MILFORD, Conn. — Doug Coby will be back on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour this year to defend his championship and he’ll do so as an owner/driver.

As first reported by RaceDayCT.com, Coby has acquired one of the cars from the former Mike Smeriglio Racing team and plans to race full time this year for his own team, Doug Coby Racing.

“Everybody was banking on that we would sell the whole team to somebody and obviously that didn’t happen,” Coby told RaceDayCT.com. “I certainly didn’t have the ability to buy the entire team, but what I was able to do was buy the winningest car that we have. My favorite car that we win at Stafford (Motor Speedway) with all the time, and kind of start from there.”

The 40-year-old Coby is the winningest NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver of the last decade. He’s won 27 races since 2011 and won six of the last eight series championships, five of which were won while Coby drove for Mike Smeriglio Racing.

Team owner Mike Smeriglio III announced late last year that he was retiring as a car owner, leaving Coby without a ride for the upcoming NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season. Coby is expecting to have most of his crew from Mike Smeriglio Racing back with him this year.

Coby’s car will carry primary sponsorship from Mayhew Tools. Additional sponsors include Reynold’s Auto Wrecking and Modzelewski’s Towing, with more sponsors expected to be announced later.

Doug Coby Racing will make its debut on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour on March 21 at South Boston (Va.) Speedway.