NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS RECAP: TROY COUGHLIN JR. TAKES JEGS TO FINAL ROUND

May 3, 2026 scmotorsportsmedia Drag Racing, Elite Motorsports, NHRA, NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, Southern Nationals

By: Elite Motorsports (Photos Courtesy Elite Motorsports)

TROY COUGHLIN JR., JEGS
Qualifying: No. 15
11.959 seconds at 73.66 mph
E1: 6.609 at 209.98 def. Eric Latino, -.006 red
E2: 6.632 at 209.46 def. Deric Kramer 10.172 at 96.03
Semis: 6.636 at 206.83 def. Erica Enders 28.224 at 22.05
Finals: 6.643 at 208.59 lost to Dallas Glenn 6.642 at 211.39

Unofficial points standing: 10th

Notes:
*Sold out crowd
*41st running of Southern Nationals, first at South Georgia Motorsports Park.
*Troy Coughlin Jr.’s round one win broke a six race losing streak.

“The consistency is coming. I mean, we’re definitely trying to align everything to get this thing to be faster. The guys are making great power in the dyno, and they’re working around the clock to make good smoke on the dyno, and I think Kyle Bates, Anthony Lum, Chase Freeman, Tim Freeman, Mark Ingersoll, Jake Harrison and the whole crew chief lounge upstairs is working their tails off trying to get all these cars to be competitive, but it’s a big challenge especially with who you’re up against and what they’re doing. But I’m having a lot of fun. It’s an honor to race with these guys because it’s a family and it’s very passionate. Like, right now, I’m devastated, you know? If I just would have done a little bit better job on the starting line, then we’re on a podium right now. So I’m gonna go home, and when we land, I’m gonna go over to the shop, get on the simulator, and keep cracking it, just trying to get a little faster and bring home one of these NHRA 75th anniversary Wally’s sooner rather later.”

ERICA ENDERS, Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / R+L Carriers
Qualifying: No.14
11.141 seconds at 80.93 mph
Race results: Beat Aaron Stanfield, Kenny Delco

GREG STANFIELD, Janac Brothers Racing
Qualifying: No. 4
6.526 seconds at 210.50 mph
Race results: Beat Shane Tucker, Brandon Miller

JEG COUGHLIN JR., JEGS
Qualifying: No. 8
6.547 seconds at 210.57 mph
Race Results: Lost to Dallas Glenn

AARON STANFIELD, Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / Janac Brothers Racing
Qualifying: No. 3
6.525 seconds at 210.60 mph
Race results: Lost to Erica Enders