THOMPSON, CT - It was the worst finish of the season for Doug Coby. But in the end, it didn't matter, as the Milford, CT driver lifted the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour trophy for the second time in three seasons Sunday.<br />
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The 35-year-old finished 17th and two laps down in the season finale Sunoco World Series 150 presented by Xtra Mart at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. The race was won by defending tour champion Ryan Preece.<br />
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It was Coby and the No. 2 Dunleavy's Repair/HEX Performance/Fox Shocks Chevrolet team, though, who earned the big trophy on the strength of an outstanding season that included a win and nine top fives in 13 races. Coby, who finished second in points to Preece last year, kicked off 2014 with a win in the non-points UNOH Battle At The Beach at Daytona International Speedway.<br />
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Donny Lia finished as the runner-up behind Preece Sunday, followed by Rowan Pennink, Ron Silk and Justin Bonsignore.<br />
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Matt Hirschman, Dawsonville, GA's Spencer Davis, Eric Goodale, Max Zachem and 2014 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Timmy Solomito rounded out the top 10.<br />
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Preece led twice for a race-high 137 laps, including the final 73. A late caution pushed the race to 151 laps.<br />
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It was Preece's first win at Thompson after four runner-up finishes at the .625-mile banked oval. Earlier in the day, Preece wrapped up the track's NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Sunoco Modified Division championship.<br />
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Ted Christopher, the 2008 tour champion, entered the event as the closest challenger to Coby. Christopher, however, was involved in a wreck and finished 10 laps down in 20th.<br />
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With his win, Preece jumped up to finish second in points - 22 behind Coby. Bonsignore finished third, five points back of Preece, while Silk and Christopher completed the top five. Second through fifth were separated by nine points.<br />
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<strong>NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour</strong><br />
<strong> Thompson Speedway - Thompson, CT</strong><br />
<strong> Sunoco World Series 150 - Oct. 19, 2014</strong><br />
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Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Points B/Points Status<br />
1 2 16 Ryan Preece Sanderson MacLeod/Diversified Metals Ford 151 48 5 Running<br />
2 5 4 Donny Lia Mystic Missile Racing Dodge 151 42 Running<br />
3 16 93 Rowan Pennink Monk Mechanics Hand Cleaner Chevrolet 151 42 1 Running<br />
4 12 6 Ron Silk TS Haulers/Calverton Tree Farm Chevrolet 151 40 Running<br />
5 10 51 Justin Bonsignore chem3.com Chevrolet 151 39 Running<br />
6 24 52 Matt Hirschman B.C. Brennenstuhl/L.I. Mod Maniac Chevrolet 151 38 Running<br />
7 15 79 Spencer Davis * Hillbilly Racing/Coors 21 Means 21 Pontiac 151 37 Running<br />
8 17 58 Eric Goodale GAF Roofing/RBSCorp.com Chevrolet 151 36 Running<br />
9 19 20 Max Zachem * Dunleavy's Repair/Lu-Mac's Chevrolet 151 35 Running<br />
10 11 75 Timmy Solomito * Eastport Feeds/Axel Anderson Inc. Chevrolet 151 34 Running<br />
11 9 07 Patrick Emerling Emerling Chevy/Buffalo Auto Auction Chevrolet 151 33 Running<br />
12 3 22 Tommy Barrett, Jr. * Canto Paving/Ferguson Waterworks Chevrolet 151 33 1 Running<br />
13 20 99 Jamie Tomaino Dunleavy's Repair/Atlantic Sprinkler Chevrolet 151 31 Running<br />
14 34 43 David Calabrese DiamondBack Towing/Dunleavy's Repair Chevrolet 151 30 Running<br />
15 25 14 John Beatty, Jr. * ElevatorEntrance.com Chevrolet 151 29 Running<br />
16 28 33 Wade Cole Perf. Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan's Chevrolet 149 28 Running<br />
17 4 2 Doug Coby Dunleavy's Repair/HEX Perf./Fox Chevrolet 149 27 Running<br />
18 13 8 Glen Reen Reflex Energy/Baja Construction Chevrolet 146 26 Accident<br />
19 22 17 Kyle Ellwood * Riverhead Building Supply Chevrolet 141 25 Running<br />
20 8 13 Ted Christopher Mr. Rooter/CT&E Chevrolet 140 24 Accident<br />
21 23 3 Troy Talman * DCU/B&G Toys & Trains/NAPA Chevrolet 137 23 Accident<br />
22 32 1 Melissa Fifield * Big Moose RV Chevrolet 133 22 Running<br />
23 36 82 Danny Watts, Jr. Horton Avenue Materials Chevrolet 131 21 Mechanical<br />
24 14 15 Todd Szegedy 15-40 Connection/LFR Chassis Chevrolet 130 20 Running<br />
25 30 38 Dave Salzarulo * Perf. Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan's Chevrolet 120 19 Accident<br />
26 26 29 James Civali Hillbilly Racing/Coors Light Pontiac 116 18 Accident<br />
27 18 35 Derek Ramstrom * Matthew's Truck Svc./Seekonk GP Chevrolet 115 17 Accident<br />
28 6 44 Bobby Santos Tinio Racing/Dan Kelley VL Stables Chevrolet 98 16 Mechanical<br />
29 27 5 Dave Sapienza * Frankie's Towing/Heller Construction Chevrolet 98 15 Accident<br />
30 31 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood Chevrolet 91 14 Rear End<br />
31 29 26 Gary McDonald Lakeland Landscape/TRC Electric Pontiac 91 13 Mechanical<br />
32 35 69 Jason Agugliaro * Tom O'Keefe & Sons/Bruneau Engines Chevrolet 80 12 Mechanical<br />
33 7 48 Keith Rocco Wheelers Auto/Mr. Rooter Chevrolet 45 11 Carburetor<br />
34 33 36 Frank Vigliarolo, Jr. Frankie's Towing Chevrolet 26 10 Accident<br />
35 1 88 Woody Pitkat Buzz Chew Chevrolet/Elbow East Restaurant 17 10 1 Accident<br />
36 21 64 Shawn Solomito Cystic Fibrosis Fdn./Acme Sanitary Chevrolet 2 8 Mechanical<br />
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RACE STATISTICS<br />
Fastest Qualifier: Woody Pitkat, Time: 18.816 Seconds, Speed: 119.579 mph<br />
Time of Race: 1 hrs., 14 mins, 26 secs Average Speed: 76.075 mph Margin of Victory: 0.689 Seconds<br />
Caution Flags: Laps 17-21 (Cars #26, 88, 13 accident (Turn 1) [01]); 49-54 (Car #8 spinout (Turn 4) [18]); 70-74 (Car #8 spinout (Turn 2) [13]); 100-107 (Car #5 accident (Frontstretch) [none]); 117-120 (Cars #29, 3, 35 accident (Turn 2) [none]); 122-127 (Cars #93, 75, 07, 38, 3 accident (Turn 4) [14]); 140-142 (Cars #13, 22 accident (Turn 2) [none] (Red Flag 3 mins.)); 145-148 (Car #2 stalled (Turn 3) [none]). 8 for 41 laps.<br />
Lap Leaders: Woody Pitkat 1-8, Ryan Preece 9-72, Tommy Barrett, Jr. * 73-77, Rowan Pennink 78, Ryan Preece 79-151.<br />
Total Laps Led: Ryan Preece 137, Woody Pitkat 8, Tommy Barrett, Jr. * 5, Rowan Pennink 1. 4 changes involving 4 drivers.<br />
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* Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender
