Justin Bonsignore Continues His Roll at Seekonk
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Points Leader Scores Second Win of 2018
SEEKONK, Mass. — Justin Bonsignore has quickly proven that he is going to be the man to beat during the 2018 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season.
The Holtsville, New York, driver scored his second win of the young season on Saturday at Seekonk Speedway, holding off a late charge from rising star Chase Dowling in the final circuits at the third-mile Massachusetts oval.
The victory was the 14th career for Bonsignore in Whelen Modified Tour competition, and his second of the 2018 season behind the wheel of the No. 51 Phoenix Communications Chevrolet for Kenneth Massa Motorsports.
RACING-REFERENCE: Race Results | Point Standings
“It was a great day, we came off the truck first in practice, got my first pole in a long time, and we had a really good car,” Bonsignore said. “I just can’t thank everyone enough. This is a total team effort, and I am just the lucky guy that gets to drive this car right now.”
Bonsignore’s run to the victory may have seemed easy at first glance, strictly because he started from the pole and ended up carrying the checkered flag at the end of the 150-lap distance. However, a fierce battle with Matt Hirschman put Bonsignore’s equipment to the test in the second half of the race.
The two modified veterans swapped the lead back and forth multiple times throughout the race, but on lap 127, Hirschman was able to edge out at the front of the field at lap 127, but on the next lap, Bonsignore took the lead, and never looked back.
RACING-REFERENCE: Justin Bonsignore
In the midst of the battle between Bonsignore and Hirschman, Dowling made a late charge through the field after starting 13th, and was locked on the back bumper of Bonsignore’s car in the final laps. He finished second, scoring his fourth consecutive top 10 finish to open the season.
Bonsignore led a race-high 100 laps, while Hirschman was at the point for 50 circuits. They were the only two drivers who led the race, and both of them started on the front row.
“When I had the lead, I was just a little bit tight,” Hirschman, who finished third, said. “It was a good night. We are always in contention to win. Just not quite (there).”
Rowan Pennink finished fourth, while Ron Silk was fifth. Ronnie Williams was sixth, followed by Timmy Solomito, Tommy Catalano, Dave Sapienza and Craig Lutz.
Bonsignore leads Dowling by seven points in the championship standings, while Lutz is 19 points back.
The Seekonk 150 will air on NBCSN on Wednesday, June 6, at 7 p.m. ET.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to the track at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on Wednesday, June 13.
Sources: Jason Christley/NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-Seekonk 150 Results
Saturday
At Seekonk Speedway
Seekonk, MA
Lap length: 0.33 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (1) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, NY, Chevrolet, 150 laps, 62.902 mph.
2. (13) Chase Dowling, Roxbury, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
3. (2) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA, Chevrolet, 150.
4. (4) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 150.
5. (8) Ron Silk, Norwalk, CT, Chevrolet, 150.
6. (7) Ronnie Williams, Ellington, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
7. (17) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Ford, 150.
8. (21) Tommy Catalano, Ontario, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
9. (9) Dave Sapienza, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
10. (14) Craig Lutz, Miller Place, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
11. (18) Rob Summers, Manchester, CT, Chevrolet, 150.
12. (12) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
13. (6) Andrew Krause, Holmdel, N.J., Toyota, 150.
14. (22) Blake Barney, Lakewood, N.J., Chevrolet, 150.
15. (11) Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
16. (30) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
17. (27) Gary Putnam, Vernon, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
18. (23) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
19. (10) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
20. (3) Anthony Nocella, Woburn, Mass., Chevrolet, 148.
21. (25) Joe Degracia, Nutley, N.J., Chevrolet, 146.
22. (28) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 135.
23. (24) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Chevrolet, 116, parked.
24. (16) Calvin Carroll, Newton, N.J., Chevrolet, 106.
25. (5) Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, Mass., Chevrolet, 80, power steering.
26. (26) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 48, ignition.
27. (15) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Chevrolet, 41, engine.
28. (19) Jeff Rocco, Meriden, Conn., Chevrolet, 40, brakes.
