Starting Line Advantages Were Key To Early Success For Elite Motorsports Team
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 12, 2023) – Troy Coughlin Jr. raced his Elite Motorsports JEGS.com Camaro to the first Pro Stock win of the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series today at the 54th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. This is the third Pro Stock win of the talented driver’s career and the first time he’s won an event with his grandfather, Jeg Coughlin Sr., and his father, Troy Coughlin Sr., in attendance.
Coughlin kicked off race day from the pole position with the fastest and quickest pass of his career when he laid down a stunning run of 6.515-seconds at 212.29 mph. Matching his elapsed time was his teammate and five-time world champion Erica Enders who landed in the No. 2 spot based on mph. Cristian Cuadra achieved a new personal best elapsed time during qualifying with his pass of 6.527 at 211.06.
“To win with my grandfather here today is pretty surreal,” said Coughlin. “He’s the man who pretty much started it all for us as far as drag racing goes. And he’s built an iconic brand. It’s just fun. This morning I was thinking, ‘The chief’s coming today.’ And it fired me up. It’s an honor to have him here.”
A malfunction with Enders’ car gave her rookie teammate Jerry Tucker the first-round win of his Pro Stock career and Coughlin outpaced Pro Stock legend, Larry Morgan. Tucker and Coughlin were the only two Elite Motorsports drivers to advance past the first round.
In the quarterfinals, Tucker left a tick too early against veteran Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson. Coughlin got the starting line advantage over Deric Kramer and held on to that lead for the round win. In the semifinals, Coughlin defeated Dallas Glenn on a holeshot thanks to another great light.
In the final heat of the day, Coughlin powered his Elite Motorsports machine into the winners circle against Pro Stock up-and-comer Mason McGaha.
In the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports, Mason Wright qualified No. 10 in a stacked category with a fantastic run of 5.828 at 245.49. He cut a solid light in the first round of eliminations against Doug Winters but it did not prove to be enough to turn on the win light.
The Elite Motorsports team will head to Phoenix in two weeks for the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Motorsports Park, March 24-26.
Rookie driver Jerry Tucker made a standout performance at the first event of his Pro Stock career. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)
Erica Enders qualified No. 2 in a stacked Pro Stock category at the NHRA Gatornationals. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)
Bo Butner lays down a smokey burnout in his JHG Camaro in Gainesville. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery
Cristian Cuadra achieved a new personal best elapsed time at the NHRA Gatornationals in his Corral Boots Mustang. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)
Fernando Cuadra Sr. debuted a new look for his Corral Boots Mustang this season. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)
Aaron Stanfield launches his Janac Brothers / JC3 Energy Camaro at Gainesville Raceway. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)
Fernando Cuadra Jr. has a new look for his Corral Boots Mustang this season. (Photo credit: Auto Imagery)