Doug Coby Begins Quest for Sixth Title in Victory Lane
Wins NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Opener at Myrtle Beach
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Doug Coby’s quest for a sixth NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship couldn’t have started off much better.
After two years of struggling at Myrtle Beach Speedway, Coby make those scuffles distant memories on Saturday, rolling to his 25th career Whelen Modified Tour win and first at the South Carolina oval.
He may have made the final laps of the Performance Plus 150 presented by Safety Kleen look easy, but the day wasn’t filled with only celebratory moments. He did win the first Mayhew Tools Dominator Pole Award in qualifying, but Coby was forced to start at the tail of the field after a screw in his left-front tire forced the team to make an unapproved tire change before the green.
From there, the charge was on from the rear of a 32 car field in hopes of reaching the front. In the end, he found the top spot — a familiar place for the five-time Whelen Modified Tour champion.
“This was an interesting one,” Coby said. “Ultimately, I had the best car I have ever had here. We had to go perform, and we did. The book is going to say we won the pole, started first and finished first, but the reality is, we started 32nd and finished first. We passed a lot of cars.”
RACING-REFERENCE: Performance Plus 150 Race Results
After Coby dropped to the tail, Jon McKennedy was the control car for the initial start and he did just that — took control for a majority of the first half of the event. McKennedy led a race-high 64 laps, but pit strategy in the final stages didn’t quite fall his way.
After a caution on lap 110, Coby charged up inside the top three after pitting for fresh rubber, then rolled by Kyle Ebersole for the top spot on lap 122. From there, it was just about getting around some lapped traffic and minding a gap over Jon McKennedy and Jimmy Blewett.
When McKennedy and Blewett started racing for the runner-up spot, Coby opened his gap, and was never challenged. Even though the tire strategy didn’t quite work out in McKennedy’s favor, the second-place effort was a good way to follow-up a winning performance in the opener last year.
“We put two tires on and the No. 2 car put three in, but we still had a really good car,” McKennedy said. “We asked the right-front tire to go 150 laps, which is tough. They knew we were here. It was a great effort by everyone.”
In his first start with Gershow Motorsports, Blewett was third, followed by Patrick Emerling and Chris Pasteryak. The top-five run was Pasteryak’s first since 2009 in Whelen Modified Tour competition.
Anthony Nocella was sixth, followed by Burt Myers, Andy Seuss, Eric Goodale, and Frank Fleming.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to action in just two weeks, on Saturday, March 30, at South Boston Speedway in Virginia.
The Performance Plus 150 presented by Safety Kleen will air on NBCSN on Thursday, March 21 at 6 p.m.
Sources: Jason Christley/NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-Performance Plus 150 pres by Safety Kleen Results
Saturday
At Myrtle Beach Speedway
Myrtle Beach, SC
Lap length: 0.53 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (1) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 150 laps, 64.883 mph.
2. (2) Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, Mass., Chevrolet, 150.
3. (15) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 150.
4. (28) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, NY, Chevrolet, 150.
5. (7) Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
6. (17) Anthony Nocella, Woburn, Mass., Chevrolet, 150.
7. (22) Burt Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C., Chevrolet, 150.
8. (8) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N.H., Chevrolet, 150.
9. (4) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
10. (31) Frank Fleming, Mount Airy, N.C., Chevrolet, 149.
11. (6) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA, Chevrolet, 149.
12. (9) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, NY, Chevrolet, 149.
13. (18) Blake Barney, Lakewood, N.J., Chevrolet, 149.
14. (19) Kyle Ebersole, Hummelstown, PA., Chevrolet, 149.
15. (10) Dave Sapienza, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 149.
16. (16) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Ford, 149.
17. (21) Kyle Bonsignore, Bay Shore, N.Y., Toyota, 148.
18. (13) Matt Swanson, Acton, Mass., Chevrolet, 148.
19. (24) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 148.
20. (23) Craig Lutz, Miller Place, N.Y., Chevrolet, 148.
21. (14) Calvin Carroll, Newton, N.J., Chevrolet, 147.
22. (5) Rob Summers, Manchester, CT, Chevrolet, 146.
