Justin Bonsignore Keeps His Dominant Roll Going at Thompson
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Championship Points Leader Scores Fifth Win
THOMPSON, Conn. — Justin Bonsignore seems to have mastered Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
The Holtsville, New York, veteran pulled into NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Victory Lane for the fifth time in 2018 on Wednesday night as part of the Bud “King of Beers” 150.
The victory was the fifth of the season for Bonsignore, his 17th of his Whelen Modified Tour career and his eighth at Thompson. He has now been in Victory Lane for all three stops at the 0.625-mile oval.
“I just can’t believe the season we are having,” Bonsignore said. “We just have to keep it going. Ryan Stone brought a great LFR car here. We have a long way to go, but hopefully we can just keep winning races.”
RACING-REFERENCE: Bud “King of Beers” 150 Race Results
Bonsignore started from the top spot after winning his first Thompson pole and led the first 15 laps, but gave the lead up to Chase Dowling in the approach to lapped traffic. He took the lead back on lap 79, and even though he pitted during a caution on lap 89 for tires, it didn’t take him long to get back to the front.
He passed Doug Coby for the lead on lap 96 and never lost the top spot en route to the victory.
Matt Swanson, who got the call to drive the Boehler Racing No. 3 after the birth of Rowan Pennink’s first child, finished second. The result was his best career run on the Whelen Modified Tour in his first start with the BRE Racing team.
“The guys called me last night and asked if I wanted to drive their car,” Swanson said. “They told me to give it everything I had, and we did that tonight.”
Doug Coby, who led four laps, charged back through the field after spinning on lap 123, and finished third. Chase Dowling and Bobby Santos III rounded out the top five.
Woody Pitkat was sixth, followed by Andrew Krause, Craig Lutz, Chris Pasteryak and Timmy Solomito.
Bonsignore opened his advantage to 58 points over Dowling with six races remaining in the championship points chase. Timmy Solomito is third, 78 points back.
The Bud “King of Beers” 150 will air on NBCSN on Wednesday, August 15, at 7 p.m.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee, on Wednesday, August 15.
Sources: Jason Christley/NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-Bud ‘King of Beers’ 150 Results
Wednesday
At Thompson International Speedway
Thompson, CT
Lap length: 0.625 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (1) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150 laps, 96.844 mph.
2. (7) Matt Swanson, Acton, Mass., Chevrolet, 150.
3. (3) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
4. (2) Chase Dowling, Roxbury, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
5. (5) Bobby Santos, III, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 150.
6. (11) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
7. (12) Andrew Krause, Holmdel, N.J., Chevrolet, 150.
8. (4) Craig Lutz, Miller Place, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
9. (16) Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
10. (8) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Ford, 150.
11. (10) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
12. (6) Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, Mass., Chevrolet, 150.
13. (15) Blake Barney, Lakewood, N.J., Chevrolet, 149.
14. (14) Dave Sapienza, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 148.
15. (21) Gary Putnam, Vernon, Conn., Chevrolet, 148.
16. (9) Rob Summers, Manchester, Conn., Chevrolet, 148.
17. (18) Ray Parent, Tiverton, R.I., Chevrolet, 146.
18. (19) Austin Pickens, Windermere, Fla., Chevrolet, 146.
19. (17) Calvin Carroll, Newton, N.J., Chevrolet, 146.
20. (22) Tommy Catalano, Ontario, N.Y., Chevrolet, 145.
21. (25) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Chevrolet, 142.
22. (26) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Chevrolet, 140.
23. (13) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Chevrolet, 138.
24. (24) Joe Degracia, Nutley, N.J., Chevrolet, 134.
25. (23) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Ford, 118.
26. (27) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 40, power steering.
27. (20) Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 33, rear end.
28. (29) Ronnie Williams, Ellington, Conn., Chevrolet, 0, withdrew.
29. (28) Walter Sutcliffe Jr., East Haven, Conn., Chevrolet, 0, withdrew.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 58 minutes, 5 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.887 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: . ( mph, seconds)
Caution Flags: 3 for 15 laps.
Lead Changes: 3 among 3 drivers.
Lap Leaders: J. Bonsignore 1-15; C. Dowling 16-78; j. Bonsingore 79-91; D. Coby 92-95; J. Bonsignore 96-150.
Standings: 1. J. Bonsignore, 436; 2. C. Dowling, 378; 3. T. Solomito, 358; 4. C. Lutz, 343; 5. D. Coby, 337; 6. R. Summers, 317; 7. R. Pennink, 305; 8. E. Goodale, 304; 9. D. Sapienza, 292; 10. C. Pasteryak, 282.
