JEGS has joined the United States Auto Club's family of corporate sponsors for 2009 and will serve as the title sponsor for April 4 and September 19 USAC National Midget races at Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway.

Founded in 1960 by Jeg Coughlin Sr., whose son Jeg Jr. is NHRA's 2008 Pro Stock Champion, JEGS has grown into a high-performance powerhouse that includes a race team, a quarter-million square-foot warehouse, three retail stores, mail order and website, headquartered in Delaware (Ohio).

"We're excited to align our company with a first-class organization like USAC," said John Coughlin, one of the four Coughlin brothers who own the high performance mail order parts giant in Delaware, Ohio. "Our roots are in NHRA drag racing but in recent years we've moved into NASCAR and had a great response from the race teams and the fans over there. We're hopeful that continues with this new venture in USAC.

"We sell high performance parts for enthusiasts of all forms of auto racing. We have lots of USAC teams using our products and that can only grow with this new partnership.

"I love the fact that USAC is helping get kids involved in motorsports through the Quarter Midgets, just like we do with the Junior Dragster class in NHRA. In fact, a third generation of Coughlins are already hitting the track, including my son Cody, who races Quarter Midgets in USAC. I know he'll want to go to as many races as possible in 2009 and that's going to be exciting, especially with JEGS being a part of USAC now."

"In this challenging and economically-drained climate, it is refreshing to know that companies like JEGS realize the great potential of motorsports sponsorship programs," says USAC President and CEO Kevin Miller. "We are obviously delighted to have them on board for 2009 and look forward to a lasting mutually-beneficial relationship."

The Ohio capital has hosted 35 USAC races since Rex Easton's 50-lap Midget victory in September of 1957 at CMS. Tracy Hines, who emerged as USAC's 2008 "Super License" Champion, won the last USAC race at CMS, a Sprint race in 2006. Bobby Santos III, who recently claimed the "Turkey Night Grand Prix" at Irwindale, Calif., won the last USAC Midget race at CMS, held the same night as Hines' victory.

"We are also excited to return to Columbus Motor Speedway in 2009," added Miller. "The Nuckles Family have provided a great venue for our participants and it has produced some memorable competition. We are deeply indebted to the Nuckles Family for their support of USAC and its activities."