Justin Bonsignore, driver of the #51 Phoenix Communications Inc. Chevrolet, is looking to become the first driver in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour history to win the first three races of a season. (Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)
BY JASON CHRISTLEY NASCAR.COM JULY 28, 2020
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour couldn’t have asked for a more exciting finish to its first trip to White Mountain Motorsports Park.
They’ll be back for an encore Saturday night.
Justin Bonsignore is 2-for-2 of 2020 and will look to become the first driver in tour history to win the first three races of a season. After a wire-to-wire win in race one, he led just 12 laps in the inaugural visit to White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, New Hampshire, but they were the most important ones — the last ones.
Bonsignore heads back to the banked quarter-mile in a bid to continue his domination on the banked quarter-mile, while the field will look to end his run.
WHITE MOUNTAIN SHOWDOWN 200
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
Bonsignore joined the late Ted Christopher in becoming just the second driver to win the first two races of a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season. Christopher accomplished the feat in 2009, and came up just short — finishing second to Jimmy Blewett at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway.
Christopher, however, won just once more that season and finished a distant third behind champion Donny Lia and runner-up Ryan Preece in the championship race.
Bonsignore will look to establish his own historic mark, and will look to translate his hot start into a second tour title.
He’s certainly been the hottest driver on the tour since last August, as he’s compiled five wins, two seconds and a fifth in his last eight races on the tour.
Six-time tour champion Doug Coby finished a close third at White Mountain, nearly edging Matt Hirschman at the line for second. His finish moved him into a tie for third in points behind Bonsignore and Hirschman, where he’s tied with Craig Lutz.
Tommy Catalano is coming off his first career top five, a fourth at White Mountain, while Dave Sapienza and Chris Pasteryak both turned in strong top 10 runs in the first visit.
RACE FACTS
| RACE | WHITE MOUNTAIN SHOWDOWN 200 |
| PLACE | White Mountain Motorsports Park |
| DATE | Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020 |
| TIME1 | 7 p.m. ET |
| TELEVISION | Trackpass on NBC Gold (live), 7 p.m. ET; NBCSN — Friday, Aug. 7, 12 a.m. ET |
| TRACK LAYOUT | Quarter-mile paved oval |
| EVENT SCHEDULE | Saturday, Aug. 1 — Garage opens: Noon ET; Practice: 2:30-3:30 p.m.; Qualifying: 5:30 p.m.; White Mountain Showdown 200: 7 p.m. |
| @NASCARRoots | |
| HASHTAG | #NWMT |
CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the White Mountain Showdown 200 is limited to 28, including provisional positions. The field will be set by qualifying (1-22) and provisional process per the entry blank (23-28) for the White Mountain Showdown 200. In the event that qualifying as stated on this entry blank does not take place for any unforeseen circumstance, the field will be set in accordance with the 2020 NASCAR Touring Series Rule Book.
QUALIFYING: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. Vehicles will be impounded after qualifying. Vehicle must qualify on race set up.
The White Mountain Showdown 200 will be 200 laps (50 miles) and is to be run without a break.
The maximum tire allotment available for this event is as follows: The maximum tire allotment available for this event is eight (8) tires per team. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. The tire change rule is zero (0) tires, any position.
Sourfe: NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour