Bonsignore finishes third in Islip 300 at Riverhead raceway

Bonsignore and his KMM team talk after practice at Riverhead. (Souza Media photo)

STORY BY SOUZA MEDIA

ISLIP, N.Y. -- Justin Bonsignore drove the No. 51 Phoenix Communications Inc. Chevrolet to a third-place finish in the prestigious Islip 300 at Riverhead Raceway on Saturday.

Bonsignore, who was inside the top-five in practice, qualified eighth and ran inside the top-10 for the duration of the race.

After leading the middle stages, Bonsignore's Kenneth Massa Motorsports team elected to bring him to the pits with under 100 laps to go. From there, Bonsignore chased back through the field, and during a late green flag stint, charged into third spot, where he would finish. NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece won the race, followed by Craig Lutz.

"First off congratulations to Ryan and his team, great to see him back winning with the Modifieds," Bonsignore said. "We tried to out-tire them so to speak, pitting as late as we could for new rubber, but it may have been too late. Plus, that long caution for the oil clean-up took some laps away, but all in all, a good day."

​That wraps the 2020 Modified season for Bonsignore, who is set to return to defend his Whelen Modified Tour title with Ken Massa Motorsports in 2021. A full schedule will be made available once released by NASCAR.