29. (29) Kyle Ellwood, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 40, suspension.
30. (20) Matt Swanson, Acton, Mass., Ford, 40, accident.
31. (31) Walter Sutcliffe Jr., East Haven, Conn., Chevrolet, 0, did not start.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 0 hours 47 minutes 13 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.299 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: J.Bonsignore (99.623 mph, 11.925 seconds)
Caution Flags: 7 for 39 laps.
Lead Changes: 6 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: J. Bonsignore 1-48; M. Hirschman 49-76; J. Bonsignore 77; M. Hirschman 78-98; J. Bonsignore 99-126; M. Hirschman 127; J. Bonsignore 128-150.
Standings: 1. J. Bonsignore, 171; 2. C. Dowling, 164; 3. C. Lutz, 152; 4. T. Solomito, 139; 5. R. Summers, 137; 6. J. McKennedy, 129; 7. D. Coby, 125; 8. R. Pennink, 123; 9. R. Williams, 116; 10. C. Pasteryak, 114.
2018 Seekonk 150
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race number 4 of 4
Saturday, June 2, 2018 at Seekonk Speedway, Seekonk, MA
150 laps on a .333 mile paved track (50.0 miles)
Time of race: 0:47:13
Average Speed: 62.902 mph
Pole Speed: 99.623 mph Cautions: 7 for 39 laps
Margin of Victory: 0.299 sec
Attendance: n/a
Lead changes: 6
Fin St # Driver Sponsor / Owner Car Laps Status Led Pts
1 1 51 Justin Bonsignore Phoenix Communications Inc. (Kenneth Massa) Chevrolet 150 running 100 48
2 13 15 Chase Dowling 15-40 Connection / S&S Paving (Rob Fuller) Chevrolet 150 running 0 42
3 2 60 Matt Hirschman Pee Dee Motorsports (Roy Hall) Chevrolet 150 running 50 42
4 4 3 Rowan Pennink Cape Cod Copper / USNE, Inc. (Jan Boehler) Chevrolet 150 running 0 40
5 8 85 Ron Silk Stuart’s Automotive (Kevin Stuart) Chevrolet 150 running 0 39
6 7 21 Ronnie Williams Empower Financial (Joseph Bertuccio) Chevrolet 150 running 0 38
7 17 16 Timmy Solomito Starrett Racing (Eric Sanderson) Ford 150 running 0 37
8 21 54 Tommy Catalano * CP Ward / Wilbert’s Auto Parts (Amy Catalano) Chevrolet 150 running 0 36
9 9 36 Dave Sapienza Sapienza Enterprise (Judy Thilberg) Chevrolet 150 running 0 35
10 14 46 Craig Lutz Riverhead Building Supply (Russell Goodale) Chevrolet 150 running 0 34
11 18 64 Rob Summers Hoosier Tire East / Fast Track Electrical (Mike Murphy) Chevrolet 150 running 0 33
12 12 2 Doug Coby Mayhew / Dunleavy’s / AJ Roman’s Const. (Mike Smeriglio III) Chevrolet 150 running 0 32
13 6 24 Andrew Krause Supreme Manufacturing Co. Inc. Toyota 150 running 0 31
14 22 14 Blake Barney * Atlantic Sprinkler (Richard Barney) Chevrolet 150 running 0 30
15 11 75 Chris Pasteryak Dawley’s Collision & Custom (Charles Pasteryak) Chevrolet 150 running 0 29
16 30 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood (Robert Pollifrone) Chevrolet 150 running 0 28
17 27 77 Gary Putnam Curb Records (Mike Curb) Chevrolet 150 running 0 27
18 23 26 Gary McDonald Lakeland Landscape / TRC Electric (Sean McDonald) Chevrolet 150 running 0 26
19 10 58 Eric Goodale GAF Roofing (Edgar Goodale) Chevrolet 150 running 0 25
20 3 92 Anthony Nocella Nocella Paving / Airgas / A&D Associates (Anthony Nocella) Chevrolet 148 running 0 24
