Dirt
PAIGE COUGHLIN
T
here is a lot on
Paige Coughlin’s plate,
and seemingly a lot
to live up to with the
last name she carries.
But the high school
senior is undaunted
by all of it, choosing
to make the most of the opportunity
in front of her.
The daughter of three-time NHRA
Pro Mod champ Troy Coughlin, the sis-
ter of Troy Coughlin Jr. and the niece of
five-time Pro Stock champ Jeg Cough-
lin Jr., Paige is already busy carving out
her own place in the Coughlin lineage.
She raced Super Comp for the first time
in 2017 and plans to run a full schedule
in NHRA Division 3 in 2018 in the class,
even as she juggles high school gradu-
ation and starting college in the fall at
Miami University.
“Traveling with my dad and my
brother, it really motivated me to work
hard at this,” Paige Coughlin says. “If I
keep all As, I get to race, so that’s what
keeps me motivated. I know I can ac-
complish both, and my parents really
support me. I know I have a long way
to go, but I just want to keep improving.”
There’s an excited tone in Coughlin’s
voice as she talks about not only her im-
mediate plans, but also what the future
could hold. The Coughlin name bears a
lot of attention and pressure, but Paige
has embraced it as her racing career
continues to progress.
After racing in Jr. Dragster, the third-genera-
tion racer got licensed in Super Comp just after
turning 16 a year ago, crediting her brother with
helping her learn all about the car. Paige raced five
times in 2017, but also traveled with her father
and brother as Troy Sr. won his third NHRA Pro
Mod championship, announcing his retirement
shortly thereafter. Along the way, she learned a
great deal about how to carry herself.
“There’s no better role model for me,” Paige
says. “He’s so true, so honest, and I don’t want to
be anything but that. Having him show me that
side, it’s so motivating and so powerful. I want
to give off that vibe of positivity.”
It’s another reason Coughlin can’t help but
think of the direction her drag racing career may
take. She mentioned racing in Pro Mod and Top
Dragster down the line, and she seems poised to
become the latest standout in a successful family.
Doing it as a female in the Coughlin family is
also an important aspect for Paige, as she hopes
to become a motivation for other young females.
“It’s really inspiring and it does mean a lot,”
she says. “There’s so many ways to go with it, so
hopefully I can be motivating for other girls. I
wrote about it in my college essay that I want to
be a really good, proactive person for women to
race. I want to do so much good with it and I can’t
wait to progress. It’s really exciting.”
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I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Issue 130