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COBY PUTS
MSIII RACING IN THE HISTORY BOOKS
WITH THIRD STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
Bonsignore Commands Victory Lane for Season Finale
by
Polly Reid |
 The
2016 NWMT season came down to two teams, twenty
points and 150 laps.
Justin Bonsignore did what he had to do by winning
the NWMT Sunoco World Series presented by Xtra Mart
150 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
Doug Coby did what he had to do. A sixth place
finish was more than enough to clench his third
straight NWMT Championship title, his fourth
overall. Coby from Milford, CT in the Mike Smeriglio
III owned, Dunleavy Truck and Trailer Repair/A&J
Romano Construction sponsored modified etched their
accomplishment into the history books by capturing a
third straight NWMT Championship title.
Bonsignore of Holtsville, NY in the Ken Massa owned,
Phoenix Communications sponsored modified passed for
the lead with twenty to go and never looked back to
win the NWMT Sunoco World Series presented by Xtra
Mart 150. His fourth win of 2016, Bonsignore
narrowed the point gap on Coby, but came up short.
In victory lane, Bonsignore had much to be grateful
for.
 “Billy
Michael prepared another amazing car for Thompson,”
said Bonsignore in the winner’s circle who
congratulated the 2 team. “I can’t thank my whole
crew enough- an amazing pit stop- it’s our fifth win
at Thompson.” A bittersweet victory for Bonsignore,
it has been a competitive season with a ramped up
attitude in the last half of the year that has led
this team to being a contender to the end. “We won
four races in the last eight or nine, that’s pretty
impressive,” said Bonsignore. “I’m proud of my
season, my head is held high, even if I’m not
feeling it right now.”
Ryan Preece crossed the line for second, Jimmy
Blewett third, Donny Lia fourth and Coors Light Pole
Award winner Timmy Solomito completed the top five.
Sixth went to Coby, Woody Pitkat was seventh, Eric
Goodale eighth, NWMT Rookie of the Year winner Matt
Swanson was ninth and Dave Sapienza crossed for
tenth.
Bonsignore went into the World Series twenty points
behind Coby. Coby needed to finish 17th or better to
capture the title. Bonsignore’s win, combined with
Coby’s sixth place finish closed the point gap to
twelve.
“I’m hoping we can keep everybody together,” said
Bonsignore. “I don’t want to lose or add anybody.
We’ve got a really good group right now, I had a lot
of fun with these guys, they do a great job every
week. They prepare the cars up in Connecticut now
and I get to show up and drive, that’s a big honor
to be able to do that in this series. In hindsight,
Bristol probably stings a little more now but you
can’t go back and count points, you just have to
keep looking forward and head held high.”
Coby in the 2 car was once again the team to chase
this season. Timmy Solomito in the Eric Sanderson 16
modified was a threat until Bonsignore and the M3
team hit their stride bringing the title down to the
last race, the last laps of 2016.
“To do this, every week these guys, they just don’t
stop,” said Coby about his team. “I want to tip my
hat to the 51 team and also the 16 team, they really
put the pressure on us this year. Everybody said we
were going to walk away with it with a couple of
changes last year to start the season, man, it was
tough. It is so tough to win on this series and
we’re just so appreciative. I know we win a lot of
poles and a lot of races and now three championships
in a row, but we are so appreciative of what we have
on this team. I am so thankful for the people that
make this happen. Doug Dunleavy, Dunleavy Truck and
Trailer Repair, he got us to the race track this
season and I can’t thank him enough along with Phil
Moran- what do you say about that guy, just
unbelievable. Very emotional right now, this is not
going to sink in for a long time.”
With chamber of commerce October weather setting the
backdrop for the 54th Sunoco World Series at
Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, it was Timmy
Solomito of Islip, NY earning the Coors Light Pole
award on Saturday with Doug Coby qualifying second.
Bonsignore who had an early draw, took the green
flag seventh.
 Solomito and Coby, nose to tail, pulled from the
pack setting a blistering pace with only one caution
in the early going that closed the field back in
line on lap four. Solomito, choosing the outside
lane, was able to make gains out of the corners
keeping Coby, Woody Pitkat, Robbie Summers and Shawn
Solomito in his rear view mirror.
Bonsignore fell to tenth by lap twenty when five
circuits later, Shawn Solomito became the next
caution when his motor blew up heading down the
front stretch.
Timmy Solomito remained the car at the point, the
Islip, NY driver in the Diversified Metals sponsored
modified continued to dominate while Coby challenged
for the top spot, the championship contender keeping
focused on the big picture.
