THOMPSON – Justin Bonsignore’s hopes for capturing a second consecutive NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship hinge likely on him capturing a victory and maximum points in Sunday’s Sunoco World Series 150.
Saturday in practice the Holtsville, N.Y. driver showed the front of the field is where he plans on starting the day Sunday.
Bonsignore set the fastest time in practice Saturday in preparation for the Sunoco World Series 150.
Bonsignore toured the .625-mile oval with a fast lap of 18.606 seconds (120.929 mph).
Bonsignore goes into Sunday’s event second in the standings, 19 points behind five-time series champion Doug Coby.
A 14th place finish or better for Coby Sunday means no matter what Bonsignore does, Coby will celebrate a sixth title.
Bonsignore has won sixth of the last seven Whelen Modified Tour events at Thompson Speedway. He had a six-event winning streak at Thompson snapped by Coby in the last event at the track in August.
Coby, of Milford, was second in the practice session at 18.669 seconds (120.521 mph).
Coby is looking for his sixth series title in the last eight seasons, which would put him in an exclusive club in series history. He would join the late seven-time series champion Mike Stefanik as the only two drivers in series history with six or more title. Coby and Tony Hirschman are currently tied in the division’s all-time titles list at second with five championships each. No other drivers in series history have more than two titles.
Ron Silk of Norwalk, who goes in Sunday’s season finale third in the standings, was third in the practice session at 18.680 seconds (120.450 mph).
Anthony Nocella of Woburn, Mass. was fourth in the session (18.889 seconds, 119.117 mph) and Chris Pasteryak of Lisbon fifth (18.899 seconds, 119.054 mph).
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