 (Photo: Noah Watts/My Race News) By Souza Media/Kyle Souza
JENNERSTOWN, Pa. -- Justin Bonsignore and Doug Coby are no strangers to running at the front of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour field. The two of them have combined to win eight of the last nine championships on NASCAR’s oldest touring series -- and on Saturday night -- they fought hard in the final two laps to decide the winner of the Jennerstown Salutes 150 presented by DGV on Memorial Day weekend. In a chaotic, close finish, Bonsignore held off Coby by a mere car length to win the fourth race of the Whelen Modified Tour season and the only stop at Pennsylvania's Jennerstown Speedway for this year. Coby chased the back bumper of Bonsignore’s No. 51 Phoenix Communications Inc. machine around the .522-mile oval over the final 50 laps, and closed to the bumper when they took the white flag. Through turns one and two on the final lap, Coby got a run, while Bonsignore slid sideways down the beginning of the backstretch. By the time they entered turn three, Coby was looking outside Bonsignore -- but couldn't quite draw even. Bonsignore edged Coby to the line for the win. It was the 30th career win for Bonsignore -- his second at Jennerstown -- and first of the season. With the victory, Bonsignore tied Coby for sixth all-time on the wins list, as the two now sit just one win behind Jeff Fuller for fifth. Bonsignore was carrying the name of Air Force Staff Sergeant David A. Wieger, who passed away in war in 2007, on his No. 51 Kenneth Massa Motorsports machine. In Victory Lane, the Holtsville, New York, native donated the race winning trophy to the Wieger family, who were in attendance. All Whelen Modified Tour cars carried a roof decal with the name of a fallen hero as part of Saturday’s race event at Jennerstown, and multiple of the families attended what was a bit of a wet and brisk night. The race was a partnership between JDV Production -- led by Josh Vanada -- NASCAR -- and Operation Vet NOW Inc. (OVN). “My guys nailed the pit stop during the race but the driver almost gave it away at the end,” Bonsignore said. “It’s great to get back to Victory Lane. We were bummed here at Jennerstown last year, we won the first race, but felt like we gave the second race away. Big thanks to the fans for coming out and sticking today out with us. The best part of today was honoring David Wieger, and getting this car to Victory Lane.” Bonsignore won the Mayhew Tools pole award in qualifying, his 16th of his career, second consecutive this season and third consecutive at Jennerstown. He led the field to the green with Coby to his outside, and dominated the first half of the race. However, it was another Bonsignore -- his cousin Kyle -- who rolled to the top spot before a caution slowed the action. Justin Bonsignore’s pit crew got the job done -- getting him out ahead of Kyle -- as Justin drove around Patrick Emerling to the lead and never looked back en route to the win. Next up for Justin Bonsignore will be another NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event at Oswego Speedway for the Steel Palace 150 on Saturday, June 12. For more information on Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow his athlete page on Facebook.
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 By Souza Media/Kyle Souza
HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. -- Justin Bonsignore returns to Jennerstown Speedway this Saturday, May 29, for a special night of NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour action. In the Jennerstown Salutes 150 presented by DGV, honoring veterans who were lost in war, Bonsignore will carry the name of Air Force Staff Sergeant David A. Wieger, who passed away in war in 2007 -- when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. Celebrating Memorial Day weekend, Bonsignore is hoping his victory in the June race at Jennerstown last year will give him a little bit of momentum. He finished fifth in the second visit to Jennerstown during the shortened 2020 season -- and hasn’t been to Victory Lane yet in 2021. Bonsignore finished third at Martinsville Speedway to open the season, 13th at Stafford Motor Speedway, and third at Riverhead Raceway after leading 175 laps. “We are super excited to go out there, especially with David A. Wieger’s name on our car, it’s a huge honor,” Bonsignore said. “We ran so well at Jennerstown last year and we feel like we should have won both races… we’re hoping to get our first win of the season and get the summer stretch going.” Saturday’s race day schedule includes one practice session from 3:30-4:30 p.m., followed by Mayhew Tools pole qualifying at 5:45 p.m. The Jennerstown Salutes 150 presented by DGV will take the green flag at 7:30 p.m. Fans who can’t make it to the track can watch it live on TrackPass via NBC Sports Gold. For more information on Justin Bonsignore, visit justinbonsignore.com and follow his athlete page on Facebook.  Photo: Tom Morris/Tri Track By Souza Media/Kyle Souza
