Tommy Baldwin Jr. and Doug Coby have unfinished business to address.
With the owner-driver duo still leading the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup presented by JDV Productions, they are bringing out the iconic No. 7NY for a one-off appearance in Saturday’s Winchester Fair at Monadnock Speedway with the goal of obtaining another accomplishment together.
“After winning at Monadnock in May and leading the Cup standings heading into Saturday, we really wanted to make this event happen,” Baldwin said. “The team will be ready to roll into Monadnock to chase the Cup title, but also another win for Mayhew Tools and everyone involved with Doug and our team.”
Mods at Monadnock: Entry list | Buy tickets | How to watch
Baldwin was forced to step away from the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in August after he was diagnosed with cancer. He is progressing well in his treatments and is determined to be back with the series on a more regular basis once his cancer is in remission.
Despite the setback, there were plenty of incentives for Baldwin to finish out the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup with Coby. Not only can the team earn a $5,000 championship payout, but they are also eligible for $6,400 in bonuses stemming from leading the most laps and recording the best average finish across the three-race series.
Coby started the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup on the right note by earning a dominant win at Monadnock after leading 188 of 200 laps. He followed that performance with a sixth at Lee USA Speedway, giving him a narrow, three-point lead in the standings.
Confidence is on Coby’s side as he makes final preparations for Saturday’s Winchester Fair. He is thrilled to be back in the No. 7NY after a two-race hiatus and is willing to help Baldwin in any way possible as he continues his recovery.
“We had a great car last time at Monadnock,” Coby said. “This will be a little bit of a different race being at night compared to the daytime back in May.
“As far as Tommy wanting to go to the track, it’s good for him to have something different to focus on, and he feels good enough to make it happen, which is great to hear.”
Baldwin Strong stickers can be purchased at TommyBadlwinRacing.com. All proceeds will be donated to the Matheny School, a hospital for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities.
The Winchester Fair at Monadnock Speedway is set to take place Saturday evening at 8 p.m. ET. FloRacing will provide coverage of all the on-track action.
Austin Beers within striking distance of Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup
With Jon McKennedy and Matt Hirschman not expected to compete in the Winchester Fair, Austin Beers is the closest to overtaking Doug Coby for the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup crown.
Currently trailing Coby by just six points, Beers’ position in the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup standings is one of many highlights from what has been a successful sophomore campaign on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
Beers broke through for his first pole and victory in the second race of the 2023 season at Richmond Raceway. He has followed that win up with four more poles and another win, which he obtained at Lancaster Motorplex last month.
The speed Beers has shown throughout the 2023 season has been prevalent in the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup. He has not finished outside the top five in either event, with a third-place run at Lee USA Speedway being his best showing in the three-race series.
Beers will need to be perfect in Saturday’s Winchester Fair if he wishes to usurp Doug Coby and become the second Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup champion.
Sam Rameau looks to finish Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup on a high note
Part-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Sam Rameau also finds himself in the mix for the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup with just a nine-point deficit.
Rameau opened the three-race series with a solid sixth-place finish at Monadnock Speedway in May. His fourth-place performance at Lee USA Speedway is what has him in contention for the championship heading into Saturday’s Winchester Fair at Monadnock.
Rameau last competed full-time on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 2020. Since then, he has made infrequent appearance with the series but has mixed it up with the series regulars by recording a top-five finish in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
The top five Rameau obtained at Lee USA matched his career-best finish at Monadnock the year before. Having found a comfort zone in the first two legs of the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup, Rameau enters the final leg as a legitimate contender for the crown.
Coby stands in the way of Rameau pulling off a potential upset, but the Westminster, Massachusetts native can still end the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup with a top-five points finish if he finishes strong in the Winchester Fair.
NOTES:
- Current NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour points leader Ron Silk sits fifth in the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup standings. Silk enters the Winchester Fair at Monadnock Speedway with momentum on his side, as he is fresh off his fourth win of the year at Oswego Speedway.
- The second leg of the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup at Lee USA Speedway saw rookie Brian Robie qualify on the outside pole before finishing 11th. Robie earned a lead-lap finish of 13th in the first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Monadnock this year and is seeking his second career top 10 on Saturday night.
- After running five races in the No. 46 for Russell Goodale, Anthony Nocella is back in his family-owned No. 92 for Saturday’s Winchester Fair at Monadnock Speedway. Nocella is looking for a much better showing at Monadnock on Saturday after a broken rear end relegated him to 27th in May.
- Monadnock Speedway regular Nathan Wenzel is set to make his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour debut Saturday. A four-time winner in Monadnock’s weekly division this year, Wenzel looks to carry over that efficiency into Saturday’s Winchester Fair.