Paige Coughlin

Paige Coughlin is a third-generation drag racer who carved her own path from NHRA sportsman racing into the wild, unpredictable world of Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings, proving she’s got the guts and the talent to hang with the outlaws.

EARLY YEARS

Born June 24, 2000, in Delaware, Ohio, Paige Genevieve Coughlin was introduced to drag racing at eight years old—basically before most kids figure out their times tables. But racing wasn’t her first love. Horses were. She spent her early years pursuing horseback riding with the kind of focus most kids reserve for video games. Racing was something she dabbled in here and there, more background noise than main event, as she grew up surrounded by one of drag racing’s most legendary families. Her father, Troy Coughlin Sr., is a three-time NHRA Pro Mod champion. Her brother, Troy Coughlin Jr., races Pro Stock. Her grandfather, Jeg Coughlin Sr., founded JEGS High Performance, the mail-order speed equipment empire. And her uncle, Jeg Coughlin Jr., is a five-time Pro Stock champion. Drag racing wasn’t just in her blood—it was practically her birthright.

By 14, Paige traded in the reins for the throttle and started racing seriously. She attended Worthington Christian School, graduating in 2018, before heading to Miami University of Ohio where she double-majored in Strategic Communication and Professional Writing—a smart move for someone who’d later need to promote herself in a sport dominated by dudes with big egos and bigger engines.

OTHER INTERESTS

Before she fully committed to drag racing, Paige was all about horses. She spent years riding and competing, channeling the same competitive fire she’d later bring to the track. It was a passion serious enough that racing took a backseat for a while. But eventually, the quarter-mile called louder than the saddle, and she made the switch that would define her career.

EARLY SUCCESS

Paige started racing at 14 and spent her early years cutting her teeth in NHRA sportsman classes, specifically Super Comp and E.T. bracket racing. She raced five times in 2017 while also traveling with her father and brother as Troy Sr. secured his third NHRA Pro Mod championship. By 2019, she was making serious noise in the Super Comp class, finishing as runner-up in the Midwest division—a legit accomplishment for someone barely out of her teens. In 2020, she earned a spot as the JEGS Allstar Representative for NHRA Division 3 in Super Comp, a distinction that proved she wasn’t just riding her family’s coattails—she was earning her own stripes.

After graduating from Miami University in spring 2022, Paige made a bold pivot. She left the structured, sanctioned world of NHRA racing and dove headfirst into the chaotic, cash-fueled arena of Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings. It was a gutsy move, but she wasn’t interested in playing it safe.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2019: Runner-up in Super Comp class, NHRA Midwest Division.
• 2020: Named JEGS Allstar Representative for NHRA Division 3 in Super Comp.
• 2022: Made her Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings debut at the season opener in Columbus, Ohio, at National Trail Raceway—her family’s home track—driving a 1992 ProCharged Camaro called “Golden Child.”
• 2023: Entered the Futures class and scored a win in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in just her fourth start, earning an invite to the main No Prep Kings series.
• 2024: Won the $40K Unfinished Business event at Maple Grove Raceway.
• 2024: Named to Drag Illustrated’s 30 Under 30 list alongside fiancé Johnny Tolisano.

INSPIRATIONS

Paige’s inspiration is woven into her DNA. Growing up watching her father dominate Pro Mod, her brother excel in Pro Stock, and her grandfather and uncle build a racing dynasty gave her a front-row seat to what excellence looks like. But rather than follow their exact blueprint, she’s been determined to forge her own path. She’s not interested in being “the Coughlin daughter”—she’s here to be Paige Coughlin, the racer who took on the Street Outlaws and held her own.

REPUTATION

Paige earned respect in the No Prep Kings world not because of her last name, but because she showed up, put in the work, and proved she could run with the big dogs. Partnering with Mike Rees, Justin Beaver, and her fiancé Johnny Tolisano—a fellow racer and engine builder with J&J Racing—she built Team Golden Child and turned heads with her driving. She’s known for being calm under pressure, sharp behind the wheel, and unafraid to take risks. Fans loved her because she was genuine, approachable, and never played the damsel card. She’s a third-generation racer who earned her seat at the table, and everyone knows it.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

The cancellation of the remainder of the 2025 Speed Promotions & Racing schedule sent shockwaves through the drag racing world, but Paige isn’t sitting still. While she won’t be doing burnouts in front of Discovery Channel cameras for the foreseeable future, she’s made it clear: she’s not done racing. “We are not done racing yet,” she said, thanking fans for their support and promising that Team Golden Child isn’t finished. Her racing career is only just beginning, and she’s carrying the momentum from her No Prep Kings experience into whatever comes next. Paige is also gearing up for a major life milestone—she’s marrying Johnny Tolisano on March 21, 2026, in Jupiter Farms, Florida. The couple got engaged at Palm Beach International Raceway, keeping it 100 percent drag racing through and through.

REFERENCES

Paige Coughlin – TeamJEGS
Paige Coughlin Makes Her “No Prep Kings” Debut – Dragzine
Paige Coughlin | Golden Child
Paige Coughlin is coming to the dark side of drag racing for 2022 – NoPrep.com
Speed Demon: Paige Coughlin (WC ’18) – Worthington Christian
Meet Street Outlaw Paige Coughlin and her car The Golden Child! – YouTube
Paige Genevieve Coughlin and John Joseph Tolisano III’s Wedding Website – Zola
Paige Coughlin Wins $40K Unfinished Business event at Maple Grove – YouTube
Paige Coughlin Reflects on No Prep Kings Experience, Looks Ahead After Outlaws Era Ends – Drag Illustrated
NHRA National Dragster highlights emerging sportsman stars – NHRA
Paige Coughlin Forges Her Own Path – Drag Illustrated
Super Comp driver Paige Coughlin thrilled to earn spot in her first JEGS Allstars race – TrackTalk
DI 30 Under 30 2024: Paige Coughlin and Johnny Tolisano – Drag Illustrated
Paige Coughlin Making Waves In Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings – Paige Coughlin Official
Introducing Miss Paige Coughlin – Drag Illustrated
Third-Generation Racer Paige Coughlin Makes Her “No Prep Kings” Debut With “Golden Child” Camaro – YouTube