NHRA Pro Mods at Norwalk, Ohio

Coughlin Breaks Through

Words by Jeff Burk
Photos by Richard Muir

The NHRA Pro Mod cars are allowed three types of power booster: nitrous oxide injection, supercharger or turbochargers. Pro Mod veteran and 2012 NHRA World Champ Troy Coughlin driving his turbocharged rat-motored ‘Vette raced to his first win of the 2014 NHRA season Sunday, July 6. Coughlin got his win by beating Von Smith driving the supercharged Al-Anabi backed Camaro tuned by Howard Moon.

Eric Latino

The race was over almost as soon as it started when Smith had an unconscious .125 RT compared to Coughlin’s stellar .018 RT. Coughlin had a respectable lap with a 5.940 at 250.92 against Smith’s better but losing 5.920 at 243.99. Coughlin got to the stripe about .050 before Von Smith despite a higher ET and slower speed.

The Delaware, Ohio, native’s road to victory started with a holeshot win over Canadian Eric Latino in round one. Coughlin had a.030 RT combined with a 5.952/249+ clocking to easily hold off Latino’s quicker 5.933/244+ effort and a .074 RT. 

Coughlin followed that with another victory by going 5.950 at 249.63 against Mike Janis and advanced to the final round by powering past reigning Pro Mod world champion and current points leader Rickie Smith in the semis. With the victory, Coughlin jumped to ninth in the Pro Mod points standings.