21 25 23 Joe DeGracia * PJ DeGracia Contracting (Paul Degracia) Chevrolet 146 running 0 23
22 28 01 Melissa Fifield Eastern Propane & Oil (Kenneth Fifield) Chevrolet 135 running 0 22
23 24 33 Wade Cole Performance Engines / Kendal Oil (Wade Cole) Chevrolet 116 parked 0 21
24 16 25 Calvin Carroll Power with Prestige / Cruising w / Betty (Joe Carroll) Chevrolet 106 running 0 20
25 5 7 Jon McKennedy Atlantic Sprinkler (Tommy Baldwin) Chevrolet 80 power steering 0 19
26 26 82 Woody Pitkat Horton Avenue Materials (Pamela Hulse) Chevrolet 48 ignition 0 18
27 15 6 Ryan Preece TS Hauler (Ed Partridge) Chevrolet 41 engine 0 17
28 19 1 Jeff Rocco * Dunleavy’s Truck & Trailer (Eddie Harvey) Chevrolet 40 brakes 0 16
29 29 38 Kyle Ellwood Perf Engines / Kendall Oil / Ryan’s (Linda Rodebaugh) Chevrolet 40 suspension 0 15
30 20 89 Matt Swanson Starrett Racing (John Swanson) Ford 40 crash 0 14
31 31 78 Walter Sutcliffe, Jr. Last Minute Racing (Steven Sutcliffe) Chevrolet 0 did not start 0 13
Caution flag breakdown: Condition From Lap To Lap # Of Laps Reason Free Pass
1 8 8
9 12 4 #77,18 accident turns 3/4 none
13 26 14
27 33 7 #23,25 accident turn 2 none
34 39 6
40 47 8 multiple car accident turn 2 #01
48 70 23
71 76 6 #46,64 accident turn 4 #33
77 82 6
83 86 4 #7 #64
87 119 33
120 125 6 #33,92 turn 4 #26
126 131 6
132 135 4 #2 spun turn 4 #58
136 150 15
Percent of race run under caution: 26.0% Average green flag run: 13.9 laps
Lap leader breakdown: Leader From Lap To Lap # Of Laps
Justin Bonsignore 1 48 48
Matt Hirschman 49 76 28
Justin Bonsignore 77 77 1
Matt Hirschman 78 98 21
Justin Bonsignore 99 126 28
Matt Hirschman 127 127 1
Justin Bonsignore 128 150 23
Points standings after this race:
Rank Driver Points Diff
1 Justin Bonsignore 171
2 Chase Dowling 164 -7
3 Craig Lutz 152 -19
4 Timmy Solomito 139 -32
5 Rob Summers 137 -34
6 Jon McKennedy 129 -42
7 Doug Coby 125 -46
8 Rowan Pennink 123 -48
9 Ronnie Williams 116 -55
10 Chris Pasteryak 114 -57
11 Dave Sapienza 112 -59
12 Ryan Preece 105 -66
13 Gary McDonald 101 -70
14 Calvin Carroll 99 -72
15 Wade Cole 94 -77
15 Joe DeGracia 94 -77
15 Eric Goodale 94 -77
18 Blake Barney 93 -78
18 Tommy Catalano 93 -78
20 Matt Swanson 90 -81
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour standings for 2018
Driver Races Win T5 T10 Pole Laps Led Earnings AvSt AvFn RAF Miles LLF Points Diff
1 Justin Bonsignore 4 2 3 4 1 650 131 0 3.5 3.8 4 324.40 4 171
2 Chase Dowling 4 0 3 4 1 650 130 0 8.8 4.0 4 324.40 4 164 -7
3 Craig Lutz 4 0 2 4 0 650 11 0 14.0 6.5 4 324.40 4 152 -19
4 Timmy Solomito 4 0 0 3 0 650 10 0 10.5 9.5 4 324.40 4 139 -32
5 Rob Summers 4 0 0 2 0 649 0 0 12.5 9.8 4 323.90 3 137 -34
6 Jon McKennedy 4 1 1 2 0 579 38 0 3.8 13.0 3 300.46 2 129 -42
7 Doug Coby 4 0 0 1 0 604 37 0 7.0 13.2 3 301.40 3 125 -46
8 Rowan Pennink 3 0 3 3 0 500 2 0 3.3 3.3 3 243.70 3 123 -48
9 Ronnie Williams 4 0 0 1 1 646 0 0 9.8 15.0 3 322.23 1 116 -55
10 Chris Pasteryak 4 0 0 0 0 634 0 0 17.5 15.5 4 316.40 3 114 -57
11 Dave Sapienza 4 0 0 2 0 545 0 0 12.5 16.0 2 270.40 2 112 -59
12 Ryan Preece 3 1 2 2 0 391 91 0 16.0 10.7 2 207.40 2 105 -66
13 Gary McDonald 4 0 0 0 0 573 0 0 27.8 18.8 3 285.90 3 101 -70
14 Calvin Carroll 4 0 0 1 0 456 0 0 18.5 19.2 3 234.74 2 99 -72
