I’m a fan of the dark horse. Anytime someone can upstage the favorites, I’m applauding. On Sunday at Stafford Motor Speedway, 26 year old Doug Coby broke into the Whelen Modified Tour win column in a big way, by winning the most prestigious race on the tour’s schedule.

Doug did it with a car that has shown time and time again, it’s ability to contend and run up front – so why the dark horse label? Well, Doug started in the 29th position and more often than not – since joining the tour, racing circumstances have prevented Doug and team from visiting victory lane.

“The wins start here” – words spoken by your 2006 Spring Sizzler champion Doug Coby. As he delivered his post race comments in the press box, sunglasses and all - he came off like Jimmie Johnson – (in a good way) – as Doug appeared excited, relieved, fortunate, comfortable and confidant. He reeled off his thoughts and answered questions like he’s done this a thousand times before. (Doug brought his 4 year old godson Kyler with him to the press box – nice touch, including the little fella). My observation is, Doug’s a quality racecar driver and a likable guy – not to mention a good talker - and now he’s a WMT feature winner and a Sizzler champion to boot.

Now that’s a mighty fine win to tuck in your back pocket there, young man.

Sizzler winners are a special bunch in my book. You basically have a who’s who of modified legends with a dose of major players thrown in the mix. Is Coby a legend? No, not yet – but currently Doug and the 77 Chase team are major players on the tour and a force wherever they race. I’ve watched Doug develop in this series and look extremely fast. Last year Doug was in the mix more often than not and it’s quite surprising that his first win hasn’t come sooner, or in his ride the previous year, in the Don King #28. But good things come to those who wait, or those who at least stick around, continue try and continue to work hard.

I’m sure it meant the world to Doug to actually win the Sizzler – I know I meant so much to finally get the monkey off his back and win his first race. When asked if he had hoped and dreamed of winning his first tour race at Stafford, his first response and gut reaction was, jokingly “No, I dream of winning at Loudon like everyone else does” but Doug quickly corrected, like a smooth talking politician…

“I’ll take my first win wherever I can get it, all the tracks that we race on are all NASCAR tracks, there’re all as equally important… I mean, this one is a little bit more emotional for me because of Jack Sr. and my upbringing here”...

Now that’s a nice recovery. Just about as nice as recovering from a dreadful starting position (29th) and staying clear of trouble. Recovering from a lap 72 pit stop under caution - that quickly turned green - didn’t hurt either. Doug and team had to hustle in order to stay on the lead lap as he was a few car lengths from being lapped by the leaders after getting caught in the pits.

Sizzler Throwback (Newsbreak)… For the Sizzler traditionalists, just in case you wanted to know – at the lap 80 mark, your top 3 were – 2, 16, 13.. and now - back to our story..

Working his way back through the field on heat cycled tires, Doug caught a break by the way of lap 133 leader, Rick Fuller pitting – that worked out well - and then on the lap 137 restart, while running 3rd - leaders Zack Sylvester and Tony Hirschman tangled – oh my!!!

From 29th to 1st, in just under 150 laps, unheard of? No – stuff of legends? No - but isn’t it always a little twist of fate that plays into the hands of the winning driver? Bout time a little favorable circumstance worked in Doug’s favor – you know, what goes around, comes around – something like that...

As the race wound down, Doug maintained a smooth line and had a 6 car length cushion until lapped traffic made things rather uneasy. Donny Lia worked his way to the bumper of the 77 car by the last lap, but had nothing for Coby, except the possibility of getting by due to Steve Whitt’s car getting in the mix. The podium finishers had consistent comments post race regarding lapped traffic and their lack of “respect for the leaders”.

As Lia and Coby answered the press - post race, it was apparent to me that even though the 77 won and the 18 finished 2nd , (without incident) there are still wounds from last seasons run in and controversy between the two drivers. Here’s hoping these two can move on an provide the fans the kind of racing they are capable of, as witnessed on Sunday and not the commonplace slam and bang tactics..

I tip my hat to Eric Beers, who after an early case of bumper banging with Mike Andrews, recovered from a spin and near disaster in turn 3 to come back and finish 3rd. I witnessed a couple of extremely bold moves on Sunday, one by Mike Stefanik that didn’t work so well – (mainly for others) and the other in turns 1 and 2 by Ted Christopher, who barley made it through lapped traffic to advance his racecar – I’m still not sure how he made it through – he truly is, the master of Stafford.

Speaking of Ted - I am often amazed at how nonchalant and ho hum his acceptance and interview dialog is when he is presented winning hardware and checkered flags. More often than not he’d say something like.. “Well, I came here to win and that’s what I did.. had a good car” and so on - His victories come and go, to no ones surprise, least of all - his own.

After winning Sunday’s SK race, Ted was visibly moved when he was asked what it would mean to him to win the main event. I’ve never seen that kind of reaction from Ted – to be honest, it was refreshing to see someone often viewed as the bad guy – is capable of displaying that kind of passion for a man that helped define his career – and rightfully so. As Ben Dodge would say – “make no mistake” – Ted wanted this Sizzler bad – and for all the right reasons.

Words can’t describe what winning the Sizzler would have meant for drivers like Teddy, Eddie, Stefanik, Reggie or Fuller – as well as several other competitors that have a long and storied history with the Arute family and it’s Stafford Motor Speedway. Count Coby as one of those with a special kind of relationship, one that has developed over the last 10 years and on Sunday, reached its pinnacle – albeit with the absence of Jack in body, but not in spirit.

This Sizzler was special. I imagine Jack would be thrilled to see a driver that has worked through the Stafford ranks, winning in each division he raced in along the way – come full circle and win the tracks most important race, the one with so much history and prestige.

I’d like to think that’s a legacy Jack has left behind – one of opportunity for the competitors at his track – thanks to Jack, the sky’s the limit at Stafford – and on Sunday, Doug Coby showed us all just how far you can go.

I offer my heartiest congratulations to Doug Coby and the entire Curt Chase team. Bravo.