Doug Coby celebrates winning the pole Saturday for Sunday’s Whelen Modified Tour Sunoco World Series 150 at Thompson Speedway
THOMPSON – Before heading to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Sept. 26 F.W. Webb 100 Doug Coby said he was going to need to get poles and wins at the final three events of the season to claw back to title contention.
It’s seemed a hefty plate of accomplishment to sweep qualifying and wins for the final three races of the Whelen Modified Tour season.
Now Coby stands one step from accomplishing that goal.
Coby, of Milford, captured the pole in qualifying Saturday for Sunday’s season ending Whelen Modified Tour Sunoco World Series 150 at Thompson Speedway.
It was the third consecutive pole for Coby, who ended up winning at New Hampshire and also winning in the NAPA Fall Final 150 at Stafford Motor Speedway on Oct. 4.
Coby, who is the defending series champion and also the 2012 champion, goes into the final event tied at the top of the standings with Ryan Preece of Berlin. Woody Pitkat of Stafford sits third in the standings, four points behind Coby and Preece. With six victories this season, Coby holds the tiebreaker over Preece (four wins) and Pitkat (one win).
“Getting the pole is a huge thing for anybody here,” Coby said. “It’s the last race of the season and it’s nice to start up front and set the pace early. Obviously the points battle here is something that’s really exciting for our series. … It’s something that brings national attention to the Modified Tour. It’s crazy because it’s just so tight. The times are so close. We just had a good car today in practice and in time trials I backed up.”
Coby toured the .625-mile Thompson Speedway oval in 18.566 seconds (121.189 mph). Timmy Solomito of Islip, N.Y. was second in qualifying (18.620 seconds, 120.838 mph).
Pitkat will start third after a qualifying effort at 18.640 seconds (120.708 mph). Pitkat has never finished better than ninth in the series standings.
“We had a good car,” Pitkat said. “We were fast all day in practice. I got a good draw. I thought we were going to have a chance. Obviously Doug put down a really good lap. All in all it’s been a good year and I think we’re going to have a good year. We’ll see what happens.”
Preece will start fifth (18.674 seconds, 120.488 mph).
Coby has won all three Whelen Modified Tour events at Thompson this season. Pitkat has two runner-up finishes and a fifth place. Preece has a fifth, sixth and seventh in three events.
Preece won the series championship in 2013. Coby and Preece have finished 1-2 in the standings the last three seasons.
“It certainly different,” Coby said. “Ryan and I, it’s four years in a row that the two of us have been mathematically capable of winning a championship. But I feel that this is totally a different atmosphere coming into this weekend because all three of us know that the only way to guarantee it is to win the race and lead the most laps. We’ve never been in that position before.”
Said Preece: “I’m happy with my car. I feel like we’re going to be in good shape. I think it’s going to be a tough race. I feel like it’s going to be a hell of a points battle.”
Qualifying Results
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour – Sunoco World Series 150 Lineup
Race Sunday; Qualifying Saturday
at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
Thompson, Conn.
Lap Length: 0.625 miles
1. (2) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 121.189
2. (16) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Ford, 120.838
3. (88) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 120.708
4. (22) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 120.501
5. (6) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Chevrolet, 120.488
6. (8) Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y., Chevrolet, 119.923
7. (46) Jeff Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 119.872
8. (51) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 119.764
9. (11) John Beatty, Jr., Merrick, N.Y., Chevrolet, 119.719
11. (14) Max Zachem, Preston, Conn., Chevrolet, 119.655
12. (58) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 119.516
13. (17) Kyle Ellwood, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 119.497
14. (4) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Dodge, 119.465
33. (13) James Civali, Meriden, Conn., Chevrolet, 119.325
15. (9) Chase Dowling, Roxbury, Conn., Chevrolet, 119.256
16. (44) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 119.231
10. (31) Steve Masse, Bellingham, Mass., Chevrolet, 119.655
17. (75) Shawn Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 119.111
18. (07) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, N.Y., Chevrolet, 119.098
19. (89) Matt Swanson, Acton, Mass., Chevrolet, 119.048
20. (57) Keith Rocco, Wallingford, Conn., Chevrolet, 118.646
21. (36) Dave Sapienza, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 118.116
22. (56) Craig Lutz, Miller Place, N.Y., Chevrolet, 118.042
24. (15) Ray Graham, Fulton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 117.727
25. (18) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 117.389
26. (64) Anthony Nocella, Woburn, Mass., Chevrolet, 117.078
27. (41) Kyle Soper, Manorville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 116.508
29. (99) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 114.778*
28. (33) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Chevrolet, 115.201*
30. (26) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Chevrolet, 112.759*
32. (01) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 110.143*
23. (82) Danny Watts, Jr., Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 117.986*
* Provisional Starter
Did Not Qualify: George Perreault
Looks like another follow the leader race , coby wins ….. Thank god for football on Sunday…..
Typical NASCAR race. You start the fastest cars up front, that’s what happens.
Some type of inverted start is what the tour needs to promote more passing. Pay points to qualify and then pick numbers 4,6.8,or 10 out of a hat or something similar. Then invert that number of cars. Starting the fastest at the front makes for a lot of boring races.
Rich O, I agree. Some kind of handicapping or invert makes for a lot more exciting race.
Really? its been decided its a boring race. Before it has even started. The championship could come down to the last lap. Lets let the race occur before we deem it boring.
Bob called it. Coby walked away with it.