EPPING, N.H. -- Justin Bonsignore ran inside the top-10 for most of Saturday’s Tri Track Open Modified Series event at Star Speedway, but the end result doesn’t show it. The Holtsville, New York, native, driving for Jimmy Paige and the No. 00 team, finished second in his qualifying heat and ran inside the top-five of the feature before pitting close to halfway. Bonsignore charged back into the top five, and was running there, when the engine started overheating and pouring water onto the track, which forced Tri Track officials to ask him to leave the track. Bonsignore was credited with a 24th place finish in the Prelude To SBM X 100 at Star. “The car was really good before the pit stop and just a little snug after the stop,” Bonsignore said. “I think we could have been in the top-three. I’m really happy with the gains we made since the last race. It’s been good. Have to get some work done before Seekonk and see what we can do there.” Bonsignore will return to Tri Track competition in their next event on Wednesday, June 30 -- the annual Open Wheel Wednesday, worth $10,000 to the winner, at Seekonk Speedway. Bonsignore returns to racing on Saturday, May 29, in race four of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season at Jennerstown Speedway. For more information on Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow his athlete page on Facebook.  (Photo: Tom Morris Racing Photography) By Souza Media/Kyle Souza
HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. -- Fresh off a solid fourth-place finish with the Tri Track Open Modified Series on May 1, Justin Bonsignore will return to Tri Track competition on Saturday, May 22, at Star Speedway. Driving for Jimmy Paige in the No. 00 James R. Paige Plumbing and Heating Modified, Bonsignore looks to get to Victory Lane at Star for the first time. The race is the Prelude to SBM X -- a 100-lap feature -- which will help promote the upcoming SBM 125 in July. The Holtsville, New York, native is also looking for his first career Tri Track win. “It’s a great track,” Bonsignore said. “I haven’t had much success there, but it puts on good races. I’m excited to see what we can do with Steve Lemay and the No. 00 guys. We just have to keep learning from each other, and build our chemistry together. The longer we work together, the better it will get. We learned a lot at Monadnock and that will help us to be where we need to be at Star.” Saturday’s race day schedule includes one practice session from 11:50-12:50 p.m., with qualifying heats set for 2:30 p.m. The feature race will follow in the track rotation and is estimated to go green at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, and $20 for seniors and juniors (11-16). For those who can’t make it to the track, Speed51.TV will carry a live stream. For more information on Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow his athlete page on Facebook.  Photo: (Nate Smallwood/NASCAR) By Souza Media/Kyle Souza
ATTLEBORO, Mass. -- When the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour rolls to Jennerstown Speedway on Saturday, May 29, all cars in the field will carry the name of a fallen hero who lost their life serving the United States in war, to honor Memorial Day weekend. As part of the Jennerstown Salutes 150, presented by DGV, two-time Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore will have the honor of carrying the name of Air Force Staff Sergeant David A. Wieger, who passed away in 2007. For his efforts in war, Wieger was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He lost his life following an incident where his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. “It’s an amazing program that the JDV Productions team and NASCAR have come up with for this event,” Justin Bonsignore said. “To pay honor to everyone that has paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country, on Memorial Day weekend, it’s special. NASCAR always does a good job of saluting the troops and honoring the freedoms that we have in our country. It’s a really special program. I’m excited to have SSgt Wieger’s name on our Kenneth Massa Motorsports car and I’m excited to give his family something to enjoy and cheer for on the track. Hopefully, they’ll be cheering us along to a win.” Wieger worked as a Technical Services Agent at AFOSI Det 303, at Travis Air Force Base in California. He entered the Air Force in 1999, and was recruited to join the AFOSI’s Tech program in 2004. After completing his training, he was assigned to the California base. The Whelen Modified Tour race at Jennerstown, promoted by JDV Productions, will be worked in combination with Operation Vet NOW Inc. (OVN), a non-profit organization established to reduce veteran suicide and improve the overall wellness of veterans, regardless of era served, through innovative outreach experiences. OVN concentrates on veterans who suffer from the invisible injuries of PTSD, TBI, combat and transition stress issues, and mental health concerns, stemming from military service, connecting them to heal their mind, body and soul. The race day will feature special appearances from Gold Star Family members -- including grand marshals, an honorary starter and more. All of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour cars will feature a fallen hero's name on their car during the race. JDV Productions will donate $1 from each ticket sold to OVN to continue to increase awareness and assistance for veterans. A discounted general admission ticket of $27 will be offered for Active Duty Military and Veterans. “These special tributes to our fallen heroes are so important to the Gold Star families, friends and fellow veterans they served with,” Tony Aubrey, of OVN, said. “On May 29, we will host