In a field filled with this year’s Indianapolis 500 winner, a NASCAR Hall of Famer, a Daytona 500 winner and other racing luminaries, it was the local driver Doug Coby who shined in the first-ever Camping World SRX Series race. Coby won the second heat race, thereby starting first. He then led the most laps in the feature en route to the victory Saturday night (June 12) at Stafford Motor Speedway.
Coby is a six-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion. He competed in this event as the track legend, and he surely proved his experience at the short track.
Coby’s victory was especially popular with fans as they chanted his last name during his interview.
“I can’t believe I fell on my butt after winning,” Coby told CBS after climbing victoriously out of his car. “What a special night for short track racing in America. This is a special night for Stafford Motor Speedway and everybody who is a short track racer around the country, dirt or asphalt. To have this amazing crowd at Stafford, I really want to thank Ray Evernham and everyone at SRX, Camping World … this means a lot for short track racing. The only thing I screwed up tonight was my exit. I’d do it all over again if that’s what it takes to win this race, so thank you fans!”
41 years old. Six-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion. Now the winner of the inaugural @SRXRacing race.
Doug Coby gave up a part of his chance at a championship to race tonight at @StaffordSpeedwy and Coby turned that into a memory of a lifetime. pic.twitter.com/HrQW70BafQ
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 13, 2021
Greg Biffle finished second while using one of the backup cars after he crashed out of the second heat.
Biffle led all the laps to win the first heat, making history as both the first driver to lead a lap and take the checkered flag in series history.
The first checkered flag of the @SRXracing season belongs to Greg Biffle!! ? pic.twitter.com/uNnO1L732g
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 13, 2021
Series co-founder Tony Stewart finished third.
Bobby Labonte and Ernie Francis Jr. rounded out the top five.
In the first of this six-race inaugural season, Coby showcased his prowess at the track in Stafford Springs, CT.
In addition to winning six NASCAR championships and 30 wins on the Tour, Coby isn't even a full-time race car driver by trade.
He's a Connecticut real estate agent during the week and a weekend warrior.
Definition grassroots racer. https://t.co/TxJFuzWJGs
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverAW) June 13, 2021
Saturday night wasn’t without incident, however, as the racing ramped up as the night wore on.
In the first heat, Michael Waltrip spun Paul Tracy.
In the second heat, Willy T. Ribbs spun, and Helio Castroneves made contact with Biffle.
Four laps into the feature, Waltrip again spun. He and Bill Elliott were the two drivers who were unable to finish the 100 lap feature.
Castroneves also made contact with Marco Andretti. Castroneves blamed the incident on no spotters in this series.
Caution after Helio Castroneves tagged Marco Andretti#SRX #CampingWorldSRX
— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) June 13, 2021
When the checkered flag flew though, it belonged to Coby.
And the night belongs to @doug_coby!! pic.twitter.com/eZndR0LZEe
— Camping World SRX Series (@SRXracing) June 13, 2021
SRX Stafford Race Results
The next SRX race is at Knoxville Raceway next Saturday (June 19) beginning at 8 p.m. ET with TV coverage provided by CBS. Brian Brown will seek to make it back-to-back wins for the local track drivers.
Mark Kristl joined Frontstretch at the beginning of the 2019 NASCAR season. He is the site's ARCA Menards Series editor. Kristl is also an Eagle Scout and a proud University of Dayton alum.