GLENDORA, Calif. (Sept. 29, 2011) – The names represent generations of NHRA drivers and participants: Bob Tasca and Bob Tasca III; LE, GT and Gary Tonglet; Jeg Coughlin Sr. and Jeg Coughlin Jr.; John and Courtney Force. They are part of the NHRA “Nitro Generation,” which includes NHRA’s multi-generational fan base and participants at all levels of the sport. These multi-generational drivers will be the featured panelists at this year’s NHRA Breakfast at the SEMA Show, Wednesday, Nov. 2, from 7:30 – 9 a.m. in the Las Vegas Hilton Ballrooms A&B.
The much anticipated and popular annual NHRA Breakfast is part of the 2011 SEMA Show, the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world which draws the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center, Nov. 1-4, 2011. The NHRA Breakfast is open to all registered SEMA Show attendees. A continental breakfast will be served.
The panelists represent a true cross-section of the sport of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing with three of the four professional classes represented:
• The Tasca Family has been a part of drag racing since the beginning, when family patriarch Bob Tasca Sr. coined the phrase “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.” That passion and desire to win has been passed to his son Bob Tasca II and on to his grandson, Bob Tasca III, who is currently competing in the Funny Car ranks in his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang.
• A true family affair, the Tonglet family members have all shared a passion for NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racing. Tuned by father Gary Tonglet and his brother GT Tonglet, LE Tonglet won the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle world championship along with that year’s Auto Club Road to the Future Award as the season’s top rookie performer. GT, who won the rookie of the year award in 2001, has been involved in the sport since he was 14 years old when he became crew chief on his father’s NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle team.
• When you think of drag racing, you can’t help but think of JEGS Mail Order, founded by Jeg Coughlin Sr., an accomplished Top Fuel racer in the late ’60s and ’70s. It would be an understatement to say he passed down the passion of NHRA Drag Racing to his family. Jeg Jr. is the youngest of four Coughlin drag racing brothers who works during the week in the family business and races on the weekends.
• John Force never had any sons, but that didn’t stop the 15-time NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world champion from passing along his love of the sport to his daughters, Ashley, Brittany and the newest rising star, Courtney Force.
Bob Frey, the voice of NHRA, will emcee the NHRA Breakfast.
Tickets are now available for the NHRA Breakfast which is open to all SEMA Show participants, however registration is required for the event. Get your tickets now at www.SEMAShow.com/register.
