NASCAR Whelen Tour Modifieds are the most popular race cars on Thompson Speedway’s 5/8 mile oval. There are 37 entries for this weekend’s Icebreaker. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo.)
For the tradition-rich NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, each off season has historically brought little turnover among the ranks. Although ride swapping can occur with frequency, many of the drivers and teams remain the same from year to year. Things are a little different in 2015, however.
Eric Mauriello held off the best from the NASCAR WMT and the VMRS to win at his home track’s annual Turkey Derby (Credit: Speed 51 photo)
By Lou Modestino
At the Annual Turkey Derby held at Wall Stadium in Brick, NJ Eric Mainiello, a local driver, managed to hold off a large contingent of NASCAR Whelen Modified and Valenti Modified Tour drivers to post the win. Connecticut’s Les Hinkley manged to take the runner-up spot with Jimmy Blewitt next. Doug Coby another Connecticut pilot broke into the top five. Continue reading
Ryan Bigelow put his name in the NEMA Midget history book by winning his first race at Waterford Speedbowl’s finale. (Credit: Ryan Bigelow photo)
By Lou Modestino
Some lines were added to the NEMA history book on Sunday when the midgets ran at the Waterford Speedbowl’s Fall Finale. Ryan Bigelow of E. Hampton, CT. became a first time winner in the NEMA Midgets and Ryan Krachun of Neshanic Station, NJ became a first time champion in the Lites. Continue reading
Woody Pitkat proved his worth by winning at NHMS for his second career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo)
By Lou Modestino
Woody Pitkat held off Todd Szegedy on a green-white-checkered finish to earn his second NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory in Saturday’s F.W. Webb 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Continue reading
Justin Bonsignore can now lay claim that he’s won both the Icebreaker and the Bud 150 at Thompson Motorsports Park. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo)
By Lou Modestino
Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good and sometimes a driver can be both.
Justin Bonsignore was just that as he was able to miss the late accidents that collected some of the lead pack cars and hold off a strong challenge by Matt Hirschman on a green-white-checkered finish to win the Budweiser King of Beers 150 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
It was the second consecutive NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win for the Holtsville, New York native at Thompson and his third of the season. Doug Coby followed Hirschman in third with Ryan Preece and Ron Silk completing the top five.
Bonsignore became the first driver to win back-to-back races at Thompson since Ted Christopher scored four consecutive wins at the track from 2010-11.
The race was relatively calm through the first half mark with only three cautions. However, business picked up in the field over the final 75 laps of the contest with the yellow flag displayed for several multi-car accidents. The most significant of those incidents came on Lap 124.
Silk was leading the race with Donny Lia, who led the first half of the race before pitting under caution, second and Tommy Barrett Jr. third. Patrick Emerling spun in Turn 1 collecting both Lia and Barrett ending their night.
Coby took the lead past Silk on the ensuing restart on Lap 134 and remained out front for just two laps until Bonsignore made his move past the points leader on Lap 136 where he remained the rest of the night.
Timmy Solomito finished sixth with Christopher seventh and Todd Szegedy eighth. Glen Reen and Spencer Davis completed the top 10.
With the win, Bonsignore was able to slice five points off of Coby’s lead entering the night and will head to Bristol Motor Speedway for next Wednesday’s Bush’s Beans 150 just three points (367-364) out of the top spot.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-Budweiser King of Beers 150
Unofficial Results
Thursday
At Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
Thompson, Conn.
Lap length: 0.625 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (9) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, NY, Chevrolet, 150 laps, 78.763 mph.
2. (16) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA, Chevrolet, 150.
3. (4) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
4. (8) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Ford, 150.
5. (11) Ron Silk, Norwalk, CT, Chevrolet, 150.
6. (5) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
7. (19) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
8. (13) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn, Chevrolet, 150.
9. (17) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass., Chevrolet, 150.
10. (18) Spencer Davis, Dawsonville, Ga., Pontiac, 150.
11. (12) Keith Rocco, Wallingford, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
12. (24) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Pontiac, 150.
13. (21) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 149.
14. (22) Jimmy Zacharias, Candor, N.Y., Chevrolet, 149.
15. (23) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Chevrolet, 148.
16. (15) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 147.
17. (20) John Beatty, Jr., Merrick, N.Y., Chevrolet, 142.
18. (6) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 137, accident.
19. (2) Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 137, accident.
20. (7) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, NY, Chevrolet, 133.
21. (14) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 129, accident.
22. (1) Donny Lia, Jericho, NY, Dodge, 124, accident.
23. (3) Tommy Barrett, Jr., Millis, Mass., Chevrolet, 123, accident.
24. (25) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 105, brakes.
25. (10) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 13, accident.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 11 minutes 25 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.316 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: D.Lia (119.706 mph, 18.796 seconds)
Caution Flags: 8 for 37 laps.
Lead Changes: 4 among 5 drivers.
Lap Leaders: D. Lia 1-75; G. Reen 76-82; R. Silk 83-133; D. Coby 134-135; J. Bonsignore 136-150.
