Justin Bonsignore Continues Dominance at Thompson
Collects Fifth Straight NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Win at Connecticut Oval
THOMPSON, Conn. — Justin Bonsignore has become the modern-day master of Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
The Holtsville, New York, driver scored his fifth straight NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win at Thompson on Sunday afternoon in the Icebreaker 150. The victory allowed Bonsignore to become the first driver in the history of Whelen Modified Tour action at the historic Connecticut oval to win five straight.
It was the 10th career Thompson win for the defending series champion and his 21st overall.
“We’ve had speed at every race so far,” Bonsignore said. “I just said that we had to put together a full race and execute. You have to have a little bit of luck to go your way, and we finally got some this year.”
RACING-REFERENCE: Icebreaker 150 Race Results
After Doug Coby won his second Mayhew Tools Dominator Pole Award and led the first 107 laps, the race took a turn for Bonsignore when the field slowed for a caution at lap 99. Bonsignore followed Coby down pit road for fresh tires, and although Coby did beat him off pit road, a penalty for running over his air hose sent Coby to the rear of the field.
While Coby fought back to finish fifth, Bonsignore took the advantage for the restart, and held off South Boston Speedway winner Ron Silk during a green-white-checkered finish to continue his Thompson dominance.
Coby and Bonsignore paced the entire weekend, running first and second, in that order, for both practice sessions and qualifying.
“It would have been a good race, neither one of us would have given an inch, I know that,” Bonsignore said of what would have been with Coby. “We were so close all weekend. I’ve won a bunch here and some of them are just on luck. You have to put yourself in position, and my team always does.”
Silk, who qualified ninth, got back to the track in third following the pit stop, and when Coby was sent to the tail, the former series champion was in position for his second place effort.
“Things are going good,” Silk said. “It’s nice to get a win and back that up with a second today. It’s good for the guys on the team. They are all pumped up.”
Eric Goodale was third, while Patrick Emerling and Coby, who was able to work his way back up through the field, completed the top five. After three races, Coby holds a slim seven point lead in the Whelen Modified Tour championship standings.
Burt Myers was sixth, followed by Matt Swanson, Woody Pitkat, Chris Pasteryak and Jimmy Blewett.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to the track as part of the NAPA Spring Sizzler at Stafford Motor Speedway on April 28.
Sources: Jason Christley/NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-Icebreaker 150 Results
Sunday
At Thompson International Speedway
Thompson, Conn.
Lap length: 0.625 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (2) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, NY, Chevrolet, 154 laps, 91.184 mph.
2. (9) Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 154.
3. (19) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 154.
4. (5) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, NY, Chevrolet, 154.
5. (1) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 154.
6. (8) Burt Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C., Chevrolet, 154.
7. (12) Matt Swanson, Acton, Mass., Chevrolet, 154.
8. (16) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 154.
9. (6) Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon, Conn., Chevrolet, 154.
10. (17) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 154.
11. (24) Sam Rameau, Westminster, Mass., Chevrolet, 154.
12. (10) Kyle Benjamin, Easley, S.C., Chevrolet, 154.
13. (11) Craig Lutz, Miller Place, N.Y., Chevrolet, 154.
14. (3) Kyle Bonsignore, Bay Shore, N.Y., Toyota, 154.
15. (18) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Ford, 153.
16. (21) Blake Barney, Lakewood, N.J., Chevrolet, 153.
17. (13) Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, Mass., Chevrolet, 153.
18. (4) Tommy Catalano, Ontario, N.Y., Chevrolet, 152.
19. (23) Calvin Carroll, Newton, N.J., Chevrolet, 152.
20. (15) Dave Sapienza, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 152.
21. (28) J. B. Fortin, Jr., Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
22. (22) Timmy Catalano, Ontario, N.Y., Chevrolet, 149.
23. (25) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Ford, 148.
24. (14) Anthony Nocella, Woburn, Mass., Chevrolet, 146.
25. (26) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Ford, 130.
26. (27) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 91, rear end.
27. (20) Andrew Krause, Holmdel, N.J., Chevrolet, 82, power steering.
28. (7) Rob Summers, Manchester, Conn., Chevrolet, 36, handling.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 3 minutes 20 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.449 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: D.Coby (119.332 mph, 18.855 seconds)
Caution Flags: 3 for 23 laps.
Lead Changes: 1 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: D. Coby 1-107; J. Bonsignore 108-154.
Standings: 1. D. Coby, 124; 2. P. Emerling, 117; 3. J. Blewett, 116; 4. B. Myers, 116; 5. C. Pasteryak, 112; 6. R. Silk, 109; 7. J. Bonsignore, 99; 8. J. McKennedy, 99; 9. K. Bonsignore, 97; 10. M. Swanson, 97.
