THOMPSON – Ending the streak. That’s the mission for everyone on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour when it comes to competing at Thompson Speedway.
Reigning Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore has won the last six series events at Thompson Speedway dating back to the 2018 Icebreaker 150.
Wednesday five-time series champion Doug Coby will begin that mission from the front of the field.
Coby, of Milford, won the pole in qualifying for Wednesday’s Whelen Modified Tour Budweiser King of Beers 150 at Thompson Speedway.
It was the seventh pole in 11 Whelen Modified Tour events this year for Coby.
“It’s always important here,” Coby said. “It’s nice to get out front and set a good pace. We just have a great car. We’ve had a great car for the last three or four races in a row here. It seems like we’re fast in practice and then qualifying. Hopefully we make the right adjustments tonight. A nice three-tire stop tonight, that will make me happy. Hopefully we can seal the deal tonight and knock off [Bonsignore].”
Coby toured the. 625-mile oval at Thompson with a fast lap of 18.719 seconds in group qualifying.
Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, N.Y. was second fastest in qualifying at 18.807 seconds. Bobby Santos III of Franklin, Mass. will start third after a fast lap of 18.851 seconds in qualifying.
Bonsignore, of Holtsville, N.Y., will start fourth after putting up a lap of 18.862 seconds.
“I’m just excited to have a shot at another win here,” Bonsignore said.
Jimmy Blewett of Howell, N.J. rounded out the top-five in qualifhyig with a lap of 18.921 seconds.
Did he say how f—en happy he was to win pole or was he able to control himself