23. (25) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Ford, 146.
24. (32) Timmy Catalano, Ontario, N.Y., Chevrolet, 145.
25. (12) Ron Silk, Norwalk, CT, Chevrolet, 145.
26. (3) Tommy Catalano, Ontario, N.Y., Chevrolet, 144.
27. (27) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 138.
28. (11) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Ford, 130.
29. (29) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Pontiac, 109, brakes.
30. (26) Gary Putnam, Vernon, Conn., Chevrolet, 108, accident.
31. (20) Sam Rameau, Westminster, Mass., Chevrolet, 62.
32. (30) Walter Sutcliffe Jr., East Haven, Conn., Chevrolet, 41, clutch.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 13 minutes 31 seconds
Margin of Victory: 3.278 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: D.Coby (97.010 mph, 19.668 seconds)
Caution Flags: 6 for 33 laps.
Lead Changes: 14 among 8 drivers.
Lap Leaders: T. Catalano 1-2; J. McKennedy 3-58; T. Solomito 59-62; D. Coby 63-70; J. Bonsignore 71-75; R. Silk 76-78; J. Bonsignore 79-83; J. McKennedy 84-91; J. Bonsignore 92-101; M. Swanson 102-106; J. Bonsignore 107-108; K. Ebersole 109-115; J. Bonsignore 116; K. Ebersole 117-121; D. Coby 122-150.
Standings: 1. D. Coby, 47; 2. J. McKennedy, 44; 3. J. Blewett, 41; 4. P. Emerling, 40; 5. C. Pasteryak, 39; 6. A. Nocella, 38; 7. B. Myers, 37; 8. A. Seuss, 36; 9. E. Goodale, 35; 10. F. Fleming, 34.
2019 Performance Plus 150 Presented by Safety-Kleen
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race number 1 of 1
Saturday, March 16, 2019 at Myrtle Beach Speedway, Myrtle Beach, SC
150 laps on a .538 mile paved track (80.7 miles)
Time of race: 1:13:31
Average speed: 64.883 mph
Pole speed: 98.475 mph Cautions: 6 for 33 laps
Margin of victory: 3.278 sec
Attendance: n/a
Lead changes: 13
Fin St # Driver Sponsor / Owner Car Laps Status Led Pts
1 1 2 Doug Coby Mayhew Tools (Mike Smeriglio III) Chevrolet 150 running 37 47
2 2 7 Jon McKennedy Ultra Wheel (Tommy Baldwin) Chevrolet 150 running 64 44
3 15 21 Jimmy Blewett Gershow Recycling / Blewett Recycling (Joseph Bertuccio) Chevrolet 150 running 0 41
4 28 07 Patrick Emerling Sahlen’s (Jennifer Emerling) Chevrolet 150 running 0 40
5 7 75 Chris Pasteryak Dawley’s Collision & Custom (Charles Pasteryak) Chevrolet 150 running 0 39
6 17 92 Anthony Nocella Nocella Paving / K and D Associates / Airgas (Anthony Nocella) Chevrolet 150 running 0 38
7 22 1 Burt Myers Vestal Buick GMC (Eddie Harvey) Chevrolet 150 running 0 37
8 8 97 Andy Seuss O.B. Builders (Bryan Dauzat) Chevrolet 150 running 0 36
9 4 58 Eric Goodale GAF Roofing (Edgar Goodale) Chevrolet 150 running 0 35
10 31 40 Frank Fleming Autobynelson Chevrolet (Frank Fleming) 149 running 0 34
11 6 60 Matt Hirschman Pee Dee Motorsports (Roy Hall) Chevrolet 149 running 0 33
12 9 51 Justin Bonsignore Phoenix Communications Inc. (Kenneth Massa) Chevrolet 149 running 18 33
13 18 14 Blake Barney * Atlantic Sprinkler (Richard Barney) Chevrolet 149 running 0 31
