Troy Coughlin Jr. Earns NHRA Top Fuel License|

3rd-generation driver Troy Coughlin Jr. completed the NHRA licensing procedure for Superlative Fuel dragster on Th at Wild Equus caballus Pass Motorsports Park under the watchful heart of father Troy Coughlin Sr. and grandfather Jeg Coughlin Sr.

Troy Jr. earned his Top Fuel license in the cockpit of Don Schumacher Racing's Red Fuel dragster, which is driven by Shawn Langdon.

"It was really wild," Troy Jr. said. "It'due south extremely fast, and it's very aggressive acceleration at its finest. I've always thought ability and dispatch brings great fascination to one's heed, and it truly is a wild, wild feeling the way this machine pulls from well-nigh 100 anxiety on."

Troy Jr. began working on his Top Fuel license last November, with past Tiptop Fuel champion Del Worsham every bit a mentor. Weather prevented Troy Jr. from finishing the procedure in 2015, and he wanted to earn the license as presently every bit possible.

Don Schumacher then offered Troy Jr. the adventure to consummate his license in a DSR dragster during NHRA Nitro Leap Training this week, and Troy Jr. jumped at the chance.

TJ Coughlin TF license 1 "Thank you to Don Schumacher and Don Schumacher Racing and all the guys on the Sandvik/Red Fuel team," Troy Jr. said. "They worked their butts off to go this affair ready and getting it staged and checking everything. It was extremely impressive how well they all worked together.

"And I take to thank Don for the opportunity to finish my licensing process. That's been awesome."

Troy Jr. made one half run and two total passes on Thursday to earn his license. His best laissez passer was 3.853 seconds at 321.81 mph.

Jeg Sr. raced Pinnacle Fuel and Funny Car during his Hall of Fame career as a driver, merely no other Coughlin family member had driven a nitro car since. Troy Jr. and his grandfather have a special relationship, and Jeg Sr. watched with pride as Troy Jr. made his runs Thursday.

"Pappy was pretty stoked," Troy Jr. said. "He had never seen whatever of his family run a nitro auto. He and I have talked most it a long time, and it really was an honor to accept him there, not but every bit a grandfather just as a fellow member of the history of the sport."

NHRA President Peter Clifford was one of the start to call and congratulate Troy Jr., who was appreciative of the telephone call.

"That was actually special for us," Troy Jr. said. "It's really cool that the sanctioning torso really cares almost the youth in the sport. Peter is working actually hard at getting our sport to smooth, and I have to credit Peter and all of the NHRA staff."

Troy Jr. won the Rookie of the Year Award in the NHRA Pro Modern Serial in 2015, but he'll focus on winning the Super Comp and Super Gas national championships this year. Plans for racing in Top Fuel are up in the air.

"Now nosotros'll see what our opportunities are to get race," Troy Jr. said. "A bulk of the 2022 flavor will be Sportsman racing with (crew chief) Justin Beaver and the JEGS.com guys. We'll look at our opportunities for what lies ahead for us in the Summit Fuel program."