Worth the Wait for Coby
It took a little longer, but Doug Coby finally took the checkered flag for the TSI Harley Davidson 125 Friday night at Stafford Motor Speedway in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour action.
The race was postponed twice by rain and then Coby had to outlast Justin Bonsignore and Bobby Santos in a green-white-checkered finish that pushed the race to 130 laps.
It is Coby’s 10th career win and sixth at the historic Connecticut half-mile. He took the lead Friday on Lap 7. Santos edged Coby at the line on the final restart but Coby powered back into the lead en route to winning for the fifth time in the last 10 races at Stafford.
Bonsignore got past Santos for second on the final lap. Santos had won the Coors Light Pole Award when qualifying was originally held on May 23.
Rowan Pennink and Woody Pitkat were fourth and fifth, respectively.
With the win, Coby took over the points lead from Bonsignore, 132-128. Pitkat is third in points at 123.
Ron Silk finished sixth, followed by Patrick Emerling, Ted Christopher, Ryan Preece and Glen Reen.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will be back in action Saturday, June 21 with the Mr. Rooter 161 at Connecticut’s Waterford Speedbowl.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-TSI Harley-Davidson 125
Unofficial Results
Friday
At Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford, Conn.
Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (2) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 130 laps, 73.446 mph.
2. (9) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, NY, Chevrolet, 130.
3. (1) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 130.
4. (6) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 130.
5. (10) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 130.
6. (4) Ron Silk, Norwalk, CT, Chevrolet, 130.
7. (5) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, NY, Chevrolet, 130.
8. (17) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 130.
9. (13) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Ford, 130.
10. (15) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass., Chevrolet, 130.
11. (3) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 130.
12. (12) Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 130.
13. (11) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 130.
14. (16) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA, Chevrolet, 129.
15. (8) Donny Lia, Jericho, NY, Dodge, 129.
16. (21) Shawn Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 127.
17. (18) Dave Salzarulo, Monson, Mass., Chevrolet, 126.
18. (23) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Pontiac, 124.
19. (22) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Chevrolet, 123.
20. (7) Tommy Barrett, Jr., Millis, Mass., Chevrolet, 112, accident.
21. (19) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 112, accident.
22. (24) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 108.
23. (20) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Ford, 101, steering.
24. (14) Keith Rocco, Wallingford, Conn., Chevrolet, 81, engine.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 0 hours 53 minutes 6 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.394 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: B.Santos (98.216 mph, 18.327 seconds)
Caution Flags: 3 for 19 laps.
Lead Changes: 3 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: B. Santos 1-6; D. Coby 7-126; B. Santos 127-128; D. Coby 129-130.
Standings: 1. D. Coby, 132; 2. J. Bonsignore, 128; 3. W. Pitkat, 123; 4. B. Santos, 116; 5. T. Christopher, 110; 6. R. Silk, 109; 7. T. Solomito, 107; 8. R. Pennink, 106; 9. E. Goodale, 102; 10. R. Yuhas, Jr., 98.