Tag Archives: NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour

Justin Bonsignore will be a championship contender on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour

Justin Bonsignore is making Stafford Motor Speedway a key to his success in 2015. He will be racing an Sk Modified there this year as well as competing in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo.)

Justin Bonsignore is making Stafford Motor Speedway a key to his success in 2015. He will be racing a Sk Modified there this year as well as competing in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo.)

The 2014 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season was a breakthrough year for Justin Bonsignore. The West Islip, NY native doubled his career win total from 3 to 6 and was in the championship race with Doug Coby until several mechanical issues late in the season relegated him third in the final standings. Fast forward to the 2015 season and Bonsignore is ready to once again be a championship contender. To add to his busy schedule he will be pulling double duty at Stafford during Whelen Modified Tour events as he will pilot an Art Barry owned SK Modified® for the entire 2015 season.

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NEMA Lites will make a historic appearance at Thompson Speedway’s Icebreaker

Kingston's Randy Cabral will be one of the favorites to win the inaugural NEMA Lites feature at Thompson Speedway's Icebreaker. Because any Thompson checker is a treasure. (Credit: NEMA photo)

Kingston’s Randy Cabral will be one of the favorites to win the inaugural NEMA Lites feature at Thompson Speedway’s Icebreaker. Because any Thompson checker is a treasure. (Credit: NEMA photo)

The Northeastern Midget Association has long considered Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (TSMP) the ultimate “separate the men from the boys” facility. While any Thompson checkered is a treasure, winning the first ever NEMA Lites feature at this year’s ICEBREAKER event will be a goal high on the list of many attendees.

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NEMA will race at Chemung and Evans Mills in NY State

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Doug Coby will drive a Bertrand NEMA Midget at Chemung Speed Drome and Evans Mills Speedways over the Memorial Day weekend. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo.)

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Doug Coby will drive a Bertrand NEMA Midget at Chemung Speed Drome and Evans Mills Speedways over the Memorial Day weekend. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo.)

The Northeastern Midget Association announced that it has added an inaugural event at the Chemung Speedrome to its schedule for May 22, 2015. Chemung will start an action packed weekend for NEMA, with an event the following day at Evans Mills Speedway. The NEMA Midgets will run extended 30 lap races at both tracks, with the Lites running 25 Laps.

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Preece takes North-South Shootout at Caraway Speedway

Ryan Preece to another win in the North-South Shootout at Caraway Speedway in Sophia, NC. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo)

Ryan Preece takes another win in the North-South Shootout at Caraway Speedway in Sophia, NC. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo)

By Lou Modestino

Ryan Preece scored a second John Blewett III North-South Shootout Modified victory Sunday at Caraway Speedway, putting a strong start to the driver’s partnership with his Ed Partridge-owned race team.

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Ryan Preece collected his 11th career win in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Thompson Speedway’s World Series

Ryan Preece

Ryan Preece ended the season with his 11th career win in in the

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour finale at the Thompson Speedway

In Conn.  (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo)

By Lou Modestino

Ryan Preece led a contingent of drivers to visit Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park victory lane in the final day of the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing presented by Xtra Mart. Preece was dominant in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race leading 137 of 150 laps. In NASCAR Whelen All American Series action, Charlie Rose held off Larry Gelinas for the Late Model victory while Woody Pitkat checkered the Sunoco Modified Series feature. Other winners were Derek Ramstrom in the Granite State Pro Stock Series, Randy Cabral in NEMA action, Chris Perley in the ISMA Supermodifieds, and Chris Turbush in the New England Truck Series. Continue reading →

Joey Pole, Brian Hoar and Eddie MacDonald enter the Bond Auto ACT Invitational at NHMS on Sept. 20

Joey Pole of Hudson, NH is always a contender when he races a Late Model, Super Late Model and ACT Tour Late Model (Credit; ACT Tour photo)

Joey Pole of Hudson, NH is always a contender when he races a Late Model, Super Late Model and ACT Tour Late Model (Credit; NHMS photo)

By Lou Modestino

Two former winners and a new young gun were the first to accept invitations to the 6th Annual Bond Auto ACT Invitational to be held at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) on Saturday, September 20, 2014. Invitations were first sent to those who qualified throughout the season by winning either an ACT US event or Série ACT event in Quebec. Continue reading →

Bonsignore had both skill and luck by winning the Bud 150 at Thompson Motorsports Park

 

 

Justin Bonsignore can now lay claim that he's won both the Icebreaker and the Bud 150 at Thompson. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo)

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.

A late pass nets Bonsignore a win at Monadnock Speedway

Justin Bonsignore timed his pass right to win the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Monadnock Speedway. (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo)

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.

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to Stafford on August 8

Doug Coby is always one of the top drivers when he races a Modified at Stafford Motor Speedway (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo)

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 →

NASCAR needs to get Dodge back in the fold along with Honda and Nissan

 

 

Kyle Larson could be a good tickets seller for NASCAR if he continues to do well. (Credit: AP photo Paelan M Ebanhak

Kyle Larson could be a good tickets seller for NASCAR if he continues to do well. (Credit: AP photo /Paelan M Ebanhak

By Lou Modestino

NASCAR’s problems of not selling tickets and dropping TV ratings is a situation that just has to be solved. Forget the excuses that all of sports world-wide are suffering with deficits due to a global ailing economy. Just because Brian France was able to get a huge increase over the previous contracts starting in 2015, it does not mean the problems are solved. That increase TV money is what is holding NASCAR together. But for how long? There’s a cliche in the rough and tumble business world. “Don’t tell me what you did for me yesterday. What are you going to do for me today,” say the captains of global industry. Continue reading →