14 19 5 Kyle Ebersole Ebersole Excavating (Bob Ebersole) Chevrolet 149 running 12 31
15 10 36 Dave Sapienza Sapienza Enterprise (Judy Thilberg) Chevrolet 149 running 0 29
16 16 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood (Robert Pollifrone) Ford 149 running 0 28
17 21 22 Kyle Bonsignore Chalew Performance / Snap-On Tools (Kyle Bonsignore) Chevrolet 148 running 0 27
18 13 3 Matt Swanson Cape Cod Copper / USNE, Inc. (Jan Boehler) Chevrolet 148 running 5 27
19 24 82 Woody Pitkat Horton Avenue Materials (Danny Watts Jr.) Chevrolet 148 running 0 25
20 23 46 Craig Lutz Riverhead Building Supply (Russell Goodale) Chevrolet 148 running 0 24
21 14 25 Calvin Carroll Power with Prestige / Cruising w / Betty (Joe Carroll) Chevrolet 147 running 0 23
22 5 64 Rob Summers Dell Electric Chevrolet (Mike Murphy) 146 running 0 22
23 25 33 Wade Cole Perf. Engines / Kendall Oil (Wade Cole) Ford 146 running 0 21
24 32 45 Timmy Catalano * Catalano Motorsports (Amy Catalano) Chevrolet 145 running 0 20
25 12 85 Ron Silk Stuart’s Automotive (Kevin Stuart) Chevrolet 145 running 0 20
26 3 54 Tommy Catalano Catalano Motorsports (Amy Catalano) Chevrolet 144 running 2 19
27 27 01 Melissa Fifield TBD (Kenneth Fifield) Chevrolet 138 running 0 17
28 11 16 Timmy Solomito RB Ent (Eric Sanderson) Ford 130 running 4 17
29 29 99 Jamie Tomaino PSR (Cheryl Tomaino) Chevrolet 109 brakes 0 15
30 26 77 Gary Putnam Curb Records (Mike Curb) Chevrolet 108 crash 0 14
31 20 06 Sam Rameau * Racechoice.com (Randy Rameau) Chevrolet 62 running 0 13
32 30 78 Walter Sutcliffe, Jr. Last Minute Racing (Steven Sutcliffe) Chevrolet 41 clutch 0 12
Rookie drivers are denoted with an asterisk.
Caution flag breakdown:
Condition From
Lap To
Lap # Of
Laps Reason Free
Pass
1 16 16
17 22 6 #78 spun turn 3 none
23 25 3
26 31 6 #64,06,78,18,33 accident turn 3 #01
32 56 25
57 61 5 #3 accident turn 2 none
62 66 5
67 70 4 #54 accident frontstretch #25
71 99 29
100 105 6 #33,64,21,14 accident turn 3 #99
106 109 4
110 115 6 #06,77 accident turn 3 #14
116 150 35
Percent of race run under caution: 22.0% Average green flag run: 16.7 laps
Lap leader breakdown:
Leader From
Lap To
Lap # Of
Laps
Tommy Catalano 1 2 2
Jon McKennedy 3 58 56
Timmy Solomito 59 62 4
Doug Coby 63 70 8
Justin Bonsignore 71 75 5
Jon McKennedy 84 91 8
Justin Bonsignore 92 101 10
Matt Swanson 102 106 5
Justin Bonsignore 107 108 2
Kyle Ebersole 109 115 7
Justin Bonsignore 116 116 1
Kyle Ebersole 117 121 5
Doug Coby 122 150 29
Points standings after this race:
Rank Driver Points Diff
1 Doug Coby 47
2 Jon McKennedy 44 -3
3 Jimmy Blewett 41 -6
4 Patrick Emerling 40 -7
5 Chris Pasteryak 39 -8
6 Anthony Nocella 38 -9
7 Burt Myers 37 -10
8 Andy Seuss 36 -11
9 Eric Goodale 35 -12
10 Frank Fleming 34 -13
11 Matt Hirschman 33 -14
11 Justin Bonsignore 33 -14
13 Blake Barney 31 -16
13 Kyle Ebersole 31 -16
15 Dave Sapienza 29 -18
16 Ken Heagy 28 -19
17 Kyle Bonsignore 27 -20
17 Matt Swanson 27 -20
19 Woody Pitkat 25 -22
20 Craig Lutz 24 -23