Bonsignore Brings Home First Win
Takes Lighthouse Mission 200 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Race at Riverhead
Riverhead, NY — Justin Bonsignore converted his home-track advantage into his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory. The 23-year-old from Holtsville, N.Y., drove away with the Lighthouse Mission 200 Saturday at Riverhead Raceway.
Bonsignore, the 2010 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Sunoco Rookie of the Year, also runs regularly in Riverhead’s weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modified Division. He is second in the track’s point standings.
Todd Szegedy was second, followed by Ron Silk, Ryan Preece and Doug Coby. Rowan Pennink rebounded from an early wreck to finish sixth. The finish allowed Silk to take the points lead by five over Pennink.
Jamie Tomaino, Patrick Emerling, Bobby Santos and Richie Pallai rounded out the top 10.
Earlier in the day, Riverhead veteran Howie Brode earned his first career Coors Light Pole Award on the tour. His night ended early, though, when he was caught up in a multi-car accident in the first half of the race.
Brode led the first 17 laps before Bonsignore made the decisive move to the front on Lap 18.
With his sixth-straight top-five finish, Silk passed Pennink for the season points lead. Silk now leads by five tallies with nine races remaining.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will be back on track Friday, Aug. 5 for the Town Fair Tire 150 at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-Lighthouse Mission 200 Unofficial Results
Saturday
At Riverhead Raceway
Riverhead, N.Y.
Lap length: 0.25 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (2) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 175 laps, 34.464 mph.
2. (3) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 175.
3. (16) Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 175.
4. (7) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Chevrolet, 175.
5. (9) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 175.
6. (6) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 175.
7. (10) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 175.
8. (28) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, N.Y., Ford, 175.
9. (19) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Dodge, 175.
10. (27) Richie Pallai, Jr., Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Chevrolet, 175.
11. (23) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 175.
12. (18) Dave Brigati, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 175.
13. (24) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 175.
14. (22) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 175.
15. (20) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 172.
16. (25) Eric Berndt, Cromwell, Conn., Chevrolet, 160.
17. (4) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 158, accident.
18. (21) Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 158.
19. (8) Shawn Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 146, accident.
20. (26) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 124.
21. (12) James Civali, Meriden, Conn., Pontiac, 119.
22. (13) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Pontiac, 85, radio.
23. (1) Howie Brode, East Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 69, accident.
24. (5) Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 69, accident.
25. (15) Bryon Chew, Mattituck, N.Y., Chevrolet, 60, suspension.
26. (17) Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y., Chevrolet, 58, accident.
27. (11) George Brunnhoelzl, III, W. Babylon, N.Y., Chevrolet, 22, accident.
28. (14) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 1, accident.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 16 minutes 10 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.352 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: H.Brode (75.898 mph, 11.858 seconds)
Caution Flags: 11 for 100 laps.
Lead Changes: 1 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: H. Brode 1-17; J. Bonsignore 18-175.
Standings: 1. R. Silk, 1129; 2. R. Pennink, 1124; 3. T. Szegedy, 1038; 4. T. Christopher, 1032; 5. M. Hirschman, 995; 6. D. Coby, 970; 7. E. Beers, 969; 8. B. Santos, 967; 9. R. Yuhas,Jr., 890; 10. E. Rudolph, 870.
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR