Looking to put the finishing touches on one of the best seasons of his career, John Coughlin will head for this weekend’s Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway. Coughlin, who has already won four races this season and wrapped up the North Central Division Top Dragster championship, will be racing his JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt in Super Stock eliminator.
“I’ve been racing a long time and this has been one of the most fun and most rewarding seasons of my career,” said Coughlin. “And, it isn’t over yet. The only thing I haven’t accomplished this year is win a national event and I’ve got one more chance to do it in Pomona. That would be a great way to cap off the season.”
Coughlin is currently ranked 12th in the Super Stock points standings, and he can earn a coveted spot in the top ten should he advance to the late rounds. Coughlin has won the Pomona finale before, driving to the Super Gas title in 1992, finishing second in the Super Gas points standings.
“There are hundreds of Super Stock racers that compete in NHRA events and to finish in the top ten is really a big accomplishment,” Coughlin noted. “The odds are overwhelming but it is within our grasp. If I can win just three or four rounds, I should be able to lock up a top ten finish, which means I can run a single digit number on my car next season.”
While Coughlin is focusing his attention on the Super Stock points battle, he has enlisted the services of reigning NHRA champion Ron Erks to pilot his JEGS.com dragster in the Super Comp category. Erks, of Clinton, Ohio, has enjoyed a successful title defense, winning a divisional event in Reading, Pa., and earning a runner-up finish at the Mac Tools U. S. Nationals in Indianapolis.
“Ron is a proven winner so even though he hasn’t raced my car before, I’m sure that he’ll adapt quickly,” said Coughlin. “He’s the type of racer who is capable of winning in just about any car. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him holding that big [NHRA Wally] trophy on Sunday night.”
Erks is the latest in a long line of Sportsman champions who have driven Coughlin’s race cars including Hugh Meeks, Anthony Bertozzi, and current Funny Car star “Fast Jack” Beckman. Bertozzi drove Coughlin’s car to the Super Stock win at the 2002 NHRA Finals event, the same year he was crowned the World Champion. Jeg Coughlin Jr., and Brad Plourd have also won national event titles while driving for John Coughlin.
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