luke baldwin king of the modifieds, coby third at south boston

Photo: Jayden Dole

SOUTH BOSTON, Va. – Talk about a way to score your first career win. 

Luke Baldwin drove the No. 7VA to the front of the field and held off the best of the best in Matt Hirschman over the final laps to become King of the Modifieds on Sunday at South Boston Speedway. 

In the third race of the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic season, Baldwin drove the Sadler-Stanley Racing, Pace-O-Matic, Mohawk Northeast entry to Victory Lane for his first career Tour-Type Modified win in just his third career start. 

The win came with a $20,000 prize and the crown in Victory Lane for Baldwin. 

“I can’t believe it,” Luke Baldwin said. “The car was a rocket ship. All of the guys at Sadler-Stanley Racing and PSR Chassis did a great job. It’s a ton of pressure (over the final laps battling Hirschman) - but, I always say pressure is privilege. I’m thankful for everyone who makes this possible.”

Luke passed Matt Hirschman for the lead prior to pit stops just after halfway in the King of the Modifieds 125, then after pitting, had to get the lead back. He led the final stretch of the race and held off Hirschman, who was close behind, in the stretch run to the checkered flag at the Virginia track. 

While Luke won with Sadler-Stanley Racing, Tommy Baldwin Racing also fielded the historic 7NY in the race, with six-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Doug Coby driving. After qualifying 11th, Coby spun early. But after some adjustments mid-race, Coby charged through the field, avoided major damage in a pile-up on the backstretch late, and scored a solid third-place finish in the Dominion Energy machine.

“It was pretty wild, this track is so fun and so fast,” Coby said. “We had a ton of damage front and rear, but we came home third. Really happy for Luke on his first win and thankful for Tommy and his team for having me here. This SMART Modified Tour is really fun.”

Former Daytona 500 crew chief Tommy Baldwin Jr. was ecstatic about his sons first career Tour-Type Modified win.

“I was watching Luke more than I was watching the 7NY out there,” Tommy Baldwin Jr. said. “He put on a clinic with that much speed and talent. The two kids (Carson Loftin, winner of the first two SMART race and Luke, winner Sunday) are putting on a show down south. I don’t even know what to say."

Tommy Baldwin Racing will be back on track with Coby at Richmond Raceway for the second race of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season on Friday, March 29. Luke will return to racing with Sadler-Stanley Racing at Tri-County Speedway on Saturday, March 30.