2018 Budweiser King of Beers 150
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race number 10 of 11
Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Thompson, CT
150 laps on a .625 mile paved track (93.8 miles)
Time of race: 0:58:05
Average speed: 96.844 mph
Pole speed: 119.573 mph Cautions: 3 for 15 laps
Margin of victory: .887 sec
Attendance: n/a
Lead changes: 4
Glossary 2018 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour results / 2018 standings
Fin St # Driver Sponsor / Owner Car Laps Status Led Pts
1 1 51 Justin Bonsignore Phoenix Communications Inc. (Kenneth Massa) Chevrolet 150 running 83 47
2 7 3 Matt Swanson Starrett / Mosquito Free / USNE (Jan Boehler) Chevrolet 150 running 0 42
3 3 2 Doug Coby Mayhew / Dunleavy’s / AJ Roman’s Const. (Mike Smeriglio III) Chevrolet 150 running 4 42
4 2 15 Chase Dowling 15-40 Connection / S&S Paving (Rob Fuller) Chevrolet 150 running 63 42
5 5 44 Bobby Santos III Sully Tinio / Olivas Market (Sully Tinio) Chevrolet 150 running 0 39
6 11 82 Woody Pitkat Horton Avenue Materials (Danny Watts Jr.) Chevrolet 150 running 0 38
7 12 24 Andrew Krause Supreme Manufacturing Co. Inc. (Diane Krause) Chevrolet 150 running 0 37
8 4 46 Craig Lutz Riverhead Building Supply (Russell Goodale) Chevrolet 150 running 0 36
9 16 75 Chris Pasteryak Dawley’s Collision & Custom (Charles Pasteryak) Chevrolet 150 running 0 35
10 8 16 Timmy Solomito Starrett Racing (Eric Sanderson) Ford 150 running 0 34
11 10 58 Eric Goodale GAF Roofing (Edgar Goodale) Chevrolet 150 running 0 33
12 6 7 Jon McKennedy Accell Construction, Inc. (Tommy Baldwin) Chevrolet 150 running 0 32
13 15 14 Blake Barney * Atlantic Sprinkler (Richard Barney) Chevrolet 149 running 0 31
14 14 36 Dave Sapienza Sapienza Enterprise (Judy Thilberg) Chevrolet 148 running 0 30
15 21 77 Gary Putnam Curb Records (Mike Curb) Chevrolet 148 running 0 29
16 9 64 Rob Summers Hoosier Tire East / Fast Track Electrical (Mike Murphy) Chevrolet 148 running 0 28
17 18 98 Ray Parent * Make A Wish (Don Parsons) Chevrolet 146 running 0 27
18 19 63 Austin Pickens Site One Greenbrier Chevrolet 146 running 0 26
19 17 25 Calvin Carroll Power with Prestige / Cruising w / Betty (Joe Carroll) Chevrolet 146 running 0 25
20 22 54 Tommy Catalano * Catalano Motorsports (Amy Catalano) Chevrolet 145 running 0 24
21 25 33 Wade Cole Performance Engines / Kendall Oil (Wade Cole) Chevrolet 142 running 0 23
22 26 26 Gary McDonald Lakeland Landscape / TRC Electric (Sean McDonald) Chevrolet 140 running 0 22
23 13 6 Ryan Preece TS Hauler (Ed Partridge) Chevrolet 138 running 0 21
24 24 23 Joe DeGracia * PJ DeGracia Contracting (Paul Degracia) Chevrolet 134 running 0 20
25 23 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood (Robert Pollifrone) Ford 118 running 0 19
26 27 01 Melissa Fifield Truck Stop Northeast (Kenneth Fifield) Chevrolet 40 power steering 0 18
27 20 85 Ron Silk Stuart’s Automotive (Kevin Stuart) Chevrolet 33 rear end 0 17
28 29 21 Ronnie Williams Empower Financial (Joseph Bertuccio) Chevrolet 0 did not start 0 16
29 28 78 Walter Sutcliffe, Jr. 2 Live CRU Racing (Steven Sutcliffe) Chevrolet 0 did not start 0 15
Rookie drivers are denoted with an asterisk.
Race notes:
– #24, #54 to the rear prior to start of the race (unapproved adjustments and missing drivers meeting)
– #21 withdrew during qualifying (spin in Turn 2 / no qualifying time)
– #78 withdrew after qualifying (engine)
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
DURALAST GT BREAK IN THE RACE AWARD: Justin Bonsignore, 51 Phoenix Communications Inc. Chevrolet
HOOSIER TIRE FASTEST LAP AWARD: Craig Lutz, 46 Riverhead Building Supply Chevrolet
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADER AWARD: Justin Bonsignore, 51 Phoenix Communications Inc. Chevrolet
HOOSIER TIRE MOST IMPROVED AWARD: Chris Pasteryak, 75 Dawley’s Collision & Custom Chevrolet
ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Blake Barney *, 14 Atlantic Sprinkler Chevrolet
SUNOCO SPEC FUEL AWARD – 1ST: Justin Bonsignore, 51 Phoenix Communications Inc. Chevrolet
WHELEN ENGINEERING WINNER OF THE RACE AWARD: Justin Bonsignore, 51 Phoenix Communications Inc. Chevrolet
Failed to qualify, withdrew, or driver changes:
Pos Name Nbr Sponsor Owner Car
WD Jimmy Blewett 76 Starrett / John Blewett Inc. John Blewett Sr. Chevrolet
WD Matt Swanson 89 Starrett John Swanson Ford
Caution flag breakdown:
Condition From
Lap To
Lap # Of
Laps Reason Free
Pass
1 88 88
89 94 6 #36 spun backstretch #64
95 122 28
123 127 5 #2 spun turn 2 #24
128 133 6
134 137 4 debris #75
138 150 13
Percent of race run under caution: 10.0%
Average green flag run: 33.8 laps
Lap leader breakdown:
Leader From
Lap To
Lap # Of
Laps
Justin Bonsignore 1 15 15
Chase Dowling 16 78 63
Justin Bonsignore 79 91 13
Doug Coby 92 95 4
Justin Bonsignore 96 150 55
Points standings after this race:
Rank Driver Points Diff
1 Justin Bonsignore 435
2 Chase Dowling 379 -56
3 Timmy Solomito 358 -77
4 Craig Lutz 343 -92
5 Doug Coby 337 -98
6 Rob Summers 317 -118
7 Rowan Pennink 305 -130
7 Eric Goodale 305 -130
9 Dave Sapienza 292 -143
10 Chris Pasteryak 282 -153
11 Ronnie Williams 281 -154
12 Ryan Preece 274 -161
13 Blake Barney 256 -179
14 Tommy Catalano 243 -192
15 Calvin Carroll 238 -197
16 Gary McDonald 237 -198
17 Jon McKennedy 232 -203
18 Woody Pitkat 226 -209
19 Wade Cole 220 -215
20 Joe DeGracia 213 -222