Doug Coby Leads The Way In Whelen Modified Tour Icebreaker 150 Practices At Thompson

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THOMPSON – When it comes to Thompson Speedway and Doug Coby’s Mike Smeriglio Racing NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour team, speed is rarely something the group has a hard time finding. 

It was the five-time series champion Coby dropping some knowledge on social media Saturday morning when he pointed out that in 19 events at Thompson Speedway since he joined Mike Smeriglio Racing in 2014, his team has qualified in the top-four 17 times and finished in the top-six 16 times. 

The champ and his crew chief Phil Moran know their way around the historic .625-mile Thompson oval. 

And they showed Saturday afternoon that a winter away wasn’t enough to make them forget the fast lane at Thompson. 

Coby, of Milford, led the way in the both practice sessions Saturday in preparation for Sunday’s Whelen Modified Tour Icebreaker 150 at Thompson. 

Coby, of New Milford, toured the oval with a fast lap of 18.641 seconds (120.702 mph) in the first session. He backed that up with a fast lap of 18.554 seconds (121.268 mph).

Coby saw his championship streak ended after four consecutive in 2018, with Justin Bonsigore grabbing his first series title. Coby, who also won the series title for owner Wayne Darling in 2012, comes into the Icebreaker leading the standings by one point over Jimmy Blewett. Coby won the season opening event at Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Speedway on March 16. 

Bonsignore, of Holtsville, N.Y., was second fastest in the first practice at 18.704 seconds (120.295 mph). Matt Swanson of Acton, Mass. was third fastest during the first of two Saturday practices at 118.823 seconds (119.535 mph). 

Burt Myers of Walnut Cove, N.C. was fourth fastest during the first session at 18.858 seconds (119.313 mph). Myers comes into the event third in the series standings, five points behind Coby. 

Ron Silk of Norwalk, coming off a victory at South Boston (Va.) Speedway last Saturday was fifth fastest in practice number one (18.906 seconds, 119.010 mph).

Bonsignore (18.603 seconds, 120.948 mph) was second in the second session. Kyle Bonsignore (18.823 seconds, 119.535 mph) was third, Myers (18.825 seconds, 119.522 mph) fourth and Silk (18.827 seconds, 119.509) fifth in the second practice.