Standings: 1. D. Coby, 367; 2. J. Bonsignore, 364; 3. T. Christopher, 346; 4. B. Santos, 329; 5. R. Preece, 327; 6. R. Silk, 327; 7. M. Hirschman, 305; 8. T. Solomito, 304; 9. W. Pitkat, 303; 10. E. Goodale, 299.
Woody Pitkat finally won his first NASCAR When Modified Tour race at his home track-Stafford Motor Speedway. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo)
By Lou Modestino
After winning 71 times at Stafford Motor Speedway in weekly competition, there was never any doubt that Woody Pitkat knew his way around his home track. Now Pitkat can add a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win to his résumé.
Justin Bonsignore timed his pass right to win the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Monadnock Speedway. (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo)
By Lou Modestino
Justin Bonsignore made the late pass pay off as he drove to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory in the O’Reilly 200 at Monadnock Speedway Saturday night.
Bonsignore powered underneath Ryan Preece on Lap 175 en route to the win. Preece had started second and led all but one lap to that point.
It was the fifth career win for the Holtsville, New York, driver and second straight at Monadnock. It was also his second of 2014, as he opened the season with a win at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in April.
The race went caution-free, leaving just six cars on the lead lap at the checkered flag. Preece settled for second, followed by Eric Goodale, rookie Tommy Barrett Jr. and points leader Doug Coby.
Bonsignore won the Coors Light Pole Award earlier in the day, but Preece jumped to the lead on Lap 2 and held it until Bonsignore made his move.
Matt Hirschman finished sixth, followed by Patrick Emerling, Ted Christopher, Ron Silk and Ron Yuhas Jr.
With the win, Bonsignore moved to within four points of Coby in the championship points standings. Bobby Santos, who finished 11th, dropped to third in points — eight behind Coby. Christopher is fourth, another five points back, while Preece moved up a spot to fifth.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races next in the Call Before You Dig 8-1-1 150 at Stafford Motor Speedway on Friday, Aug. 8.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-O’Reilly Auto Parts 200 Results
Saturday
At Monadnock Speedway
Winchester, N.H.
Lap length: 0.25 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (1) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, NY, Chevrolet, 200 laps, 66.323 mph.
2. (2) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Ford, 200.
3. (3) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 200.
4. (5) Tommy Barrett, Jr., Millis, Mass., Chevrolet, 200.
5. (10) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 200.
6. (7) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA, Chevrolet, 200.
7. (15) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, NY, Chevrolet, 199.
8. (11) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 199.
9. (8) Ron Silk, Norwalk, CT, Chevrolet, 199.
10. (6) Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 198.
11. (14) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 198.
12. (16) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass., Chevrolet, 197.
13. (4) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 196.
14. (19) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 195.
15. (22) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Pontiac, 187.
16. (21) Dave Salzarulo, Monson, Mass., Chevrolet, 186.
17. (12) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, NH, Chevrolet, 181, power steering.
18. (13) Donny Lia, Jericho, NY, Dodge, 114, handling.
19. (17) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 110, engine.
20. (9) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 73, rear end.
21. (18) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Chevrolet, 73, leaking fluid.
22. (20) Jimmy Zacharias, Candor, N.Y., Chevrolet, 68, electrical.
23. (23) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 11, handling.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 0 hours 45 minutes 14 seconds
Margin of Victory: 3.939 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: J.Bonsignore (71.468 mph, 12.593 seconds)
Caution Flags: 0 for 0 laps.
Lead Changes: 2 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: J. Bonsignore 1; R. Preece 2-174; J. Bonsignore 175-200.
Standings: 1. D. Coby, 285; 2. J. Bonsignore, 281; 3. B. Santos, 277; 4. T. Christopher,272; 5. R. Preece, 252; 6. R. Silk, 244; 7. E. Goodale, 234; 8. T. Solomito, 233; 9. M. Hirschman, 229; 10. W. Pitkat, 227.
Doug Coby is always one of the top drivers when he races a Modified at Stafford Motor Speedway (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo)
By Lou Modestino
Stafford Motor Speedway will host the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for the third of four visits during the 2014 season on August 8 for the Call Before You Dig 811 150. When the NWMT teams take to the track, two of the favorites have to be Bobby Santos, III and Doug Coby. Continue reading
Bobby Santos, III was able to propel himself into a contender for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Championship for 2014 by winning a number of races this season including the Sunoco 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Credit: NHMS photo)
By Lou Modestino
With three wins already in the books as the 2014 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season reaches the halfway point this week, Bobby Santos looks to be firmly entrenched in the championship chase. Continue reading
Bobby Santos, III of Franklin scored his biggest NASCAR Modified win at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH when he won the hotly contested Sunoco 100. Credit: NASCAR HomeTracks photo)
By Lou Modestino
Bobby Santos entered the Sunoco 100 looking for a little extra magic to change his fortunes at the “Magic Mile.” He waited until the final lap, but he got it. Continue reading