WATERFORD, Conn. — Ryan Preece continued his mastery of bullrings.
The 24-year-old Berlin, Connecticut, driver picked up his 12th career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory Saturday night in the Mr. Rooter 161 at New London-Waterford Speedbowl.
It was Preece’s second win at the Speedbowl and seventh tour win on a track that is a third-mile or smaller. He also has a win on the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour on the quarter-mile at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
To get the win, Preece had to hold off defending tour champion Doug Coby in a green-white-checkered finish that pushed the race to 165 laps. Preece’s No. 6 TS Haulers/East West Marine Chevrolet crossed the line .109 seconds ahead of Coby.
Ted Christopher finished third, followed by Max Zachem and Woody Pitkat.
Preece led a race-high 117 laps, including the final 36. He originally took the lead from Donny Lia on Lap 47 and only lost it briefly to Coby. Lia won the Coors Light Pole Award earlier in the day.
With the win, Preece took the points lead over Coby by one and Pitkat by two.
Bobby Santos, Patrick Emerling, Rowan Pennink, Spencer Davis and Keith Rocco completed the top 10 in the race.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will be right back at it Friday, June 5 with the TSI Harley-Davidson 125 at Stafford (Connecticut) Motor Speedway. Pitkat picked up the win the last time the tour visited Stafford on April 26.
