Coughlin’s PM Camaro Rips Off Unofficial 262 MPH Blast In Testing

During a testing session conducted on Tuesday at the South Georgia Motorsports Park in Cecil, Ga., NHRA Pro Modified star Troy Coughlin ripped off what’s being regarded as the fastest speed ever recorded by a doorslammer – unofficially, of course – with a run of 5.902-seconds at a staggering 262.03 MPH. At roughly three miles per hour and change faster than the 258.71 MPH blast that Melanie Troxel ran last season, no doubt it will get the attention of the NHRA brass.

The validity of the run has been under debate since it was first reported, and because a time slip has yet to be produced, it will likely continue to be debated. After the NHRA slapped 50 pounds on the turbocharged Pro Modifieds during the off season and mandated a new spec turbocharger intended to create parity within the multi-power adder category, there’s definitely good reason to play “possum” if the numbers are legitimate. Nevertheless, the track hasn’t addressed the validity of the speed yet and so we’ll just add the obligatory asterisk next to this one for now and carry on.

The mastermind behind Coughlin’s JEG’S Camaro this season is none other than turbo tuning wizard to the stars Steve Petty, who entered the Pro Modified scene last season and instantly became a game-changer, just as he has in Outlaw 10.5 and every other nook and cranny of the sport that he’s had his hands in.

Petty tuned the R2B2 entries of Troxel, Leah Pruett, and Proline’s own Eric Dillard to wins at four of the 10 events last season and both ends of the record books at 5.772-seconds and the aforementioned 258.71 speed before bolting this winter to the JEG’S camp. Truth be told, when Petty is involved, virtually anything seems possible. Even 262.