The headline on the NASCAR public relations preview of the Whelen Modified Tour Eddie Patridge 256 made reference to a slugfest ready to happen at Riverhead Raceway Saturday.
And that premonition was so spot on.
In the end a bruising battle by the championship leaders nearly the entirety of the event left one celebrating victory, the other nursing home a finish deep in the field and big changes at the top of the standings.
The race-long battle between Ron Silk and Justin Bonsignore was like two prize fighters peppering each other with jabs round after round after round, and then there was a surprise knockout blow.
Silk, the reigning series champion, drove to his series leading fourth victory of the season in the Eddie Partridge 256 at Riverhead.
It was the 26th career Whelen Modified Tour victory for Silk, but one that had special meaning. The race is named in honor of former Whelen Modified Tour team owner and Riverhead Raceway owner Eddie Partridge, who passed away in 2021. Silk, who drives for Haydt-Yannone Racing, won the first of his two Whelen Modified Tour titles driving for Partridge in 2011. Silk drove full-time on the Whelen Modified Tour for Partridge from 2010-2014.
“I’m just happy to win,” Silk said. “I drove for Eddie Partridge for a number of years, it means a lot to me to win his race here. Just pumped, good night. … They’re all special, but to win this one in Eddie’s honor at his race track is really pretty cool. He did a lot of great things for me over the years and it’s cool to win this race.”
Bonsignore gave Silk a shove up the track on a lap 238 restart with Silk making contact with the outside wall. Silk fought back and found the lane under Bonsignore on lap 242. Contact between the two caused left front suspension damage for Bonsignore, quickly dropping him to the back of the field while Silk drove away to victory.
Bonsignore ended up 15th in the 19-car field.
“There was a lot of contact most of the race between both of us,” Silk said. “I don’t what happened to him there [on lap 241]. I know it got under him, we made contact just like the lap before that when I was the outside of him.”
Bonsignore, a three-time series champion, came into the event holding a five point lead over Silk at the top of the standings. Unofficially, Silk gained 15 points on Bonsignore and now leads him by 10 points with four events remaining this season.
Craig Lutz was second.
“We had a good car and the guys nailed it on the second [pit stop] and got us to the point where we could be in contention,” Lutz said. “We needed a little bit more to beat [Silk], but overall a really good car.”
Tyler Rypkema, making his first career start in the Boehler Racing Enterprises Ole Blue ride, was third.
“Coming to this place is always kind of a crapshoot but both teams kind of merging together with Rypkema Racing and Boehler it was really seamless.” Rypkema said.
Bonsignore, who won the pole in qualifying, controlled the pace out front in the opening laps.
With Bonsignore leading Silk, caution was out on lap 51 for issues with Tommy Catalano.
On the next restart it was Silk completing the pass of Bonsignore to take over the lead. on lap 58. Silk’s run at the front was short-lived as Bonsignore went back to the lead on lap 64.
On lap 77 a Roger Turbush spin brought the caution back out with Bonsignore leading and Silk in second. By lap 96 Silk was all over the bumper of Bonsignore in the battle out front. Silk gave Bonsignore a number of hard shots.
Caution was back out on lap 109 for the stopped car of Melissa Fifield in turn four. Under caution the majority of the field went to pit road. Bonsignore won the race back onto the track with Silk chasing him in second.
Tim Connolly stayed off pit road and assumed the lead for the lap 130 restart. Bonsignore immediately went to the lead, leaving Silk to battle Eric Goodale for second. On lap 135 Silk got under Bonsignore for the lead, but on the next lap Bonsignore went back to the front.
On lap 140 Silk made a bruising hip check pass of Bonsignore to regain the lead. On lap 182 Bonsignore used a bump and run move to get under Silk and go back to the race lead.
Caution flew on lap 192 for the spinning car of Connolly. The caution flying sent most of the field back to pit road, including Bonsignore and Silk. Bonsignore just edged Silk in the race off of pit road.
Bonsignore was able to fend off Silk on a full-contact lap 199 restart.
Caution flew on lap 215 for a skirmish involving Connolly and Turbush.
The lap 226 restart featured another super tight bruising restart between Bonsignore and Silk, with Bonsignore getting the advantage. The run was short though with caution flying again on lap 229 for a hard wreck for Connolly. The wreck brought out an extended red flag.
On the lap 238 restart Bonsignore was able to hold off the power moves off Silk on the top, with Silk actually getting into the wall before the decisive move for the lead four laps later.
Whelen Modified Tour Eddie Partridge 256 Unofficial Results (click to enlarge)
good race.
glad to see river head get a decent crowd
I watched the race on Flo, the announcers were fine, except they didn’t need to tell us 17 times what is going to happen every restart when the 51 starts the bottom. My complaint is didn’t they know every time they sent it to the pit reporter, we could only understand 2 out of every 10 words? And how about some replays? We have to assume the 16 and 51 got together and damaged the suspension on the 51…. but no replay. And what happened to Tim Connolly? Front of his car was pushed in a foot, you could tell when he was walking to the ambulance he was shook up, a 10 minute red flag and never showed a replay.
GREAT ARTICLE SHAWN…!! punches were thrown early on and just increased as the laps ticked away… Silk came out on top of the Battle.. These Riverhead Races are turning out to VERY ENTERTAINING SHOWS !!! They finally got a great weather out there for a show….. Whoever is calling the shots on the 4 car is not doing the Driver any favors.. Putting him two races in a ROW on the FRONT ROW late in races… ALMOST WRECKED the field 2 weeks in a Row .!! He did end up getting himself wrecked and a HARD HIT he was FEELING IT when He climbed out… Tough Man no doubt and up there in the age category he’s gonna feel it really bad today … I know how that wall felt in my 40’s ,, I can only imagine what it feels like at His age… Hope Tim Connolly is ok … Give Tim a break and stop putting him in NO WIN situations .. Old tires and restarting on the front row is not a good formula , with fresh tire cars all lined up behind him…Come on Man … Your gonna wreck the Leaders and or Yourself….Think a little clearer …Two weeks in a row you put your Driver in a Terrible position… Tim is very tough former Football player & former Series Champion , Tim deserves more RESPECT than this…bring him in and put fresh rubber on and at least give him a shot of being competitive at the end , not in the way….
Good race. Silk and JBon kept it subdued, and no haymakers. Very good, the rest of the season is gonna be awesome. Mad Dog will be similar. Can’t wait.
Nice run by the #3 and Rypkema.
Best of luck to Emerling.
Where has Baldwin been? Figure to see him running. Hope all is well.
Where has Baldwin been? Figure to see him running. Hope all is well.
An occasional peek off of snob hill would have been required to see that Luke was at OD and scoring a victory on that night….(is where he was)
And…if you noticed two stars from the “lowly” ROC series were having their own great battle ( Rypkema and Emerling) it wasn’t just the Ronnie and Justin show. A fine job by TR for is first outing in Ole Blue at one of the toughest tracks around. Congrats Tyler. Bullrings rock!!!
Tim Connolly is a former series champion? The Germans bombed Pearl Harbor too…