Big Daddy: Justin Bonsignore Makes Riverhead History With Miller Lite Salutes Steve Park 200 Win 

On a day when one of Riverhead Raceway’s most legendary drivers was honored, it was Justin Bonsignore demonstratively cementing his place in the record book at the historic Long Island bullring. 

Bonsignore, of Holtsville, N.Y., held off the charges of Matt Hirschman on a green-white-checkered restart to win the NASCAR Modified Tour Miller Lite Salutes Steve Park 200 at Riverhead Raceway. 

It was the 12th career NASCAR Modified Tour victory at Riverhead for Bonsignore. It made Bonsignore the all-time winningest NASCAR Modified Tour driver at the facility. Bonsignore had been tied at the top of that list with Mike Ewanitsko. 

Bonsignore, who got his start in Modified racing at Riverhead, celebrated in victory lane with his wife Taylor, his young sons Evan and Grayson, and Park. 

“I’ve been wanting to break this record for a long time,” Bonsignore said. “[Ewanitsko] was a childhood hero of mine. Another one here, I was in the Steve Park fan club when he was in the AC Delco [Xfinity Series] car back in the day. To have my family here, first race all of them have been to this year, and for it to be on Father’s Day at home, and everything we did, it’s really cool.” 

It was the 46th career NASCAR Modified Tour victory for Bonsignore, the four-time and reigning series champion. 

Bonsignore jumped from the in the standings to the top of the standings. Austin Beers, who came into the event leading the standings, fell to second, six points behind Bonsignore, following an eighth place finish.

Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa. was second. 

“We earned a good second place finish here today,” Hirschman said. “… Really happy with this whole … team here, just to have a good run in a [NASCAR Modified Tour] race here.” 

Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, N,Y., who nearly went a lap down with just over 90 laps remaining, was third. 

“That was a really hard fought one.” Bonsignore said. “We got bounced around, we got pushed into the marbles earlier on. We lost so much track position. We just fought hard.” 

Ron Silk, who dominated the first half of the event, was fourth and Craig Lutz fifth in the 21-car field. 

On the front row at the start, Emerling fought off Bonsignore for the early lead. 

Caution flew on lap four when sixth place running Stephen Kopcik got loose and went up the track in turn two, making significant contact with Austin Beers in the outside lane. Kopcik then spun to the inside of the track before getting hit by Hirschman, who drove away from the incident. 

The race restarted on lap 13, but quickly went back to caution with Austin Beers spinning in turn three with a flat left rear tire, which likely was a result of the earlier hit from Kopcik. 

It took Bonsignore one lap after the restart to get by Emerling into the lead. Silk followed a lap later to get by Emerling for second. 

On lap 35 Silk powered by Bonsignore for the lead and quickly pulled away at the front. 

By lap 80 Silk was 1.8 seconds ahead of Bonsignore and had lapped up to 11th place. By lap 86 Silk had lapped up to ninth place. 

At lap 100 Silk held a 3.4 second lead over second place Bonsignore. Third place running Hirschman was nine seconds behind Silk. 

Caution flew on lap 111 for Trevor Catalano in the wall with a right front flat tire. When the caution flew there were seven cars remaining on the lead lap. The leaders went to the pits under caution. Silk’s car fell off the jack on pit road, allowing Bonsignore to beat him off pit road. 

On the restart Silk got high through the corner in turns one and two. In turn two Hirschman got under Bonsignore in the middle lane and Silk in the top lane to go to the lead. Silk ended up falling to fifth. 

Caution was back out on lap 123 for the spinning car of John-Michael Shenette. 

The leaders went to pit road under caution with Bonsignore once again winning the race off of pit road. Silk came out of the pits second and Emerling third. Hirschman fell from the lead to eighth place. 

The race restarted on lap 135 with Bonsignore controlling out front, but caution was back out on lap 137 for the spinning car of Tyler Rypkema, who was battling Beers for seventh place. 

The race restarted on lap 146, but the caution was right back out for the stopped car of Tyler Barry on the frontstretch. Bonsignore was able to control at the front on the lap 153 restart. 

With the Bonsignore out front, Silk in second, Emerling third and Hirschman fourth, caution was back out on the track on lap 179 for the spinning car of Kopcik. 

On the lap 189 restart, Bonsignore held tight to the top spot. Behind him Emerling was able to overtake Silk on lap 191. Hirschman went by Silk for third on lap 192. 

Caution was back out on lap 194 after contact between Luke Baldwin and Trevor Catalano in a battle for ninth place sent Catalano spinning, collecting Eric Goodale and Chris Young. 

On the green-white-checkered finish, Bonsignore was able to get away, leaving the battle behind him for the remainder of the podium. Hirschman got under Emerling off of turn four coming to the white flag to secure second place. 

“The pit crew did a great job,” Bonsignore said. “Had two really good pit stops. It was nice to beat Ron [Silk]. We ran each other really hard but really clean. He’s been so good here the last couple years and we’ve snuck a few in there. It was nice to outrun him here today.”