JEG COUGHLIN JR.
have been. Timing just never aligned
that the two of us would unite and ac-
tually do something in a joint effort.
When we came together, we had an
amazing group of talent on the engine
side, amazing group of talent on the
chassis side and a pallet of crew chiefs
that were all championship tuners. It
just seemed like the perfect storm, if
you will, so we got together.
Was Richard asking you? And the
way that team is set up, was that go-
ing to be the only way you were going
to come back to the sport?
Yeah, pretty much. If it wasn’t a
family environment, that was probably
the next closest thing I could think of
that was perfect. Our first goal, with-
out question, is we want to win races,
we want to win championships. But
a real close 1B was we’re going to have a good
time. And anyone that knows Richard and the
Freeman family, they know they’re going to have
a good time.
It seems like a perfect fit, despite what
appears to be a different style of personal-
ities between you and Richard. Why has it
worked so well?
With either one of us, you don’t have to wonder
what we’re thinking. Richard is certainly very
outgoing, wears his emotions on his sleeve, is very
vocal, and is very confident. I’m very similar in
driver, much like myself. So, I found
early on that when we started racing
together, if, say I was off in a couple
of runs, I could kind of just go off her
notes on, say, clutch settings or reaction
time or whatever. I can have 100 per-
cent confidence, or as much confidence
as you can have without actually having
done it yet. We both have played off
of that environment quite a bit since
we’ve been racing together and that’s
been good. Her methodology and mine
are very similar. In this format she’s
done a lot of testing for the team, and
has tested my car quite a bit and that’s
worked out really well too, again, be-
cause I think we’re very similar in our
driving manner.
just a completely different manner on the delivery
side. But, you know, my heart and soul, and his
heart and soul are very similar.
With this team, you’ve had the chance to
work alongside some great drivers, and Erica
Enders has really made a point to mention the
impact you’ve had on her. What’s that been
like for you and how has that dynamic worked
between you two?
It helps keep me set right. First off, we’re very
open when it comes to racing and cars, and our
setups. Erica is a very consistent, very methodical
With your business obligations,
you’re obviously a fan of the reduced
18-race schedule. How has that benefitted you,
both as a driver and a businessman?
I mean, honestly, the racing has always been
a kind of a second job. Outside of my family, our
business, JEGS, is the first call of action, if you
will. Having a job and then having a full-time
racing job is nothing I’m certainly complaining
about but, you know, it is definitely a lot, day in
and day out, week in and week out, month in and
month out, year in and year out, and decade in,
decade out. I mean I’ve done this in that fashion
for, you know, a good 25-plus years. So I think
the reduced schedule has given me an opportu-
WORKING WITH ELITE MOTORSPORTS
IN PRO STOCK HAS BEEN A THRILLING
JOY FOR COUGHLIN, WHO CAME OUT OF
RETIREMENT TO DRIVE WITH RICHARD
FREEMAN’S STANDOUT GROUP.
86 | D r a g
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Issue 146