Justin Bonsignore celebrates victory in the Whelen Modified Tour Miller Lite 200 Saturday at Riverhead Raceway (Photo: Fran Lawlor/RaceDayCT)
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is Justin Bonsignore’s world, and everybody else is just chasing him in it.
The astounding prowess of Bonsignore this season on the Whelen Modified Tour continued Saturday as the Holtsville, N.Y. driver returned to his home track to win the Miller Lite 200 at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway.
It was Bonsignore’s seventh victory this season in the 13 starts in 2018 and completed a sweep of both Whelen Modified Tour events this year at Riverhead for the driver of the Ken Massa owned M3 Racing ride.
In addition to his seven victories, Bonsignore has two second place runs, a fourth place finish, a fifth place, a seventh place and his worst finish of the season is an eighth place run.
It was Bonsignore’s 19th career Whelen Modified Tour victory and his sixth series victory at Riverhead.
“We circle these races for sure, if you can’t win anywhere else, you better win at home,” Bonsignore said. “You have to put on a show for the hometown fans. I put extra effort to make sure I am on top of my game when I come here.”
Timmy Solomito of Islip, N.Y. was second and Chase Dowling of Roxbury third.
Doug Coby of Milford and Dave Sapienza of Riverhead, N.Y. rounded out the top-five respectively.
Bonsignore went by Timmy Solomito for the lead on lap 133. Solomito fought back hard in a feisty battle for the lead after losing the top spot, but Bonsignore was eventually able to leave the field behind.
“We faded a little bit towards the end, but I wanted to get up there and lead some laps,” Solomito said. “We haven’t really had the speed all year, but to come here and give them a run for their money, we kept them honest tonight.”
Surely at the very least the folks that are kind of down on Hirschman for his tendency to cherry pick can appreciate that he at least has the potential to break the string the 51 team is on in races he does appear.
Yes. Only at tracks that he has a ton of laps on. Will never win a tour race on a Thompson Stafford Loudon Bristol Riverhead Etc. Any track in upstate NY he will be in the mix for sure.
Agreed.
Don’t forget Seekonk guys, MH runs pretty good there as well. But other than Seekonk and NY State thats all.
Was MH at Riverhead?
No he was not, did not pay enough evidently. Long haul for PeeDee from down South.
Said he would not run the Musket 250 as well because the race of champions is the following weekend. Can’t believe he is passing up an opportunity at the 25k.
Wonder if he will run the Fall Final or World Series? Anyone know?
Race payed 8700.00
Why are all these threads about Hirschman?? He does what works for him. You guys just can’t leave it alone. Get over it for once and always. It’s getting old.
I agree. On another note what about the so called big chassis war that was supposed to happen? Troyer brought a knife to a gun fight and Spafco forgot to show up.