In an unexpected announcement that was released on Saturday it was announced that Troy Coughlin Jr. has resigned from his driving position at Kalitta Motorsports. Coughlin was sitting in 10th place coming into next week’s Chevrolet Performance US Nationals and was in a pitched battle with Kalitta teammate Shawn Langdon for the last spot in NHRA’s championship countdown program.

The year has not been a smooth one for the talented Coughlin who has won in virtually everything else he has ever driven from pro modified to multiple sportsman classes and he has collected wins at big money sportsman drag races as well.

In the release below, Coughlin cites the need for spending more time in a top alcohol dragster to hone his skills at the speeds he was running in top fuel. We think it is beyond admirable and refreshing in today’s day and age that a guy would have the backbone to make this decision which could not have been easy.

Troy is not done drag racing, in fact we expect to be seeing even more of him in the coming months as he gets back into sportsman cars and picks right back up where he left off.

We expect an announcement regarding who will drive the Sealmaster top fuel dragster in the coming days.

Here’s the full statement from Troy Coughlin Jr. –

Troy Coughlin Jr. has removed himself from the seat of the SealMaster Top Fuel dragster, citing a desire to get more experience in the Top Alcohol Dragster ranks. The third-generation driver has been racing the Kalitta Motorsports entry for the first 17 races of the 2017 season.

Coughlin sits 10th in points, qualified for the Countdown to the Championship at the time of his resignation. His departure all but clears the way for his teammate, Shawn Langdon, to overtake him at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, the final event of the regular season.

“I want to thank everyone at Kalitta Motorsports for such an incredible opportunity,” Coughlin said. “It was a dream come true to race for Connie Kalitta and Jim Oberhofer. My teammates, Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon, Alexis DeJoria and JR Todd as well as everyone at SealMaster have been extremely supportive.

“Obviously, my rookie year hasn’t turned out like we wanted but everyone showed incredible faith in what we were doing and my development as a driver. I just want to take a step back and get some more seat time in an injected nitro dragster.”

Oberhofer, Coughlin’s crew chief and the vice president of motorsports for the Kalitta race team, understands his young driver’s decision.

“Kalitta Motorsports fully supports Troy Jr’s decision to take a step towards growing as a driver and will help him in any way possible to reach his goals,” Oberhofer said. “His action shows remarkable character; doing what it takes to become the best.”

By racing in Top Fuel, Coughlin is following in the footsteps of his famous grandfather, Jeg Coughlin Sr., who raced in the class in the late ’70s.

The son of two-time Pro Mod world champ Troy Coughlin, Troy Jr. is a five-time NHRA national event winner and the first third-generation Coughlin to win a major event. Troy Jr. won Super Comp titles at the 2009 Las Vegas race and the 2010 U.S. Nationals and the Gainesville event in 2013. He also won a pair of national events in 2014 at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals and the JEGS Northern SPORTSnationals.

Troy Jr. was the 2013 NHRA North Central Division Super Gas champion. During his career, Troy Jr. has appeared in nine Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional final rounds and has claimed
three victories.

In addition to his success in NHRA events, Troy Jr. also is regarded as one of the sport’s best E.T. bracket racers. He has accumulated several major victories including a $25,000 payday at the Atco Dragway Superbucks event and a $10,000 win the Spring Buck Blast at South Georgia
Motorsports Park.

“I hope to be drag racing my entire life so this is not the end by any means,” Troy Jr. said. “This is just something I felt I needed to do at this time. I’ll be back racing in the Sportsman ranks very soon.”