15 Wade Cole 4 0 0 0 0 602 0 0 27.2 20.5 3 305.72 1 94 -77
16 Joe DeGracia 4 0 0 0 0 625 0 0 27.8 20.5 4 312.18 1 94 -77
17 Eric Goodale 4 0 0 1 0 462 0 0 16.2 20.8 2 228.40 2 93 -78
18 Tommy Catalano 3 0 0 1 0 496 0 0 24.0 13.0 3 241.70 2 93 -78
19 Blake Barney 4 0 0 0 0 463 0 0 19.8 20.8 2 226.15 2 93 -78
20 Matt Swanson 3 0 1 2 0 390 0 0 19.3 14.0 2 207.07 2 90 -81
21 Gary Putnam 3 0 0 0 0 498 6 0 23.0 15.0 3 229.65 2 88 -83
22 Woody Pitkat 4 0 0 0 0 418 0 0 20.5 22.5 2 224.10 1 86 -85
23 Matt Hirschman 2 0 2 2 1 300 127 0 1.5 3.0 2 130.65 2 85 -86
24 Melissa Fifield 4 0 0 0 0 572 0 0 29.2 24.2 3 283.30 0 79 -92
25 Ron Silk 3 0 1 1 0 351 0 0 8.7 18.3 1 168.07 1 77 -94
26 Ken Heagy 3 0 0 0 0 466 0 0 25.0 19.0 2 212.51 1 75 -96
27 Jimmy Blewett 3 0 1 1 0 299 14 0 14.7 20.7 1 171.95 1 71 -100
28 Bobby Santos III 2 0 0 1 0 348 0 0 14.5 10.5 2 192.75 1 67 -104
29 Andrew Krause 2 0 0 0 0 300 0 0 14.0 13.5 2 143.70 2 61 -110
30 Burt Myers 2 0 0 0 0 300 5 0 13.0 14.5 2 174.45 2 60 -111
31 Patrick Emerling 2 0 1 1 0 225 40 0 6.5 18.5 1 115.62 1 52 -119
32 Andy Seuss 2 0 0 0 0 284 1 0 11.5 19.5 1 164.45 1 50 -121
33 Kyle Bonsignore 3 0 0 0 0 191 7 0 13.0 29.3 1 104.12 0 45 -126
34 Walter Sutcliffe, Jr. 2 0 0 0 0 160 0 0 32.0 28.5 0 81.12 0 44 -127
35 Shawn Solomito 1 0 0 1 0 199 0 0 15.0 10.0 1 99.50 0 34 -137
36 Jamie Tomaino 1 0 0 0 0 150 0 0 24.0 19.0 1 80.70 1 25 -146
37 Anthony Nocella 1 0 0 0 0 148 0 0 3.0 20.0 1 49.28 0 24 -147
38 Manny Dias 1 0 0 0 0 147 0 0 33.0 21.0 1 91.87 0 23 -148
39 Frank Fleming 1 0 0 0 0 148 0 0 23.0 22.0 1 79.62 0 22 -149
40 Bryan Dauzat 1 0 0 0 0 146 0 0 29.0 23.0 1 91.25 0 21 -150
41 Dave Salzarulo 1 0 0 0 0 50 0 0 32.0 28.0 0 25.00 0 16 -155
42 Jeff Rocco 1 0 0 0 0 40 0 0 19.0 28.0 0 13.32 0 16 -155
43 Austin Pickens 1 0 0 0 0 126 0 0 7.0 29.0 1 78.75 0 15 -156
44 Kyle Ellwood 1 0 0 0 0 40 0 0 29.0 29.0 0 13.32 0 15 -156
45 Kyle Soper 1 0 0 0 0 57 0 0 30.0 32.0 0 35.62 0 12 -159
46 Max Zachem 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 19.0 36.0 0 0.62 0 8 -163
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour owner standings for 2018
Owner # Points Starts Wins 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Top 5 Top 10 Attempts
1 Ken Massa 51 171 4 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 4 4
2 Rob Fuller 15 164 4 0 2 0 1 0 0 3 4 4
3 Russell Goodale 46 152 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 4 4
4 Ed Partridge 6 147 4 1 1 0 1 0 0 3 3 4
5 Eric Sanderson 16 139 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4
6 Mike Murphy 64 137 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4
7 Tommy Baldwin 7 129 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 4
8 Mike Smeriglio III 2 125 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4
9 Jan Boehler 3 123 3 0 0 2 1 0 0 3 3 3
10 Joe Bertuccio, Sr. 21 116 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4
11 Charles Pasteryak 75 114 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
12 Judy Thilburg 36 112 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 4
13 Sean McDonald 26 101 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