Calvin Carroll brought out the next caution on lap
thirty-nine and on that restart, a jumble that
started more towards the front section of the pack
going into turn one rippled back through the field
to bring out the red flag. Jimmy Blewett got a piece
of the incident along with Eric Goodale, Ron Silk
and Craig Lutz all involved in the turn two melee.
The day was over for Lutz while Blewett, Goodale and
Silk were able to pit and rejoin the field at the
tail end.
It was this restart on lap fifty-one that started to
make this more of a nail biter for Coby. Timmy
Solomito at the point for the restart appeared to be
edged at the line by Coby. Coby immediately dropped
back relinquishing the momentary lead only to lose
several spots while Bonsignore was able to gain. By
lap sixty, it was Timmy Solomito, Rob Summers,
Justin Bonsignore, Woody Pitkat and Doug Coby the
top five. Meanwhile, Ryan Preece who had started
from scratch at the green was entering the picture
in seventh place.
The fifth caution of the day waved on lap seventy.
This set up the action on pit road with nearly the
entire field coming in for tires and adjustments.
Solomito led the way down pit road and the Flamingo
Motorsports crew had Solomito back out first with
Bonsignore and the M3 crew turning on the hustle
gaining several spots getting Bonsignore out second.
Coby lined up seventh.
Wade Cole, who had pitted earlier, was the new
leader selecting the inside lane for the lap
seventy-seven restart. Solomito on the outside was
able to clear turn one for the top spot taking Donny
Lia, Preece, Bonsignore and Matt Swanson the top
five with him. Bonsignore made his move and was in
second by lap eighty, his sights set on Solomito.
Meanwhile, Coby was shuffled back to fourteenth.
Lap 100, fifty to go, it was Solomito, Bonsignore,
Preece, Lia and now Blewett the top five. Coby
cracked the top ten and was now ninth.
The field was pulled in one more time for a caution
on lap 102 for the motor on the Chase Dowling
machine that expired.
From the lap 106 restart, it was all green flag
racing.
 Bonsignore on the bumper of Solomito tested the
waters and finally completed his move to become the
new leader on lap 130. With ten to go, Bonsignore
put some real estate between himself and the field
as the others jockeyed for position in the closing
circuits.
Bonsignore crossed the stripe in convincing style
for the bittersweet victory while Preece took
second, and Blewett third to complete the podium.
Donny Lia crossed for fourth with Solomito fifth.
Coby survived the day for a sixth place finish and a
run into history to earn a third straight NWMT
Championship title, a fourth title for Coby overall.
“The greats of our sports and I’m honored to
mentioned among them,” said Coby when asked by NBCSN
reporter Derek Pernesiglio how it felt to be
mentioned along names like Richie Evans, Jerry Cook,
Mike Stefanik, Tony Hirschman- all multiple
champions. “I’m honored for the accomplishment to
have done this. This is so special, we’re going to
celebrate with our fans, friends and family because
there is a lot of sacrifice that goes into this- you
guys, race fans who are here, everybody who works on
other teams, media members, you guys know the
sacrifice, all these people who stand behind this
car just puts so much into it and it just means so
much for us to come out and again, do every week. We
know we have the bulls eye on us and we just always
perform, always have a great car – the 2 team baby,
we’re up front again.”
“We kept them so honest this year,” said Bonsignore.
“Everybody thought they would just walk away with
this deal and the second half of the year we really
turned it on – we were forty or fifty points out at
one time. We’re not going to hang our head on any of
this – all in all, an amazing season. To finish
second is nothing to be ashamed of. I’m very proud
of our season- four wins, I think we finished in the
top five all but four races, just bummed, but really
excited. It’s our fifth win at Thompson so that’s
even cooler- we’ll just come back next year even
stronger.”
“We had a good car,” continued Bonsignore. “We had a
couple of restarts go our way. The guys had a great
pit stop. We had a backup and almost stalled it and
still came out second. I just worked the 16 over, I
knew he was free, I could see it- I showed him a
nose, showed him a nose, finally I could see the
guys behind us were running us down so I had to go.
He drove it in deep, we bounced wheels, I hope he’s
not too upset. An amazing season and a nice way to
go into the off season- we’ve won almost every
different weekend here so that’s special too.”
 His second trip up to the press box for the day,
NASCAR Xfinity driver Ryan Preece made the trip from
Kansas Speedway where he competed Saturday to
Thompson on Sunday. Jon McKennedy practiced and
qualified the Connie Partridge owned, T.S.
Haulers/Riverhead Raceway sponsored modified for
Preece who had to start the field from the scratch
position because of the driver change. Fresh off his
Sunoco Modified win earlier in the afternoon, Preece
was up to 15th by lap fifteen, into the top ten by
lap thirty-five and after the pit stop at the half
way mark was up to third by lap seventy- eight.
