Justin Bonsignore Comes Out on Top of Photo Finish at New Hampshire
Career Win Number 37 Comes in Mohegan Sun 100
LOUDON, N.H. – Justin Bonsignore scored his second win of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season on Saturday evening at New Hampshire Motor Speedway – and did it in a photo finish coming to the line. The driver of the No. 51 for Ken Massa Motorsports machine was out front when rain hit the track with just under 35 laps to go and the field pulled down pit road.
It looked as though it might be over – but the rain stopped – NASCAR and track officials dried the track – and the Mohegan Sun 100 went back under the green flag. Bonsignore pitted during the caution and had to restart outside the top-10. He charged through the field and was in position to race for the lead in the final few laps in the Phoenix Communications ride.
Bonsignore passed Doug Coby to take the lead when the field crossed at the white flag. Off turn two on the final lap, Coby went to the outside of Bonsignore for the lead with Ron Silk looking three-wide to the bottom. Bonsignore led through the middle of turn three before Coby crossed to the bottom and got inside coming off turn four to the finish line.
Bonsignore and Coby drag-raced to the line and made a little bit of contact, with Bonsignore coming out on top by a small margin. It was the 37th career win for the Holtsville, New York, native and his second points-paying win at New Hampshire.
“It was just crazy,” Bonsignore said. “The way we were able to drag-race back to the line and beat Doug, it was amazing. This is our Super Bowl, our Daytona 500. There’s nothing like racing a Modified here. I’m glad we got the race back going and the fans stuck it out. Coby, Silk, and I have a good rivalry but there’s a ton of respect involved. I knew where I wanted to be on the last lap.”
Bonsignore will be back on the track at Claremont Motorsports Park for the next NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event on Saturday, July 29. For more information on the three-time series champion, visit JustinBonsignore.com.
Sources: Kyle Souza, Souza Media