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By Souza Media/Kyle Souza
Photo Michael Jaworecki/Myracenews
MILFORD, Conn. – Doug Coby Racing announced today the addition of champion crew chief John McKenna to the team for the 2022 season, while also announcing a seven-race Modified schedule. The team is tentatively set to run four NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events and three Open Modified races – filling out a schedule where the ultimate goal will be to capture the trophy. The team also announced the return of Mayhew Tools as the primary sponsor of the No. 10 Modified.
The addition of McKenna will provide the chance for Coby and McKenna to rekindle a successful relationship they shared for many years. When Phil Moran left Doug Coby Racing to pursue other opportunities at the end of the 2021 season, Coby and McKenna teamed up for the Haunted Hundred Tri Track race at Seekonk Speedway to close the year. From there, the two spoke and came up with a plan for 2022.
When Coby and McKenna first worked together at the 2010 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season-finale, Coby didn’t even know who McKenna was. One year later, they won at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park together, as Coby split the season between McKenna and another crew chief. In 2012, the two took off – winning five races and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship with car owner Wayne Darling. A year later, they won two events and finished inside the top-10 in all but three races, coming up just short of a second straight championship.
“I didn’t know John, I actually thought another one of the other crew members was John McKenna,” Coby joked. “I walked into the shop and was introduced to him and we started working together. When Phil decided to head in a different direction, my top priority was finding someone out there who I knew I wanted to work with. I want to go to the race track with John. His overall approach to racing is something I love. He’s crafty and is always trying different things. He has a lot of full-fendered experience on top of his Modified experience and the both of us together just try to do whatever makes the most sense in each situation. It’s a great experience working with him because you know he’s always thinking about absolutely everything on the car and at the track. He has a great eye.”
The decision to scale back for 2022 is one that both Coby and McKenna are comfortable with due to obligations outside of racing. However, Coby is open to additional opportunities to drive other events during the year if they do become available to him. The announced modified schedule is just the confirmed events Coby’s modified team will race in during the 2022 season.
“I have a few things to get organized with the team and that is what led me to the decision to not force the puzzle pieces together to make the full year. My priority for 2022 is to get back acquainted with John and do what is manageable for all of us, including my crew members, to continue building a winning team. Whether we run the Tour full-time again in the future or not, we have to see how things evolve over time,” Coby continued. “I’m really thankful to have a strong commitment from John Lawless and Eric Mills at Mayhew Tools, and Kim Berube at Reynold’s Auto Wrecking. They make it possible for the No. 10 team to race and we hope to bring home some more wins for them this season.”
The 2022 schedule for Doug Coby Racing will begin in April at Stafford Motor Speedway for the 50th running of the NAPA Spring Sizzler on April 23-24, where the race winner of the 100-lap special will leave with a minimum of $15,000. From there, the team will compete in the $15,000 to win Open Modified race at Claremont Motorsports Park on Friday, May 27.
One month later, on Wednesday, June 29, Coby will join the Tri Track Open Modified Series teams at Seekonk Speedway for the annual $10,000 to win Open Wheel Wednesday, of which Coby is a three-time winner. He will follow that up with his first of four NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races during the year, competing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, July 16.
From there, the team will run both NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on Thursday, August 17 and Saturday, October 8 as part of the World Series of Speedway Racing. The Doug Coby Racing season will conclude at Martinsville Speedway on Thursday, October 27 in the Whelen Modified Tour finale.
For more information on Doug Coby Racing, visit DougCobyRacing.com and follow the team on Facebook for the latest information.
Tentative 2022 Schedule For Doug Coby Racing:
April 23-24 – Stafford Motor Speedway – NAPA Spring Sizzler – $15,000 To Win
May 27 – Claremont Motorsports Park – The Racing Guys $15,000 To Win Race
June 29 – Seekonk Speedway – $10,000 To Win Open Wheel Wednesday
July 16 – New Hampshire Motor Speedway – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour 100
August 17 – Thompson Speedway – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour 150
October 8 – Thompson Speedway – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour 150
October 27 – Martinsville Speedway – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
ABOUT MAYHEW TOOLS:
Founded in 1856, Mayhew Tools is the oldest punch and chisel manufacturer in the United States, growing their extensive professional grade, American made product line to include pry bars, pneumatics, cable ties, and more. In 2020, the company extended their product line to include a complete line of dual drive and socket bits and sets. Serving the Industrial, Automotive, Hardware, and Construction industries, Mayhew’s premium hand tools are sold globally through an extensive distributor network. For more information, contact Mayhew Tools at 800.872.0037 or visit Mayhew.com.
ABOUT DOUG COBY
Racing for more than 25 years, Doug Coby is a six-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion and one of the top short-track drivers to come from the state of Connecticut. Coby is a two-time champion at Stafford Motor Speedway, where he built his resume competing in the Late Models, Pro Stocks and SK Modifieds. Coby won his first tour championship in 2012 and followed it up by scoring four straight titles between 2014-2017, and another in 2019. In 2020, Coby opened his own team — Doug Coby Racing — scoring his first win as owner/driver. In 2021, Coby won the inaugural Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) event at Stafford Motor Speedway, besting top drivers from across a variety of racing disciplines, including Tony Stewart, Bill Elliott and Helio Castroneves.