Racing-Reference.info
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race number 3 of 3
Sunday, April 7, 2019 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Thompson, CT
150 laps* on a .625 mile paved track (93.8 miles)
Time of race: 1:03:20
Average speed: 91.184 mph
Pole speed: 119.332 mph Cautions: 3 for 23 laps
Margin of victory: 0.449 sec
Attendance: n/a
Lead changes: 1
Fin St # Driver Sponsor / Owner Car Laps Status Led Pts
1 2 51 Justin Bonsignore Phoenix Communications Inc. (Kenneth Massa) Chevrolet 154 running 47 47
2 9 85 Ron Silk Stuart’s Automotive (Kevin Stuart) Chevrolet 154 running 0 42
3 19 58 Eric Goodale GAF Roofing (Edgar Goodale) Chevrolet 154 running 0 41
4 5 07 Patrick Emerling Sahlen’s (Jennifer Emerling) Chevrolet 154 running 0 40
5 1 2 Doug Coby Mayhew Tools / Reynolds Auto Wrecking / AJ Ro (Mike Smeriglio III) Chevrolet 154 running 107 41
6 8 1 Burt Myers Vestal Buick GMC (Eddie Harvey) Chevrolet 154 running 0 38
7 12 3 Matt Swanson Cape Cod Copper / WOW Media / USNE (Jan Boehler) Chevrolet 154 running 0 37
8 16 82 Woody Pitkat Horton Avenue Materials (Danny Watts Jr.) Chevrolet 154 running 0 36
9 6 75 Chris Pasteryak Dawley’s Collision & Custom (Charles Pasteryak) Chevrolet 154 running 0 35
10 17 21 Jimmy Blewett Gershow Recycling / Blewett Recycling (Joseph Bertuccio) Chevrolet 154 running 0 34
11 24 06 Sam Rameau * Racechoice.com (Randy Rameau) Chevrolet 154 running 0 33
12 10 15 Kyle Benjamin Thinklite / 15-40 Connection (Rob Fuller) Chevrolet 154 running 0 32
13 11 46 Craig Lutz Riverhead Building Supply (Russell Goodale) Chevrolet 154 running 0 31
14 3 22 Kyle Bonsignore Dunleavy Truck Repair / Chalew Performance (Kyle Bonsignore) Toyota 154 running 0 30
15 18 16 Timmy Solomito RB Enterprises (Eric Sanderson) Ford 153 running 0 29
16 21 14 Blake Barney Atlantic Sprinkler (Richard Barney) Chevrolet 153 running 0 28
17 13 7 Jon McKennedy Ultra Wheel (Tommy Baldwin) Chevrolet 153 running 0 27
18 4 54 Tommy Catalano Catalano Motorsports (Amy Catalano) Chevrolet 152 running 0 26
19 23 25 Calvin Carroll Power with Prestige / Cruising w / Betty (Joe Carroll) Chevrolet 152 running 0 25
20 15 36 Dave Sapienza SAP Enterprise (Judy Thilberg) Chevrolet 152 running 0 24
21 28 34 J.B. Fortin * Johns Tree Removal / Discount Less Pool (Nicole Fortin) Chevrolet 150 running 0 23
22 22 45 Timmy Catalano * Catalano Motorsports (Amy Catalano) Chevrolet 149 running 0 22
23 25 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood (Robert Pollifrone) Ford 148 running 0 21
24 14 92 Anthony Nocella Nocella Paving / K and D Associates / Airgas (Anthony Nocella) Chevrolet 146 running 0 20
25 26 33 Wade Cole Perf. Engines / Kendall Oil (Wade Cole) Ford 130 running 0 19
26 27 01 Melissa Fifield TBD (Kenneth Fifield) Chevrolet 91 rear end 0 18
27 20 24 Andrew Krause Supreme Manufacturing (Diane Krause) Chevrolet 82 power steering 0 17
28 7 64 Rob Summers Lumiere / Dell Electric / Rocky’s Plumbing (Mike Murphy) Chevrolet 36 handling 0 16
Rookie drivers are denoted with an asterisk.
* Race extended to 154 laps due to overtime.
Race notes:
Failed to qualify, withdrew, or driver changes:
Pos Name Nbr Sponsor Owner Car
WD Gary Putnam 77 Curb Records Mike Curb Chevrolet
WD Chase Dowling 99 S&S Cheryl Tomaino Chevrolet
Caution flag breakdown:
Condition From
Lap To
Lap # Of
Laps Reason Free
Pass
1 23 23
24 29 6 #64,25 accident turn 3 #33
30 98 69
99 109 11 #54 accident turn 1 #36
110 145 36
146 151 6 debris turn 4 #22
152 154 3
Percent of race run under caution: 14.9% Average green flag run: 32.8 laps
Lap leader breakdown:
Leader From
Lap To
Lap # Of
Laps
Doug Coby 1 107 107
Justin Bonsignore 108 154 47
Points standings after this race:
Rank Driver Points Diff
1 Doug Coby 124
2 Patrick Emerling 117 -7
3 Burt Myers 116 -8
3 Jimmy Blewett 116 -8
5 Chris Pasteryak 112 -12
6 Ron Silk 109 -15
7 Justin Bonsignore 99 -25
7 Jon McKennedy 99 -25
9 Kyle Bonsignore 97 -27
9 Matt Swanson 97 -27
11 Eric Goodale 94 -30
12 Woody Pitkat 93 -31
13 Blake Barney 90 -34
14 Craig Lutz 89 -35
15 Anthony Nocella 88 -36
16 Timmy Solomito 81 -43
17 Dave Sapienza 79 -45
18 Sam Rameau 75 -49
19 Ken Heagy 74 -50
20 Tommy Catalano 73 -51