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First Superstar Racing Series race not won by superstar

Posted by AR1 staff

The first race of Tony Stewart and Ray Evernham’s Superstar Racing Experience was not won by a superstar.

Doug Coby smoked some of the big names of the sport.  Cob is a six-time Modified Tour champion and by no means a household name.

Coby was selected for the race because of his success at Stafford. He has over 30 wins and was invited to the race as part of the series’ desire to include stars from the six local tracks on the SRX schedule to see how they stacked up in equal cars to drivers who mainstream fans recognized.

Heat #1 Results

Finish Start Number Driver Laps
1 1 69 Greg Biffle 36
2 2 18 Bobby Labonte 36
3 3 3 Hélio Castroneves 36
4 4 2 Ernie Francis Jr. 36
5 7 48 Tony Kanaan 36
6 10 10 Doug Coby 36
7 5 14 Tony Stewart 36
8 12 98 Marco Andretti 36
9 11 9 Bill Elliott 36
10 8 15 Michael Waltrip 36
11 9 17 Willy T. Ribbs 36
12 6 13 Paul Tracy 27

Heat #2 Results

Finish Start Number Driver Laps
1 7 10 Doug Coby 35
2 3 15 Michael Waltrip 35
3 6 14 Tony Stewart 35
4 4 9 Bill Elliott 35
5 9 2 Ernie Francis Jr. 35
6 1 13 Paul Tracy 35
7 8 48 Tony Kanaan 35
8 11 18 Bobby Labonte 35
9 5 98 Marco Andretti 35
10 2 17 Willy T. Ribbs 24
11 10 3 Hélio Castroneves 23
12 12 69 Greg Biffle 23

Feature

As the top two in Heat #2, Coby and Waltrip comprised the front row to start the 100-lap feature. Biffle, in an unmarked backup car, started last. Bill Elliott‘s car lost fuel pressure during pace laps and resulted in a delayed start; he would retire from the race after nine laps.

Coby led the first four laps before Waltrip spun after a bump from Ernie Francis Jr. The restart took place on lap nine with Coby and Stewart, who battled with one another until Andretti took the lead on a three-wide pass. Biffle completed his climb through the field when he took the lead on lap 15.

After Biffle led eight laps, Coby retook the position and was the leader when the competition caution came out. The two sparred for first as the race crossed the halfway point until it was halted by Andretti’s spin on lap 57 following a tap from fellow IndyCar Series driver Castroneves. Waltrip was black-flagged due to damage. Biffle led the first two laps of the restart before Coby reclaimed the top spot.

When it appeared Coby would run away with the win, Andretti’s right-front tire went down and resulted in a caution with six to go. The restart came with two laps remaining. Coby cleared Biffle on the backstretch, and Biffle and Stewart’s battle for second enabled Coby to pull away and score the victory.

Winner Doug Coby

Feature Results

Finish Start Number Driver Laps
1 1 10 Doug Coby 100
2 12 69 Greg Biffle 100
3 3 14 Tony Stewart 100
4 11 3 Hélio Castroneves 100
5 8 18 Bobby Labonte 100
6 5 2 Ernie Francis Jr. 100
7 7 48 Tony Kanaan 100
8 10 17 Willy T. Ribbs 100
9 6 13 Paul Tracy 99
10 9 98 Marco Andretti 98
11 2 15 Michael Waltrip 51
12 4 9 Bill Elliott 9