Troy Coughlin Wins NMCA Pro Street Championship

Following an almost three-decade struggle, a period of time in which he fought hard to achieve his first win of a national title, drag racer Troy Coughlin managed to do it. He succeeded in taking the title over the past weekend, at the Memphis Motorsports Park.

"Now I know what it feels like," Coughlin said after the event. "I've celebrated all of my brothers championships over the years and enjoyed them all immensely, but I always wanted to get one for myself. Now I know the feeling, just like my brothers, just like John Force and Tony Schumacher and all the others who have been lucky enough to win it all. It's pretty special."

The title was, at least in theory, won from some time now, as the victories in Chicago and Charlotte, the setting of a new national record at 6.279 seconds and the steady track this season allowed Coughlin to sit back an enjoy the ride.

Still, he decided not to risk anything and blasted through the semifinals, resetting both ends of the national record with a quarterfinal run of 6.277 at 225.08 mph.

"I owe so much to my crew guys -- Clint Allerton, Brian Metzenheim, and Mike Rees. I'm so proud of them and for them. They've worked so hard for a long time to reach this goal. I could see on their faces this weekend how important it was to them."

"They were all business until we clinched the title, and then they stayed on it until the end, just to make sure we got it done. They are the best."

The Coughlin family is all in celebration these days, after Mike Coughlin secured a dramatic victory against Ricky Adkins at NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Silver Dollar Raceway in Reynolds, Ga.