At this point in time, it is widely known that Jeg Coughlin Jr. does not plan to be piloting a Pro Stock car in 2011, but the Cagnazzi Racing team which he so successfully drove the JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt for isn't going anywhere.

"We have a number of customers who will be utilizing our engines, [including] Rodger Brogdon and Steve Kent," said team owner Victor Cagnazzi. "And although we cannot announce it yet, we believe we will be [even more] involved with NHRA Pro Stock drag racing. Details will follow soon, I'm sure."

The team has been involved in NHRA Pro Stock since 2001, when established sportsman racer Cagnazzi slid into the driver's seat of a Pro Stock truck.

Within a couple of seasons, Cagnazzi Racing formed a Pro Stock car operation and since has been involved with some of the hottest drivers to race in the extremely competitive category, including young ace Dave Connolly, a 26-time NHRA national event winner; Aussie standout Shane Tucker, the 2006 Australian Drag Racing Series rookie of the year; and Jeg Coughlin Jr., a man who almost needs two hands to count his collective sportsman and professional championship titles and is No. 5 on the list of NHRA career Pro Stock wins with 52.

Victor Cagnazzi and company will continue to be part of Pro Stock despite Coughlin's new focus

At this point in time, it is widely known that Jeg Coughlin Jr. does not plan to be piloting a Pro Stock car in 2011, but the Cagnazzi Racing team which he so successfully drove the JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt for isn't going anywhere.

"We have a number of customers who will be utilizing our engines, [including] Rodger Brogdon and Steve Kent," said team owner Victor Cagnazzi. "And although we cannot announce it yet, we believe we will be [even more] involved with NHRA Pro Stock drag racing. Details will follow soon, I'm sure."

The team has been involved in NHRA Pro Stock since 2001, when established sportsman racer Cagnazzi slid into the driver's seat of a Pro Stock truck.

Within a couple of seasons, Cagnazzi Racing formed a Pro Stock car operation and since has been involved with some of the hottest drivers to race in the extremely competitive category, including young ace Dave Connolly, a 26-time NHRA national event winner; Aussie standout Shane Tucker, the 2006 Australian Drag Racing Series rookie of the year; and Jeg Coughlin Jr., a man who almost needs two hands to count his collective sportsman and professional championship titles and is No. 5 on the list of NHRA career Pro Stock wins with 52.

Tucker, a four-time finalist with two event titles on the Australian series circuit, recently acquired sponsorship from Monster Energy Drink to continue racing Down Under and will be looking to join the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series in the future. According to Cagnazzi, they are "still actively soliciting sponsorship" for the up-and-coming driver.

"As far as Dave, we are continuing to expand on the program," continued Cagnazzi.

Last season, Connolly rejoined the series at the fall event in Charlotte at zMax Dragway powered by Cagnazzi Racing engines and technical support with the aid of a joint business partnership between Industrial Distribution Group and Makita Industrial Power Tools.

While Connolly was on the outside of Pro Stock racing in 2009 and for most of last year, he kept his racing gloves warm in the sportsman ranks. In 2010, he picked up two Super Gas wins (one divisional and one national) and three Top Dragster victories (two divisional and one national) while also competing in Super Comp.

Most impressive, though, was Connolly's win for Cagnazzi Racing and their IDG and Makita partners over eventual 2010 Pro Stock Full Throttle Series champion Greg Anderson at Maple Grove Raceway; it was only Connolly's second Pro Stock race of the season.

Connolly's successful return was a big positive for the Cagnazzi camp and provided a pleasantly unforeseen infusion of excitement into the category, and it wasn't the only surprise for the drag racing community. Coughlin's decision to return to his sportsman racing roots took many unaware, but it didn't come as a total shock to all.

"I didn't know exactly what his plans were going to be until we discussed it, but I was aware that Jeg was really considering a number of things. We weren't in the dark," said Cagnazzi.

"We have a great relationship with the Coughlin family, and I imagine they will be part of whatever program we have with the JEGS brand; Jeg just won't be the driver. But I do wonder if somehow he'll be involved in Pro Stock a few races into the season."

 

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