Pit Box: Justin Bonsignore Ready To Clinch Second Whelen Mod Tour Title At Sunoco World Series


(Press Release from NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)



Justin Bonsignore celebrates his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour title in 2018 (Photo: Fran Lawlor/RaceDayCT)

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.

RACING REFERENCE: Previous NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races at Thompson | NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drivers career stats at Thompson | 2020 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Standings

RACE FACTS

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.

Comments

  1. Good luck to everyone who competes at the world series
    In a sad note, Rocker Eddie Van Halen has passed away. Many racers wrenched on their cars listening to his riffs. May he rest in peace.

  2. Coby is still in this thing, although given JBons stats at Thompson things look bleek for the 10 to win the championship. But strange things happen in racing, and allot can happen in the first 100 laps that could hand the championship to Doug.
    On paper, the championship is Justin’s, but that’s why we race. Best of luck to each and every team who competes at the World Series. Who knows, you just might be competing in the last race ever held on this historic oval.

  3. Jeffrey thomas says

    Good luck to all

  4. JBon owns Thompson to make up for what he can’t do at Stafford. As long as the 51 doesn’t make mistakes, or get caught up in the mistakes of others, JBon wins another championship.

    But then, there was the race at Thompson between Silk and Szegedy…

    This should be a great weekend of racing in New England. Nobody does it better!!!

  5. The points are over. I’ll run down pit road naked if Justin doesn’t win this championship. 28 cars, a few of which should get the black flag for speed by lap 25. I wouldn’t even take tires. Just stay out front Justin. At least until it’s clinched.

  6. Only 28 cars for a 36 car field, sad. On a brighter note, those 5 or 6 cars that only make the race due to provisionals will now get in on time. As soon as 5 cars drop out, Bonsignore clinches it. This of course provided that the 28 car count given by JD is accurate. Best of luck to all. I’ve got Silk, Jbon and Sapienza for top 3.

  7. 🌹🌷🌼🌺 Liz Cherokee 🌺🌼🌷🌹...💋 says

    The weather looks like it is going to be pretty good… 😸 Time to get working on my favorite apple sangria! 🧉

  8. One car withdraws, the 99 of Jamie Tomaino, down to 27 cars.

    Weather looks to be perfect for a weekend at the track.

    Doug, will you be there?

  9. Usually this last race draws the biggest car counts of the season. Not this year. I wonder why? Does having an open event on Saturday hurt Sunday?

  10. The Atomic Punk says

    Eddie Van Halen will be missed. Lets go racing!!!!

  11. Fast Eddie says

    JD, I don’t think so. There’s been an MRS race the last few years that hasn’t affected the WMT car count. Like them, I don’t think any of the Open Mods would be running in the WMT. Many drivers are pulling double duty, but in different cars and/or teams. It could be the WMT races closer together schedule-wise and expense-wise from COVID catching up to some of the teams.

  12. Hey 🌈JD🌈, there’s a pandemic going on.

  13. 🌈🦄2020 says

    Nobody does it better Dafella says 🤣🤣🤣. Hey JD there’s a pandemic going on. Probably the reason for all the small car counts. Including the 4 car sk feature a few weeks ago 🤣🤣😷😷. Dafella, will you be there?

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