Jeg Coughlin Sr.
Like most of the people involved in the sport of drag racing, Jeg Coughlin Sr. began his involvement in the sport during his high school years. His first effort behind the wheel was in a 1936 Ford five window coupe which doubled as a daily driver and a weekend racer. In 1959 he entered a blown Chevrolet powered 1955 Chevy two-door sedan in D/Gas as his first participation in a national event and went home with the class trophy. From that humble beginning Jeg went on to become a dominant force in a variety of cars and as many different classes.
In 1960 he opened the doors to Jeg’s Automotive, Inc. in Columbus, Ohio. Over the past 50+ years the company has evolved into Jeg’s High Performance and has become one of the largest and most successful mail order speed equipment business is in the world. Nearly three decades after Jeg’s original speed shop was born, he helped his four sons John, Troy, Mike, and Jeg Jr purchase the operation and under their collective guidance the small family business continues to be a dominant force within the performance industry and the racing world.
While building his business into what it is today, Jeg was also busy on the race track. Over the years he has participated in top fuel dragsters, top alcohol dragsters, funny cars, pro-stock, A/Gas Supercharged C/S, D/Gas Supercharged C/S, C Stock, C Gas, modified eliminator, pro comp, and super eliminator. The results of all his participation reads like something out of a movie. He notched four NHRA North Central Division Championships, three in AA/Fuel dragster in 1977, 1978, in 1979. One in pro comp in 1976. He also accumulated a total of 30 NHRA di0visional wins that includes 11 consecutive victories in top alcohol dragster, six in pro comp, four in AA/Fuel dragster, one in super eliminator. The rest are spread out over the various remaining classes he participated in.
Jeg Sr’s career isn’t just highlighted with his on-track victories, he is a member of the Hot Rod Magazine Hall of Fame, the NHRA North Central Division Hall of Fame, the Olentangy Business Hall of Fame in Powell Ohio, and in 2002 received Car Craft Magazine’s highest award, the Ollie Award. On top of all these awards, Jake was named the Ernst & Young Master Entrepreneur of the Year recipient in 2002. He and his family also created the privately funded Jeg’s Foundation for Cancer Research and the “Racing for Research” program which has raised several million dollars for cancer research since its inception.
Jeg Sr’s off-track activities also include supporting his children and grandchildren and their many activities. His four boys each actively compete in drag racing. John in comp and top dragster, Troy in pro mod, Mike and top sportsmen, and five-time NHRA champion Jeg Jr. racing in a variety of different classes but most visible in pro stock. Now the third generation of Coughlin’s can be found competing in super comp, late-model, junior dragsters, and quarter midgets. As a side note, the Coughlin clan’s activities aren’t limited to racing, they are also into golf, ice-skating, horse riding, and stick and ball sports so Jeg Sr. has established a well-rounded legacy.