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