"This is a very aggressive six-week stretch. Let’s go five more weeks and do the same thing at five more tracks. "The whole concept about this was to have fun and to celebrate motorsports, and I think this was a perfect example of that tonight. "That’s what this is supposed to be all about," said Stewart, who finished third. Series co-founders Tony Stewart and Ray Evernham called it a success. "The only thing I screwed up tonight is my exit, and I’d do it all over again if that’s what it takes to win this race," Coby said. It was a once in a life-time opportunity for Coby to race against the superstars on a national television stage at home in front of his closest family and friends.Ĭoby was so excited about the win that he couldn’t even complete his celebration without falling onto his back on the frontstretch. Sure, many of the participants are past their primes, but Coby did best a field that included the driver who won the Indianapolis 500 just two weeks ago and a NASCAR legend (Stewart) who already has two 410 Sprint Car victories this year. "I’ve got six Tour championships and I’m shooting for seven to tie Mike Stefanik, and if it takes one more year to tie a great like that, I’m happy to wait," Coby said. He accepted the SRX invite at the expense of the Tour race at Oswego Speedway, a decision that could cost him a seventh championship, one that would tie him with Stefanik, or inching closer to matching Evans with nine. He entered this weekend third in the NASCAR Modified Tour championship standings and just five points out of the lead. It ain’t going to be easy for any invader, and I love that we were in equal cars."įurther, Coby potentially scarified an element of his own legend to participate in the debut SRX event. I like to think I’m one of them, but there are hundreds of others who are good at their craft and get around their speedway really good. "It just goes to show there are a lot of good short-trackers out there. "Just to have all these fans here and all these drivers - the guy who won the Indianapolis 500 two weeks ago, NASCAR Hall of Famers, Daytona 500 champions, and here I am, a Modified Tour and Stafford Speedway guy. " This is a special night for Stafford Motor Speedway and everybody who is a short-track racer around the country, whether you’re dirt or asphalt. "What a special night for short-track racing in America," Coby said. It was that legacy and lineage that Coby represented and showcased in besting 11 international legends. Richie Evans and Mike Stefanik have already been enshrined into the Hall of Fame from that discipline and Coby will someday follow. It has produced national touring stars such as Geoff Bodine, Jimmy Spencer and Ryan Preece. That may not sound particularly impressive to the casual fan, but the Modified Tour is actually the sanctioning body’s most prestigious short track division and one that travels throughout the East Coast. Coby, 41, is a six-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion and one of the most admired competitors in Ground Pounder history. Unbeknownst to many watching on CBS, Coby is already earmarked for the NASCAR Hall of Fame as soon as he becomes eligible, but this was a coming out party on the national stage. It was the inaugural event in the six-week summer series best described as the International Race of Champions but with a grassroots twist and Coby was selected to represent his region and discipline in the red and white and blue ‘Rocky Balboa’ car.Ĭoby embodied the American Dream on Saturday night - winning against a field that included Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Marco Andretti, Michael Waltrip, Tony Kanaan and reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves. During an event called Superstar Racing Experience, no star shone brighter than Doug Coby on Saturday night at Stafford Motor Speedway.
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