Bonsignore leads laps, finishes third in Whelen modified return to Riverhead

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.