PIT BOX: Justin Bonsignore ready to clinch second nwmt title at thompson

Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR

STORY BY: NASCAR.COM

It’s not as easy as just having to show up, but the math favors Justin Bonsignore wrapping up his second NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship on Sunday.

The 32-year-old from Holtsville, New York, enters the Sunoco World Series 150 with a 27-point lead over six-time champion Doug Coby. Bonsignore has to finish 23rd or better to clinch the championship regardless of what Coby does.

There are tickets available to see this race in person, and the race will also be streamed live on TrackPass on NBC Gold.

Sunoco World Series 150

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Bonsignore will be looking for his fourth World Series win in the last five seasons, and has finished no worse than fifth in eight races this season — a performance that has pushed him to the brink of the Whelen Modified Tour crown.

In his 2016 title season, Bonsignore won eight of 16 races and tallied 12 top fives. He won six more times last year, including the finale at Thompson, but came up eight points short of Coby. This year, he won the first two races and has held the points lead the entire shortened-season.

RELATED: Justin Bonsignore Career Stats | Clinch Chart

Coby needs to finish at least eighth to have a shot (or sixth and lead the most laps).
Bonsignore, though, may not be the driver carrying the most momentum into Thompson. That would be Ron Silk, who has won two of the last three races — including the Sept. 3 race at Thompson. It was Silk’s fifth win at the .625-mile oval, second only to Bonsignore and Coby in wins among active drivers. 

​Jon McKennedy, who was third at Thompson in September, leads Craig Lutz by 16 points for third place in the standings, while Silk has moved into the top five despite missing a race.

RACE FACTS:

RACE: SUNOCO WORLD SERIES 150
PLACE: Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Thompson, Conn.
DATE: Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020
TIME: 4 p.m. ET
LIVE TV: Trackpass on NBC Gold (live), 4 p.m. ET;
TAPE DELAY: NBCSN — Thursday, Oct. 15, 6 p.m. ET
TRACK LAYOUT: .625-mile paved oval
EVENT SCHEDULE:
Saturday, Oct. 10 — Garage opens: 9:30 a.m. ET; Practice: 1-2:15 p.m.; Qualifying: 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11 — Garage opens: 10 a.m.; Sunoco World Series 150: 4 p.m.
TWITTER: @ThompsonSpdwy, @NASCARRoots
HASHTAG: #NWMT

RACE CENTER | ENTRY LIST | RACE SCHEDULE

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the Thompson 150 is limited to 36, including provisional positions. The field will be set by qualifying (1-30) and provisional process per the entry blank (31-36) for the Thompson 150. In the event that qualifying as stated on this entry blank does not take place for any unforeseen circumstance, the field will be set in accordance with the 2020 NASCAR Touring Series Rule Book.

QUALIFYING: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. Vehicles will be impounded after qualifying. Vehicle must qualify on race set up.

The Thompson 150 will be 150 laps (93.75 miles) and is to be run in one (1) segments. The tire change rule is three (3) tires, any position. To utilize the third change tire, teams will designate a practice tire purchased at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park to be the third change tire.

The maximum tire allotment available for this event is as follows: Four (4) for qualifying and to start the race, plus an additional four (4) for a total of eight (8) tires.