Front Row Fury: Doug Coby On Pole For Whelen Mod Tour NAPA Fall Final 150 At Stafford

Doug Coby celebrates winning the pole Saturday for Sunday’s Whelen Modified Tour NAPA Fall Final 150 at Stafford Motor Speedway

STAFFORD – And they meet again.

Last week’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour F.W. Webb 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway ended with Ryan Preece spinning out of the lead on the last lap after a tap from Doug Coby.

Coby, of Milford, went on to win the race. Preece finished 19th and lost his place as the series points leader.

Sunday at Stafford Motor Speedway it won’t take long for the two reacquaint themselves on the half-mile oval for the Whelen Modified Tour NAPA Fall Final 150.

The pair will take the field to green side-by-side on the front row for the NAPA Fall Final 150.

Coby won the pole for event in qualifying Saturday at Stafford. Preece, of Berlin, was second fastest in qualifying.

“Stafford might sell a few more tickets now,” Preece said.

Said Coby: “It’s only fitting that that’s what would happen.”

Coby, the reigning series champion and 2012 champion, toured Stafford with a fast lap of 18.329 seconds (98.205 mph) in qualifying. Preece, the 2013 series champ, turned a fast lap of 18.428 seconds (97.677 mph).

Timmy Solomito of Islip, N.Y. was third fastest in qualifying (18.441 seconds, 97.609).

While the emotions of the event at Loudon might still linger, both Coby and Preece agree, the big picture of the championship chase is the focus with two events remaining. Woody Pitkat, looking for his first series title. He holds an eight point lead in the standings over Preece. Coby is third in the standings, 11 points behind. Pitkat will start 10th Sunday.

The season finale Sunoco World Series 150 is Oct. 18 at Thompson Speedway.

“We’ve both got to survive to the end,” Coby said. “And more importantly we both have to survive to Thompson. I think tomorrow is just going to be about trying to stay out front as long as we can and try to get the bonus points and I know [Preece is] going to want the bonus points. Certainly it’s something that people have to remember is that we’re both pretty far behind [Pitkat] in the point standings. This isn’t about Ryan vs. Doug. This is about Woody being the point leader and the two of us trying to catch him. I’m thinking more about Woody and making up ground on him than anything with Ryan.”

Preece, who was left fuming after the event at Loudon, said the angry emotions are behind.

“I’ve never really been one to let emotions get the best of me,” Preece said. “I know what I have to do these last two races to win that championship and that’s win these races at all costs. We’ll let it be like that.”

Coby went into the New Hampshire Motor Speedway event 25 points out of the lead and talking about trying to be perfect for the final three events to claw his way back into contention. He’s now halfway to the perfection, having won the pole and the event in Loudon and the pole at Stafford.

“I want to make sure that [Pitkat] is behind us most of the day,” Coby said. “We’ll have a good enough car to win, but I know Ryan is going to be really strong and Woody is going to be strong. Timmy Solomito was fast, [Bobby Santos III] was fast, all those were fast. This isn’t about me vs. Ryan anymore. We’ve got to get through the day tomorrow and try to win. We’re good, we just don’t know how good. I want to make sure that [Pitkat] is behind us most of the day.”

Said Preece: “We have a really good car. … I know in the race, we have a car that seems to get better after three or four laps. That’s nice. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow and I guess now I’m looking forward to it even more.”

Qualifying Results
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour – NAPA Fall Final 150 Lineup
Race Sunday; Qualifying Saturday
at Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford, Conn.
Lap Length: 0.5 miles
1. (2) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 98.205
2. (6) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Chevrolet, 97.677
3. (16) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Ford, 97.609
4. (44) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 97.487
5. (8) Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y., Chevrolet, 97.355
6. (22) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 97.182
7. (9) Chase Dowling, Roxbury, Conn., Chevrolet, 97.087
8. (59) Ronnie Williams, Ellington, Conn., Chevrolet, 96.978
9. (58) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 96.899
10. (88) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 96.894
11. (51) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 96.629
12. (13) James Civali, Meriden, Conn., Chevrolet, 96.582
13. (14) Max Zachem, Preston, Conn., Chevrolet, 96.097
14. (75) Shawn Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 95.980
15. (4) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Dodge, 95.816
16. (64) Anthony Nocella, Woburn, Mass., Chevrolet, 95.450
17. (07) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, N.Y., Chevrolet, 95.450
18. (99) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 95.077
19. (89) Matt Swanson, Acton, Mass., Chevrolet, 94.922
20. (36) Dave Sapienza, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 94.558
21. (31) Steve Masse, Bellingham, Mass., Chevrolet, 94.285
22. (18) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 94.236
23. (46) Jeff Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 93.750
24. (37) Dave Salzarulo, Enfield, Conn., Chevrolet, 93.434
25. (26) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Chevrolet, 91.487
26. (01) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 83.141
27. (33) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Chevrolet, No speed