(Press release from Souza Media)
RICHMOND, Va. – Justin Bonsignore scored his second consecutive top-five finish in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season on Saturday, April 1 at Richmond Raceway. Driving in the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150, Bonsignore started from the outside of the front row after qualifying there on Friday, March 31. Following qualifying, rain fell at Richmond, and postponed the race to Saturday – following the conclusion of the NASCAR Xfinity Series 250.
Early in the 150-lap race, Bonsignore was running inside the top few rows when crew chief Ryan Stone made the decision to head down pit road for a few fresh Hoosier tires. Bonsignore raced back up to 13th in the field prior to the next caution, then stayed out when many others pitted, and rocketed to the lead quickly for a few laps. After being passed for the lead, he fell to the bottom of the top-10 before the next caution, then made his charge back to the front at the end.
Bonsignore passed Doug Coby for second late – and crossed the line fourth at the finish – after a tough battle with J.B. Fortin and Max McLaughlin over the final laps. The Holtsville, New York native and his Kenneth Massa Motorsports team had Coastal Fiber LLC on the car for the Richmond race.
“All in all, it was a good day,” Bonsignore said. “The guys you need to beat for the points, we feel like we beat today. Austin Beers (race winner) has been on point in the first few races as well. We came away with a good finish in a tough battle there in the last laps. The two guys we were racing were just a little bit better on the last lap. It was a lot of work for our team with two days here in Richmond – but we’re going to go home and start working for the next one.”
Justin Bonsignore will return to the track on Saturday, May 6, for the third race of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season – the Duel at the Dog 200 – at Monadnock Speedway Fans can find more information on that event at JDVProductions.com and more information on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at NASCAR.com. For more information on Justin and his team, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow Justin’s Athlete page on Facebook.
Justin Bonsignor via Twitter video:
“You gotta race with a little more respect when you’re up front. I know it’s the last lap but it would go a long way. If he hadn’t nerfed me, those are the things you’ll remember down the line, I just want him to remember that when he races anybody it could help him immensely when he races this series, he kind of gets a bad rep”
Really, such a wise sage of a driver. One with a strong resume of wins and championships in the NWMT. Said Fortin drove him up the track causing him to go to forth. How could he do that to such a respected driver one wonders?
Hmmm but wait. Didn’t Bonsignor drive John Beatty Jr. up the track on the last lap at Riverhead to steal a win? By Jove he did, July 6, 2019 was the date. Wait, wait something else is coming through from these old mind grapes. July 4, 2020 White Mountain. Hirschman in the lead as the race is winding down Bonsignor taps him out of shape for the win.
I know McLaughlin is popular with many in the audience. I don’t get it but in any event as a part timer if he’s going to whine about contact after the race and the car never being right after coming in 3rd I’m thinking he’s going to have a tendency to make excuses if pretty much anything doesn’t go his way.
Bonsignor as well took a cheap shot at Fortin after getting snookered on a pass that cost Fortin and only great driving on Fortin’s part saved from a wreck.
Post race the two give Fortin and ear full but this lone fan says nuts to both of them. Bonsignor lecturing on good conduct on the last laps with his record is laughable especially since after he does something sketchy he says you do what you have to, to get the win. McLaughlin wanted to take a cruise and have the car turn itself and get a podium. A race broke out at the end, he had do drive it hard, didn’t like it and complained.
Bonsignor’s selective amnesia about his past and entitlement to lecture on good racing etiquette came from one place. He doesn’t think Fortin is in his class and hated getting out raced by him. And make no mistake he did get out raced at least in my view.