Pit Box: Justin Bonsignore Looks For Whelen Mod Tour Season Sweep At Thompson Speedway


(Press Release from NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)

Justin Bonsignore hugs the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion’s trophy at Stafford Speedway on Sept. 30 after clinching the 2018 series title (Photo: Fran Lawlor/RaceDayCT)

Justin Bonsignore already clinched the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship, but he is heading to Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park looking to complete the season sweep on the high-banks Sunday afternoon. He will be met by one of the largest fields of the season in the annual Sunoco World Series, a staple event in New England racing that includes three days of racing action.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West is back on the track on Saturday night in California at All American Speedway. Hailie Deegan will look to score her second straight win and time is running out for the field to catch championship points leader, Derek Thorn, as he chases his second series title.

NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR AT THOMPSON

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Justin Bonsignore’s dream season, which produces his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship, concludes at the same place his success started earlier this season.

Worldseries 2018 Logo1Bonsignore can become just the fourth driver in the modern era of the Whelen Modified Tour to sweep all of the events at Thompson in one season. Steve Park (1996), Mike Stefanik (1998) and Doug Coby (2015) are the three previous drivers to accomplish the feat. All except Park won the championship that season.

Bonsignore’s career at Thompson includes eight wins, a number that leads all active drivers, and 352 laps led in 32 starts.

Ryan Preece, who recently announced plans to compete full-time in the Monster Energy Cup Series next season, is returning to his modified roots Sunday. Preece will compete in the Sunoco World Series 150 for Ed Partridge and will also run his NASCAR Whelen All American Series Sunoco Modified. The Berlin, Connecticut, driver has won two of the last six races there.

Chase Dowling is heading to Thompson looking to score his second career win. Even though he isn’t still in contention for the championship, the rising modified star has had an impressive season and would love to end his season with another checkered flag.

Ron Silk, who has four top-10 finishes in eight starts this season driving for Kevin Stuart Motorsports, will drive No. 85 Stuart’s Automotive Chevrolet looking for his fifth Thompson win and his first Whelen Modified Tour win since early 2016.

The Sunoco World Series weekend is one of the most historic in New England racing and includes 17 different divisions of racing across three days, with action starting on Friday night. The Whelen Modified Tour race will wrap the entire weekend celebration on Sunday.

RACE FACTS

RACE SUNOCO WORLD SERIES 150
PLACE Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Thompson, Connecticut
DATE Sunday, October 14
TIME 3:30 p.m. (approx.)
TELEVISION NBCSN, Thursday, October 18, 7 p.m.
TRACK LAYOUT 0.625-mile high-banked oval
2017 WINNER Timmy Solomito
2017 POLE Chase Dowling
EVENT SCHEDULE Saturday: Garage Opens: 8 a.m., Practice: 11:15-12 p.m., Final Practice: 12:30-1:15 p.m., Group Qualifying: 4 p.m., Garage Closes: 5:30 p.m.
Sunday: Garage Opens: 10 a.m., Sunoco World Series 150: 3:30 p.m.
TWITTER @ThompsonSpdwy
HASHTAG #SunocoWorldSeries, #NWMT

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the Sunoco World Series 150 is 36 starters, including provisional positions. The first 30 drivers will secure starting positions based on the qualifying session for the Sunoco World Series 150. The remaining six positions will be awarded through the provisional process.

NASCAR group qualifying is in place for this event. Qualifying order will be determined by each vehicle’s fastest single lap from the official practice session(s). The number of groups will be determined by NASCAR. Each session will be five (5) minutes in duration and the fastest single lap speed of each vehicle will determine starting positions 1st through 30th. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on a vehicle after the vehicle enters the track to begin the qualifying session. Vehicles may not return to the track or make any further qualifying laps unless directed to do so by a NASCAR official, or in the event of a caution.

The Sunoco World Series 150 will be 150 laps (93.75 miles).

The maximum tire allotment available for this event is eleven (11) tires per team. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. The tire change rule is four (4) tires, any position.

Leave a Reply

Copyright 2018 E-Media Sports

Website Designed by Thirty Marketing