the family of SSgt David Wieger -- and all of us at OVN are honored to have them at this important event. SSgt Wieger and all of the military members represented on this night gave their lives for this country, and we owe it to them and their families to ensure their story and legacy lives on. All of us at OVN are dedicated to this mission.” Aubrey, like many others in the racing community, is thankful for the opportunity to honor those we have lost, especially in one of the biggest events of the season. With a 14-event schedule set for the Whelen Modified Tour in 2021, the Jennerstown stop marks the fourth race of the year -- with three different winners in the first three races. The entry list is expected to be strong, with a good car count and impressive Modified talent, including Bonsignore and Craig Lutz, the two drivers to win at Jennerstown in 2020. “The entire OVN team salutes JDV Productions and NASCAR for allowing us the opportunity to this elevated platform, to ensure more Americans know our fallen heroes names and stories,” Aubrey said. “All of us at OVN are appreciative. Beyond words.” As part of a one-day show, the Jennerstown local Late Models and Modifieds will also join the action. Practice begins at 2:45 p.m. for local divisions, with the only Whelen Modified Tour practice of the day set from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Mayhew Tools Dominator Pole qualifying, which will be single-car time trials, is set for 5:45 p.m. Following tour qualifying, local divisions will race, and the green flag in the Jennerstown Salutes 150, presented by DGV, will drop at 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $30 for adults, with advance tickets now on sale at JDVProductions.com. A discounted ticket of $27 will be offered for Active Duty Military and Veterans. Tickets will also be available at the gate on the day of the race. Pit passes will be sold at the track only and are also available to the general public. There are no capacity restrictions in place for the event. The race will also air to a live audience on NBC Sports Gold through their TrackPass platform. For more information on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, visit nascar.com. For more information on JDV Productions, visit JDV Productions on Facebook and follow at JDVProductions.com.  Photo: (Noah Watts/My Race News) By Souza Media/Kyle Souza
HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. -- On Saturday, May 15, at Riverhead Raceway, Justin Bonsignore led 175 laps and finished third in the Miller Lite 200. The third-place finish broke a streak of four consecutive Riverhead wins for the two-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion -- but the solid finish helped him gain some crucial ground in the point standings in chase of a third title. However, Bonsignore didn’t leave the night without some hardware. He scored his 15th career Mayhew Tools pole in qualifying with a lap of 11.431 seconds (78.733 mph). That lap was fast enough to earn Bonsignore the track record in Whelen Modified Tour action at the quarter-mile oval. During qualifying, the top eight cars broke the track record, led by Bonsignore. A combination of a bit of repaving at the track, and a different tire compound, helped increase the speed for the ground-pounding Modifieds around the New York bullring. “Breaking the track record at my home track is special after all of the success we have had there lately,” Bonsignore said. “I always enjoy going home and being back in front of the hometown fans. We had a solid run.” The old track record was held by Chuck Steuer, who posted a lap speed of 77.969 mph in 2000, en route to a ninth-place finish in the Miller Lite 200. Bonsignore will have a chance to break his own record in the next Whelen Modified Tour race at Riverhead Raceway on June 19. Justin Bonsignore’s next Whelen Modified Tour race is on Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 29, at Jennerstown Speedway. For more information on Justin Bonsignore, visit justinbonsignore.com and follow his athlete page on Facebook.  Photo: Michael Jaworecki/My Race News By Souza Media/Kyle Souza
RIVERHEAD, N.Y. -- Justin Bonsignore came up two spots short of a fifth straight NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win in a row at Riverhead Raceway on Saturday, May 15. The two-time series champion scored the Mayhew Tools pole in qualifying, and led the first 175 laps from the top spot -- but was passed by Doug Coby, then Patrick Emerling, in the final laps. Bonsignore settled for a solid third-place finish, his second top-five in the first three races of the season driving the No. 51 Phoenix Communications Inc. machine for Kenneth Massa Motorsports. "All in all a good night, I don’t know if we ran too fast of a pace at the beginning, but we just faded a little bit and Doug was the best car at the end of the race," Bonsignore said. "He’s been coming here a long time and never won — it sucks that he broke our streak — but I just have to thank Phoenix Communications and my whole team for all they do.” Bonsignore's time of 11.431 seconds earned him his 15th career pole, and second at Riverhead, in Mayhew Tools qualifying. The third-place finish was his 16th top-five finish in his 19 career Whelen Modified Tour starts at his home track. Next up for Justin Bonsignore will be a return to Tri Track Open Modified Series racing at Star Speedway on Saturday, May 22. For more information on Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow his athlete page on Facebook.  By Souza Media/Kyle Souza
HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. -- Justin Bonsignore looks to get his quest for a third NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship steered back on the right track this Saturday, May 15, at Riverhead Raceway. Set to return to competition at his home track, Bonsignore looks to add a fifth consecutive win at the New York oval in Whelen Modified Tour action. His four-race win streak is already the longest in series history -- but Saturday’s Miller Lite 200 will have more meaning than just the streak. Bonsignore is three wins away from tying Mike Ewanitsko for the most all-time wins at Riverhead, and also is looking to get back in his groove after finishing outside the top-10 in the last Whelen Modified Tour race at Stafford Motor Speedway on April 30. “Excited to go back to the home track, especially after 2020 with COVID, not getting to race there, we missed it,” Bonsignore said. “Excited to see if we can extend the streak, but it’s going to be a tall task. We’ve had a good string of success at Riverhead, but you have to have a good car, be in contention late in the race and hopefully make something happen again to get the win.” Seven of Bonsignore’s eight Riverhead wins have come since 2015. He swept both races at the quarter-mile in 2018 en route to his first tour title, and also swept both in 2019. There were no races there during 2020 due to COVID restrictions. Saturday’s schedule includes one practice session from 3-4 p.m., with Mayhew Tools pole qualifying at 6 p.m., and the Miller Lite 200 set to take the green flag at 8 p.m. The race will air via a live broadcast on NBC Sports Gold and their TrackPass platform. For more information on Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow his athlete page on Facebook.  Photo: Ayers Racing Images By Souza Media/Kyle Souza
RICHMOND, Va. -- Justin Bonsignore spent Tuesday morning and early afternoon taking laps around Richmond Raceway in Virginia behind the wheel of his No. 51 Phoenix Communications, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour ride for Kenneth Massa Motorsports. As part of a tire test, Bonsignore took laps in preparation for the Virginia Is For Racing Lovers 150, which is set for Friday, September 10. The race will mark the return to the .750-mile oval for the Whelen Modified Tour for the first time since 2002. “To get Richmond Raceway back on the Whelen Modified Tour schedule -- it’s definitely going to be a marquee event and one that everyone is going to want to win,” the two-time Whelen Modified Tour champion said. “Having the chance to be there, it’s a beautiful facility. Track President Dennis Bickmeier spent some time with us today, and he was really excited for the return of Modifieds. I think the track is going to race well -- it should be an exciting race for the fans to watch.” Tickets for the Virginia Is For Racing Lovers 200 are currently available through Richmond Raceway. The race will come in the final month of the season, where Justin and the rest of the competitors will compete in four races, in four weeks, in September, to crown the champion. Justin Bonsignore returns to the track on Saturday, May 15 at Riverhead Raceway for the third race of the Whelen Modified Tour season. Bonsignore has won the last four tour races at the New York oval. For more information on Justin, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow his athlete page on Facebook.  Photo: Souza Media BY SOUZA MEDIA/KYLE SOUZA
WINCHESTER, N.H. -- Justin Bonsignore finished fourth in the season-opener for the Tri Track Open Modified Series at Monadnock Speedway on Saturday, May 1. Driving the Jimmy Paige prepared No. 00, Bonsignore won his qualifying heat race and started third in the feature, but fell back, and had to work his way to the front over the final 40 laps. Bonsignore restarted outside the top-15 following a pit stop just after halfway of the Wonder Casino 100, and slowly worked back through the field. He would enter the top-five, pass for fourth, and begin chasing down the leaders, but the Holtsville, New York driver ran out of time. In only his second start with the No. 00 bunch, Bonsignore now has two fourth-place finishes in Tri Track action. "Just missed it on the start and I was way too conservative," Bonsignore said. "I got put three-wide early, and the car wasn't there, but we made some big changes on the pit stop and we were maybe one caution short of having a shot at the win. We salvaged a really good run -- I wasn't sure we were going to get there after halfway, but we did." Bonsignore's heat win earned the No. 00 a $300 check courtesy of the Pepsi Challenge that Tri Track offers. Justin Bonsignore returns to the track driving for Kenneth Massa Motorsports on Saturday, May 15, when the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour visits his home track, Riverhead Raceway. He will return to action for Jimmy Paige and the No. 00 team at Star Speedway on Saturday, May 22, for the second of six Tri Track Open Modified Series events. For more information on Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow his athlete Facebook page. |
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