14 Calvin Carroll 25 99 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4
15 Wade Cole 33 94 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
16 Paul Degracia 23 94 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
18 Richard Barney 14 93 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
17 Edgar Goodale 58 93 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4
19 John Swanson 89 90 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 3
20 Mike Curb 77 88 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
21 Eddie Harvey 1 88 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
22 Pamla Hulse 82 86 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
23 Roy Hall 60 85 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 2 2
24 Kenneth Fifield 01 79 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
25 Kevin Stuart 85 77 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 3
26 Robert Pollifrone 18 75 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
27 Sully Tinio 44 67 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2
28 Diane Krause 24 61 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
29 Amy Catalano 54 57 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
30 Linda Rodenbaugh 38 54 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
31 Bryan Dauzat 97 53 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
32 Jennifer Emerling 07 52 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 2
33 Kyle Bonsignore 22 45 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
34 Steven Sutcliffe 78 44 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
35 Amy Catalano 54 36 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
36 Jerry Solomito 66 34 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
37 Cheryl Tomaino 99 25 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
38 Anthony Nocella 92 24 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
39 Gina Fleming 40 22 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
40 Bryan Dauzat 57 18 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
41 John Blewett, Sr 76 17 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
42 Steve Pickens 63 15 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
43 Wayne Anderson 95 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
44 Ken Zachem 20 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Rookie and Contingency Standings for 2018
Duralast GT Break In The Race Award
Driver Awards
Chase Dowling 1
Doug Coby 1
Matt Hirschman 1
Hoosier Tire Fastest Lap Award
Driver Awards
Chase Dowling 1
Matt Hirschman 1
Jimmy Blewett 1
Hoosier Tire Lap Leader Award
Driver Awards
Chase Dowling 1
Ryan Preece 1
Matt Hirschman 1
Hoosier Tire Most Improved Award
Driver Awards
Joe Degracia 2
Tommy Catalano 1
Sunoco Spec Fuel Award
Driver Awards
Justin Bonsignore 1
Jon McKennedy 1
Ryan Preece 1
Whelen Engineering Winner of the Race Award
Driver Awards
Justin Bonsignore 1
Jon McKennedy 1
Ryan Preece 1
Sunoco Rookie of the Race Award
Driver Awards
Tommy Catalano 2
Blake Barney 1
Sunoco Rookie of the Year
Driver Awards
Joe Degracia 94
Tommy Catalano 93
Blake Barney 93
Manny Dias 23
Jeff Rocco 16
Kyle Soper 12