Bounced back to fourth, Preece turned it on in the
closing circuits to finish the Sunoco World Series a
solid second.
“Starting last, all the way from Kansas,” smiled
Preece, “it was a good day. Jon fought the same
things I fought, we needed to make an adjustment
just to help the center, but a really good car. It’s
just hard when you are not here to practice or
anything. I’m happy, second place, you can’t
complain with that.”
 Jimmy Blewett overcame a setback on the lap 45
restart when a tire started to go down. Pitting and
starting from the back, Blewett worked his Bob
Garbarino owned, Starrett Tools/Mayhew Tools
sponsored modified through the field, up to fifth by
lap 100 and passed for third with five to go. “To
finish off on a good note, a nice top three finish,
be on the podium the last race, it feels good,” said
Blewett. “For me, this year coming in it, I got
thrown in here, basically on the fly- go out there
and do the best I can for Bob and his team and try
to show everyone that I’m still really capable of
doing it. Hopefully throughout this season I’ve
proved myself to owners and maybe I’ll get myself
another opportunity for next season to hopefully get
another ride.” Plans for next season are in the air
for Blewett, while a sit down discussion with
Garbarino in the next few weeks would be ideal, he
knows the ‘silly season’ is here. “Everybody kind of
does a car swap and we’ll see where I land.
Hopefully I can land somewhere respectable with a
good team, come back next season and give this guys
a charge.”
“Yes,” Blewett would be happy to be back with
Garbarino. “We have some things to fix if we come
back together next season. All in all, these guys
worked as hard as they could, even during the hard
times when most people would put their head down,
those guys, when their head was down, they charged
forward. I just felt like we were plagued with a
bunch of gremlins, you just never had that luck,
whether it was the inside restart when you need to
be on the outside or the outside when you needed to
be on the inside, you could just never find that
groove. I’m happy to finish in the top three again
and give these guys a good send off at the end of
the year.”
A podium finish at Thompson is good but unfinished
business remains for this Howell, NJ driver. “I’ll
win at this place, one day. I don’t know when-
hopefully one day I can get it. Everybody knows why
I come here, every time I come though that gate,
it’s tough for me and my family. You just keep
plugging away at it, it’s one of those things you
keep picking away at and eventually, you’ll get it.”
 Winning
three NWMT championship titles may not have exactly
totally sunk in yet. What does run deep is an
emotional connection that seems to be shared among
the MS III Racing team. A true gratefulness for what
they are able to do, what they have done and
accomplished together.
“This is a huge sacrifice for everybody,” said Coby.
“You guys know what the travel is like, what the
time away from home is like, if you think about
every team out here has ten to fifteen people that
don’t get a whole of credit but do a whole lot of
work, there’s people that make food, people that
take times, people change tires, mount tires- Timmy
and John mount tires for three hours just about a
day and none of us see that. You don’t see them
dismounting tires because they’re not happy with an
eighth of an inch of stagger and that’s what they do
every week in the sun, trying to get drinks when
they can, everybody has a job to do and there is
just so much sacrifice, not only on our team but all
these teams – this is largely a volunteer crew
series and that’s why the championships are so
special, because you get to go to Charlotte, dress
up, sit down, relax and realize the achievement and
we’re so fortunate, three years in a row to be on
top. I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t
continue, it’s just really hard to stay at the top,
I think it’s almost harder to stay at the top than
get to the top. It’s been five years in a row coming
to the World Series- some of the guys on the 52 came
to the 2, it’s been five years in a row battling at
the World Series for a championship and we got four
of them. That’s something I would have never thought
in 2012, if you said, predict that the next five
years of your career, I never would have dreamed,
number one, that I would switch teams and number
two, that a brand new team would gel together that
quickly and win three championships in a row.”
Car owner Mike Smeriglio III has a lifelong place in
his heart for modified racing. “I go back to when I
was four years old, at Danbury Racearena with my
dad, I’m just such a fan of racing.” When it was
time, Smeriglio unleashed his passion for modified
racing and became a car owner. First as a ‘student,’
next, being on his own and now, to the top of the
game. “I’m not the technical guy, I’m a little bit
of a strategist, but this 2 Team, it’s really about
Phil and Doug. Phil lets me be me and I let him be
him. I’m going to be the emotional one, I’m going to
be the cheerleader. I’m going to be the one to pick
him up when he’s down or pick the guys up when they
don’t have a good pit stop, it’s always half full
versus half empty. Everyone does their job and they
work to do it better, but they’re not afraid to fail
because we’ll pick them right back up. I don’t look
at as being the leader, it’s just who I am. I care
about the guys. This is my family and I’m going to
give them as much respect and care and yes love, as
I can.”
Smeriglio has unlocked a key to the treasure. It’s
about relationships. Good business, good friends,
family, teams, Smeriglio has gathered and grown a
solid foundation through relationships that
together, has put the 2 team on top, setting a new
record in the NASCAR history books with the
potential to do even more.
“How do you say it? Doug just makes it easy,” said
champion crew chief Phil Moran. “He’s such a hell of
a driver, he just makes me look good. We’re a good
pair. We communicate well, we have fun, but when it
comes time to do it, we do it, we get it done. I
don’t know, I wish I had an answer. We click. The
whole team clicks. Everybody has a job. Everybody
does their job which is a big thing. That’s why we
don’t have mechanical failures. If something falls
off the car it’s because somebody didn’t do their
job. We didn’t have a part failure, other than
running out of gas one time, but it was just
circumstances. Other than that, no mechanical
issues, that’s incredible. To be honest, in the last
three years, we haven’t had a mechanical failure so
that’s to those guys, to making sure everything is
right.”
“It’s awesome,” said Coby about the third title.
“Everyone is different, everyone is special for a
different reason, there is many ways to win them and
may ways to lose them and we’ve just found a lot of
ways to win them.”
“We keep everyone together by going out to the
campground and have fun,” said Moran. “When we go to
Bristol, we all stay in the same hotel, we all hang
out, we all go out to dinner together, we’re all a
group of friends. We all get along, there’s no
animosity in any of this crew. It’s a Friday,
Saturday, Sunday family- it’s just the way it is.”
“It goes back to preparation, having a car that’s
just good everywhere we go,” said Coby. “It does not
matter what era you’re in, it’s difficult to win a
championship. It’s still seventeen races, it’s a war
you have to win. We won a lot of the battles,
tonight, Justin, their team, won the battle and did
what they had to do, luckily the 16 was as good as
he was because he made the 51 work for it. We just
put ourselves in a position all year, I think we had
a really clean season, I don’t think there’s any
question we just chipped away every week and got our
wins- we won at Oswego and Loudon, what a special
season that is then have the three Stafford wins was
really neat. We did what we had to do today. It’s a
different mindset when you’re trying to wrap this
up.”
The MS III Racing Team will be honored on December
10th in Charlotte, NC at the NASCAR Night of
Champions Touring Awards Celebration.
“I hope we do it again next year,” added Moran. “The
competition is tough. Justin stepped up his game
this year and it showed, he had a great race today,
he did what he had to do. Timmy’s going to be tough,
their getting tough. I’ve got to do a little more
homework because they are catching us. We just have
to step up our game a little bit that’s all.”
This is also the fourth championship title for
Moran, his first came in 2003 with driver Todd
Szegedy.
“Raising the bar, that’s my job,” said Moran. “I
learned a lot from a lot of good people throughout
my career. From Art Barry, he taught me how to work,
how to work smart and work. If you sit there on a
Friday night at 11 o’clock and you want to go home
but you know that you’d rather get that one part
done that’s only going to take you another twenty
minutes to do it, then you stay that extra twenty
minutes. I learned that from Art. I spent many a
night there until two or three in the morning. I
learned my work ethic from Art, I owe him a lot for
that. Then, working for the Pasteryak’s- Charlie
Pasteryak taught me a lot as far as making sure
stuff does not fall off the car, he was always about
that and he worked as hard as anybody I know. It
took me a lot to keep up with him. That’s why
Charlie and I got along so good because we both had
the same work ethic. I think that’s the biggest
thing, is just having a really good work ethic. You
have to give it 110 percent, every day. This is my
job. This is what I do. I love it, I love doing it.”
Nine poles and five wins highlighted the season for
the MS III Racing team. But there is so much more.
This group is as cohesive as they come, a racing
family that didn’t want to let each other down. They
know every move they make is scrutinized by
competitors, officials and fans. For now, the weight
on their shoulders has been lifted. They did not
crack or crumble under pressure and they delivered
as professionals. Congratulations to the 2 Team-
Mike Smeriglio III, Doug Coby, Phil Moran, John
Romano, Bob Tulipani, Timmy Armbruster and the
entire MS III Racing crew. You’ve earned the
spotlight.
The NWMT Sunoco World Series presented by Xtra Mart
150 is scheduled to air on NBCSN on Friday October
21st at 1pm ET.
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Source:
Polly Reid / TheChromeHorn.com
Posted:
October 17, 2016 |
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