The 50th Anniversary celebration of JEGS High Performance Parts got off to an early start Friday when Team JEGS racers Jeg Coughlin Jr. and his nephew Troy Coughlin Jr. unveiled special "50 Years" logos on their yellow and black hot rods.

Both men are racing at this weekend's ninth annual Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Jeg in Pro Stock and T.J. in Super Comp. Before the start of next season, all Team JEGS racecars and transporters will proudly display the "JEGS 50 Years 1960-2010" design.

"We're all very excited about the upcoming season and celebrating 50 years of JEGS being in business," Jeg Jr. said. "This milestone is something we're all extremely proud of and we plan on having a fun year both at JEGS headquarters and at the races.

The 50th Anniversary celebration of JEGS High Performance Parts got off to an early start Friday when Team JEGS racers Jeg Coughlin Jr. and his nephew Troy Coughlin Jr. unveiled special "50 Years" logos on their yellow and black hot rods.

Both men are racing at this weekend's ninth annual Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Jeg in Pro Stock and T.J. in Super Comp. Before the start of next season, all Team JEGS racecars and transporters will proudly display the "JEGS 50 Years 1960-2010" design.

"We're all very excited about the upcoming season and celebrating 50 years of JEGS being in business," Jeg Jr. said. "This milestone is something we're all extremely proud of and we plan on having a fun year both at JEGS headquarters and at the races.

"In today's day and age I think it's pretty impressive to reach 50 years of being in business. It speaks to the hundreds of wonderful associates we've had over the years and the consistency of product and service we've provided to our loyal customers over the years.

"Dad started this little speed shop 50 years ago in downtown Columbus with two employees and a big dream and now 50 years later we catalog thousands of parts and deliver millions of packages overnight worldwide. It's pretty incredible to stop and think about how far we've come in the last half century."

Family patriarch Jeg Coughlin Sr., who regularly attends the races to assist his four sons and ever-growing number of grandchildren, reflected on the company's growth with pride.

"It's been a phenomenal ride," Jeg Sr. said. "When you think about starting out as a little project all these years back and then look at our facilities now, it humbles you. I credit the boys with so much of our success. I ran the thing for 27 years and then sold it to them and they turned around and took us from a $20 million-a-year shop to a $200 million-a-year company since then. That speaks volumes to the work they've done.

"I'm especially proud of the fact we've taken this business and used it to make our family closer than most. Between the family aspect of what we do and the good decisions we've collectively made along the way, to me that's been the difference."

Jeg Jr. runs the company along with older brothers John, Troy, and Mike. JEGS Mail Order currently employs 320 associates throughout Central Ohio.

"Like most businesses that do well, we've been fortunate enough to have great people working with us through the years," Jeg Jr. said. "I think we now have 25 or so employees that have been with us for at least 20 years with a few of them in the 40-year range. They're all a big part of this and they're as much a part of the equation as anyone in the family.

"We're now starting to see a third generation of Coughlin's and many associates coming into the business and that's exciting too because you can see that this deal is going to continue on for many more years."

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