Connecticut’s Doug Coby, a six-time champion in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Series and the winner of the first-ever SRX Racing event last weekend at Stafford Speedway, will get his first-ever shot in the NASCAR National Series ranks as he’ll run the No. 24 Chevrolet Silverado for GMS Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway in September.
GMS Racing made the news official with a press release on Friday.
For Coby, 41, this NASCAR National Series start is the culmination of grinding away at the local level for many years.
“I’m really thankful to have the opportunity to drive for a winning team like GMS Racing at Bristol,” said Coby. “My racing career has been filled with chance meetings where I come across someone who ends up opening another door for me, and last weekend’s SRX event at Stafford withy Mike (Beam) was another one of those cases. For Mike to leave the event and speak with Maury Gallagher about putting me in one of their trucks at Bristol is phenomenal and I’m grateful for the opportunity to prove myself in the Camping World Truck Series. I’m really looking forward to working with all the guys on the 24 team at one of my favorite tracks. It doesn’t get any better than Bristol!”
Coby has had a wild couple of weeks. The six-time Modified Tour champion essentially forfeited a chance at seventh title in 2021 in an effort to showcase his talents on a national level in last week’s SRX Racing event at Stafford. Coby ended up winning holding off NASCAR legends Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart in the process.
Now, he is reaping the benefits of the decision to participate in SRX.
“One of the main goals Ray (Evernham) and his group had with the SRX series was to give these local short track guys like Coby a shot,” said GMS Racing’s Mike Beam. “We’re blessed to have Maury’s (Gallagher) support to put these local guys in a truck and give them a chance to compete at the national level in NASCAR.”
According to the release from GMS, the sponsorship and paint scheme for Coby’s No. 24 truck will be revealed at a later date.
