Justin Bonsignore has quickly proven that he is going to be the man to beat in the 2018 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season.
The Holtsville, New York, driver scored his first career Seekonk (Mass.) Speedway win on Saturday, holding off a late charge from rising star Chase Dowling in the final circuits at the third-mile. The victory was the 14th career for Bonsignore, and his second of the 2018 season behind the wheel of the No. 51 Phoenix Communications Chevrolet.
“It was a great day, we came off the truck first in practice, got my first pole in a long time, and we had a really good car,” Bonsignore said. “I just can’t thank everyone enough. This is a total team effort, and I am just the lucky guy that gets to drive this car right now.”
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Bonsignore’s run to the victory may have seemed easy at first glance, strictly because he started from the pole and ended up carrying the checkered flag. However, a fierce battle with Matt Hirschman put Bonsignore’s equipment to the test in the second half of the race. Hirschman was at the point for lap 127, but when Bonsignore took back control on lap 128, he never looked back.
Chase Dowling made a late charge through the field after starting 13th, and chased the back bumper of Bonsignore’s car in the final laps, finishing second. In total, Bonsignore led 100 laps, while Hirschman was at the point for 50 circuits.
“When I had the lead, I was just a little bit tight,” Hirschman, who finished third, said. “It was a good night. We are always in contention to win. Just not quite.”
Rowan Pennink finished fourth, while Ron Silk was fifth. Ronnie Williams was sixth, followed by Timmy Solomito, Tommy Catalano, Dave Sapienza and Craig Lutz.
Bonsignore leads Dowling by seven in the championship standings, while Lutz is 19 points back.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to the track at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on Wednesday, June 13. The complete results from Seekonk can be found below.
- Justin Bonsignore
- Chase Dowling
- Matt Hirschman
- Rowan Pennink
- Ron Silk
- Ronnie Williams
- Timmy Solomito
- Tommy Catalano *
- Dave Sapienza
- Craig Lutz
- Rob Summers
- Doug Coby
- Andrew Krause
- Blake Barney *
- Chris Pasteryak
- Ken Heagy
- Gary Putnam
- Gary McDonald
- Eric Goodale
- Anthony Nocella
- Joe DeGracia *
- Melissa Fifield
- Wade Cole
- Calvin Carroll
- Jon McKennedy
- Woody Pitkat
- Ryan Preece
- Jeff Rocco
- Kyle Ellwood
- Matt Swanson
- Walter Sutcliffe, Jr.
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