STAFFORD, Conn. — Doug Coby was going for his fourth NAPA Spring Sizzler 200 victory Saturday. Craig Lutz was chasing his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win.
In the end, it was the veteran Coby who made the winning move – diving under Lutz with just less than 10 laps remaining – and then fending off a fierce challenge from Lutz in the closing laps to return to victory lane in the Spring Sizzler.
It was Coby’s 26th win on the tour and his 12th at Stafford. His first win came in the 2006 Spring Sizzler, Stafford’s iconic early-season event. He also won the race in 2012 and 2016.
“This is the race everybody wants to win,” said Coby. “That was the hardest I’ve ever drove a race car, to hold off Craig. I just kept drive harder and driving harder.”
Following Lutz, Ron Silk, Max Zachem and Eric Goodale rounded out the top five.
“This is what you dream about,” Lutz said. “He’s obviously one of the best here. To be able to run with him for the last 10 laps was run. This was probably the most disappointing second-place I’ve had, because I feld like all day we had a really good car.”
It was the third runner-up finish in 56 starts for the Miller Place, N.Y., driver — including one in last year’s NAPA Fall Final at Stafford.
Justin Bonsignore came home sixth. Bonsignore was fastest in practice back on April 26, the weekend the event was originally slated. Rain postponed three times, finally pushing it from Friday night ot Saturday afternoon. Bonsignore was then fastest in final practice and won the Mayhew Tools Dominator Pole Award.
Patrick Emerling was seventh, followed by rookie Sam Rameau, Timmy Solomito and Blake Barney.
The finish:
Doug Coby, Craig Lutz, Ron Silk, Max Zachem, Eric Goodale, Justin Bonsignore, Patrick Emerling, Sam Rameau, Timmy Solomito, Blake Barney, Woody Pitkat, J.B. Fortin, Timmy Catalano, Gary Putnam, Jimmy Blewett, Wade Cole, Tommy Catalano, Kyle Ellwood, Calvin Carroll, Mark Bakaj, Kyle Bonsignore, Walter Sutcliffe Jr., Tyler Rypkema, Chase Dowling, Joey Mucciacciaro, Chris Pasteryak, Anthony Nocella, Jeff Rocco, Ken Heagy, Dave Sapienza, Rob Summers, Joey Cipriano III, Melissa Fifield, Matt Swanson.