Pit Box: Hometown Drivers Look To Steal The Show For Whelen Modified Tour Return To Wall Stadium

(Press Release from NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)

After the first four races on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule, five-time series champion Doug Coby is clearly back in prime form.

The Milford, Connecticut, driver has two checkered flags already, and leads the championship standings by 17 points over Patrick Emerling.

But when the series makes a stop at Wall Stadium Speedway on Saturday for the first time since 2007, hometown drivers that have more experience at the banked third-mile could be the ones to shine.

JERSEY SHORE 150 AT WALL STADIUM SPEEDWAY

Just about all of the tracks on the Whelen Modified Tour schedule have drivers that have some type of home track advantage. Last Saturday afternoon, it was Coby, who is a former champion in Stafford Motor Speedway’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions, who took his home track advantage and picked up his 12th Whelen Modified Tour win at Stafford and 26th career win.

Heading to Wall Stadium, Coby definitely doesn’t have that ‘home track’ feel, but he is one of few drivers in the field that does have laps there in Whelen Modified Tour competition. Coby has two starts at Wall driving for Don King, with a best finish of ninth back in 2004. During an interview last week at Stafford, Coby named Wall as one of his favorite tracks to race — which could spell trouble for others.

Jimmy Blewett, who is a multiple-time champion in Wall’s weekly Modified division, might be the clear favorite to win. Blewett has previous experience on the Whelen Modified Tour there — picking up the victory in the most recent stop at the New Jersey oval in 2007. His experience at Wall on a weekly basis, where he dominated the season last year in the local class, could certainly pay off in a big way.

RACING-REFERENCE: Previous Whelen Modified Tour Races at Wall Stadium

Andrew Krause, another runner in the weekly Modified division for many years, also knows the track like the back of his hand, both on the track and off. Krause’s family are the current operators of the New Jersey facility.

Blake Barney, another rising star on the Whelen Modified Tour, also has plenty of experience at Wall, driving multiple different cars there in his career, including Modifieds. And there are more.

Wall runs the annual ‘Turkey Derby’ each year, a tour-type modified event that many Whelen Modified Tour regulars end their season with. Dave Sapienza, who has a best career finish of second, won the Derby last November. Boehler Racing driver Matt Swanson also competed in last year’s event.

RACE FACTS

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CREW CHIEF HANDOUT

The starting field for the Jersey Shore 150 is limited to 28 starters, including provisional positions. The first 22 drivers will secure starting positions through the qualifying process. The remaining six positions will be awarded through the provisional process.

Two consecutive qualifying laps will be used for this event. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time. Vehicles will be impounded after qualifying and must qualify on race set up. After qualifying, all vehicles will proceed to the  impound area. Only minor adjustments will be permitted following qualifying.

The Jersey Shore 150 will be run in two segments. There will be a three (3) minute break at or near the conclusion of lap 100. Once the yellow flag is displayed, the caution vehicle will pick up the field. Once the field is under control, pit road will be opened to the caution vehicle. Any vehicles that wish to pit shall pull on to pit road to their assigned pit stall. Vehicles must park in their pit stall. No work is to be performed at the break until advised by NASCAR officials. All participants in the event will be allowed to make changes that will occur during a routine pit stop. In NASCAR’s judgement, any unauthorized adjustments that are performed may be assessed a penalty. A maximum of five (5) uniformed crew members in the vehicle servicing area. During the break, you will be allowed to change three (3) tires and add fuel. Fuel cannot be added at the same time that the tires are being changed. At the two (2) minute mark, start moving your vehicle to the track behind the vehicles that did not pit. The caution vehicle will roll at the three (3) minute mark. At the end of the break, vehicles will line up with lead lap vehicles to the front.

The maximum tire allotment available for this event is ten (10) tires per team. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. The tire change rule is three (3) tires, any position.