott Woodruff
Accomplished Sportsman drag racing star Troy Coughlin Jr. already was incredibly excited about the 2017 NHRA season after it was announced he’ d run a sixth nitro entry for Kalitta Motorsports for a small handful of races. Now the 26-year-old third-generation racer can hardly believe what’ s happening right before his eyes on the heels of the announcement he’ d be taking over the seat of the SealMaster Top Fuel dragster.
“ I had little doubt I was the luckiest guy alive when we said we’ d be running four or five races in a JEGS. com-sponsored dragster next year,” Coughlin said.“ But this is beyond anything I could have ever dreamed. I literally can’ t sleep I’ m so excited. I’ ve never felt like this before, even after winning Indy.”
Things have fallen perfectly into place for the son of three-time world champion drag racer Troy Coughlin Sr. and grandson of JEGS Mail Order founder and drag racer Jeg Coughlin Sr. since the renowned Kalitta Motorsports camp announced Troy Jr. would be joining its ranks. Team driver Del Worsham left the camp a few weeks ago to once again race with his father, which opened the seat in the DHL Funny Car. That sparked
an interest in fellow Kalitta Motorsports pro J. R. Todd to try his hand at Funny Car so with the blessing of everyone involved, Todd moved into Worsham’ s former position. With that shift, the seat of Todd’ s SealMaster Top Fuel dragster was vacated, opening a spot for Coughlin.
“ This is a proven, championship-caliber racecar and the fact Connie( Kalitta, team owner) and Jim O( Oberhofer, Vice President of Operations) selected me to drive it is such an honor,” Troy Jr. said.“ They could have hired any driver out there and I’ m sure the line was a mile long with people that have a ton of experience, but they decided to give this unproven kid a chance and it just blows me away.
“ I don’ t have experience in driving a Top Fuel car so I can’ t bring that to the table but I do know I’ ll work harder than anyone in proving they made a good choice. I’ ll do everything I can to represent the team sponsors with integrity, to drive to the best of my abilities so I can help the crew make the best calls possible, and to soak up everything I can as it happens so each day I can get better.”
Coughlin has competed in a variety of drag racing classes during in his career, including Jr. Dragster, Super Comp, Super Gas and Pro Mod. Among his many accomplishments is the 2013
Division 3 Super Gas championship, two wins at the prestigious U. S. Nationals, and 2015 Rookie of the Year honors in Pro Mod. In total, he has five national event victories, four high-dollar bracket race titles, and three divisional wins.
“ I’ m extremely proud to be representing Seal- Master and their incredible services and products,” Coughlin said.“ Like my family, they love drag racing and motorsports in general and I’ m very anxious to meet all of the company’ s representatives around the country.
“ It’ s also quite an honor to have Connie Kalitta and Rob Flynn tuning my car and to have teammates like J. R., Doug Kalitta, Alexis DeJoria and Paul Lee. These are people I’ ve looked at as heroes growing up and now I’ m able to work with them. I’ m so humbled. It’ s a dream come true and I couldn’ t be happier.” DI
CONNIE KALITTA HONORED WITH FIRST- EVER NHRA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Kalitta Motorsports founder and owner Connie Kalitta was honored by the National Hot Rod Association( NHRA) at the season-ending Mello Yello Awards banquet with NHRA’ s Lifetime Achievement Award. This is the first time in NHRA history that this award has been given.
Kalitta’ s honor received the first standing ovation of the evening as NHRA President Peter Clifford addressed the crowd with some of Kalitta’ s incredible achievements. A video tribute followed with all four of Kalitta’ s current full-time drivers: Alexis DeJoria, Doug Kalitta, J. R. Todd and Del Worsham, team Vice-President of Operations Jim Oberhofer, NHRA legends Don Prudhomme and Tom McEwen, and rival team owners John Force and Don Schumacher speaking on what Kalitta meant to the sport and how far reaching his impact has truly been.
Escorted to the stage by Oberhofer, nephew Doug Kalitta and grandson Corey Kalitta, son of the late Scott Kalitta, Connie Kalitta received his one-of-a-kind trophy and made remarks.
“ I am not usually at a loss for words,” said Kalitta.“ Thank you for this. I
appreciate everything that each of you said in that piece. I am honored to receive such an award.”
Kalitta, known as“ The Bounty Hunter” as a driver, was the first racer to reach the 200 mph mark at an NHRA sanctioned event. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1992 and won the U. S. Nationals in 1994. On NHRA’ s 50th anniversary in 2001, he was named one of the NHRA’ s Top 50 Drivers.
His team, Kalitta Motorsports, ended 2016 with their most successful season on record as Team Kalitta’ s four full-time teams earned a combined 131 round wins. Kalitta will continue to have a major part of the NHRA for many years to come as his team expands to six entries beginning in the 2017 season with rookie driver Troy Coughlin Jr. and veteran Paul Lee joining Team Kalitta on a part-time basis to compete alongside DeJoria, Kalitta, and Todd. Worsham will leave the team in order to rejoin his family’ s Funny Car operation. His replacement is yet to be named.- CODY POOR
PHOTOS: GARY NASTASE, KALITTA MOTORSPORTS
28 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 115