NEW SMYRNA, Fla. – Justin Bonsignore drove the No. 51 Phoenix Communications modified to a second-place finish in Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour opener at New Smyrna Speedway.
Bonsignore qualified fourth and ran inside the top-five for the duration of the race. After a pit stop in the final 20 laps, Bonsignore raced from fifth up to second, trying to chase down Ron Silk in the final laps. Although he closed in, he had to settle for second. The run opened the 2024 season for Bonsignore, who will chase his fourth NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour title in the Ken Massa Motorsports machine this season. “We were just a little bit too snug on both sets of change tires,” Bonsignore said. “All in all, it was a really good night to start the year. We have to thank Phoenix Communications for everything they do for our team and Ryan Stone and the pit crew for a great job with a brand new car they built over the winter. It takes a lot to come down here to Florida to open the season. We will try and build off this and get better with this new car.” Justin Bonsignore will return to the track driving the No. 30 for Rette Jones Racing in the ARCA Menards Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 17. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is back on track at Richmond Raceway on Friday, March 29. For more information on Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow him on social media.
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New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200 Set For Saturday in Florida
WADING RIVER, N.Y. – Three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore and his Ken Massa Motorsports team are ready for another season. This Saturday, February 10, Bonsignore will sit behind the wheel of the No. 51 Phoenix Communications Inc. Modified in the 200-lap season opener for the Whelen Modified Tour at New Smyrna Speedway. Bonsignore opened 2023 with a second-place finish at New Smyrna and also finished second in the championship standings after a grueling 18-race schedule. The season included five wins and 15 top-five finishes. For 2024, the Whelen Modified Tour has a 16-race schedule planned, beginning in the sunshine state. “Always a pleasure to go down to Florida to kick-off the year,” Bonsignore said. “It’s important to get the season off on the right foot on the Whelen Modified Tour with our Phoenix Communications team. New Smyrna is a fast track and requires you to be up on the wheel right from lap one. We hope everyone can make it down there to see us race in person, or watch the season opener live on FloRacing. It’s going to be a great show.” The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour opener at New Smyrna includes two practice sessions. Bonsignore will be on the track from 1-1:45 p.m., followed by 2:45-3:30 p.m. Qualifying is set for 5:30 p.m., while the green flag for 200 laps is slated for 7:30 p.m. For more information on three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow him on social media. Event Notes: Track: New Smyrna Speedway, New Smyrna, Fla. Laps: 200 Event Name: New Smyrna Area Visitors Bureau 200 Time: 7:30 p.m. TV: FloRacing ABOUT JUSTIN BONSIGNORE Justin Bonsignore, 36, is a three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion driver for Ken Massa Motorsports. Bonsignore picked up his first championship in 2018, and followed it up with two more in 2020 and 2021. Over 17 years of competing on NASCAR’s oldest touring series, Bonsignore has amassed 40 career wins, along with 118 top-fives and 154 top-10s. His 40 wins ranks him fourth all-time on the series win list, just two behind the late Ted Christopher for third. Bonsignore also has 30 career Tour pole awards - also fourth on the all-time list. In the last six years with crew chief Ryan Stone, Bonsignore has 28 of his 40 wins. Three-Time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Champion To Make First Career Start
MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Justin Bonsignore is heading for the high-banks of Daytona International Speedway. The three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion has secured a ride with Rette Jones Racing to compete in the ARCA Menards Series event at Daytona on Saturday, February 17, driving the No. 30 machine. Bonsignore will make his first ARCA Menards Series start fresh off the pre-season test he completed last month as part of the “Road to Daytona” program, driving for Fast Track Racing Enterprises. The opportunity opened additional doors for Bonsignore to chase competing in the ARCA 200 in February. A deal with Rette-Jones Racing will provide Bonsignore a prime opportunity to contend on the biggest stage. “I knew it was something I was going to enjoy when we went down for the test and we made some phone calls early on trying to get something worked out,” Bonsignore said. “This is a great opportunity to work with a proven team that knows how to win. They bring fast race cars to the track and I’m excited to get to work with them. I can’t thank Andy Hilenburg, NASCAR and ARCA enough for giving me the opportunity to run the test last month… it opened up the doors for us to be able to do this. I’m really looking forward to getting down to Florida for a busy Speedweeks.” Bonsignore will compete in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour opener to begin the quest for his fourth championship on Saturday, February 10 at New Smyrna Speedway, driving the No. 51 Phoenix Communications Inc. machine for Ken Massa Motorsports. Then, he will compete in the ARCA event at Daytona the same day the NASCAR Xfinity Series opens their season. On Sunday, February 18, the Daytona 500 officially opens the NASCAR Cup Series season. For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing), or follow them on Instagram (@RetteJones30) and X | Twitter (@RetteJones30). For more information on three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow him on social media. WADING RIVER, N.Y.. – Three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore will compete in the ARCA Menards Series pre-season test at Daytona International Speedway this weekend.
Bonsignore will drive a car prepared by Andy Hilenburg, the 1995 ARCA champion, who also has two Daytona ARCA wins to his credit. The cars are prepared by Fast Track High Performance Racing. The pre-race test is in preparation for the upcoming ARCA Menards Series opener at Daytona during Speedweeks on Saturday, February 17. The weekend will also include the opener for the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500. Seven different drivers have earned the right to take laps around Daytona via the “Road to Daytona” program. Invites include the two regional series that are part of the ARCA Menards Series platform - the three ASA-branded touring super late model series, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion and the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series frontrunners. Although current 2023 champion for the Whelen Modified Tour Ron Silk isn’t making the trip, Bonsignore is filling the seat to take laps around one of the fastest and iconic tracks in the world. The trip will be his first laps on the Daytona high-banks of his career. “Taking laps at Daytona is definitely something every race car driver dreams of when you start racing,” Bonsignore said. “Appreciate the opportunity given by NASCAR, ARCA, Andy and his entire team to be able to get behind the wheel. Looking forward to soaking in the experience and showcasing the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour on this stage.” For more information on the ARCA Menards Series, visit ARCARacing.com. For the latest updates surrounding Justin Bonsignore, fans are encouraged to visit JustinBonsignore.com and also follow Bonsignore’s Athlete page on Facebook for updates, including from the track on race day. HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. – Before the 2023 season wraps up, Justin Bonsignore and the Kenneth Massa Motorsports team have added another race to their schedule. Bonsignore will drive the No. 51 Phoenix Communications Inc., ClearCom IT Solutions No. 51 this Saturday, November 11 in the Islip 300 at Riverhead Raceway.
The $7,000 to win race has become a new tradition on Long Island and a strong entry list filled with NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drivers, Open Modified contenders and Riverhead weekly Modified regulars has come together. The 300-lap event will have live pit stops in the infield - something Bonsignore and his team are more than familiar with. Bonsignore won the Ed Partridge 256 in September at Riverhead with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, an event with live stops. In three Tour races there this year, Bonsignore won twice. His September win tied him with Mike Ewanitsko for the most Riverhead Whelen Modified Tour wins all-time, 11. “It’s a little bit longer of a race compared to September’s Whelen Modified Tour race, but it’s going to be about making sure you are there at the end,” Bonsignore said. “Running at Riverhead is always special for us with the history we have there. We’re excited to get back to our home track and support them for the Islip 300.” For fans who can’t make it to New York on Saturday, the event will air live on FloRacing.TV. Qualifying is scheduled to begin just after 12 p.m. For more information on three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow his Athlete page on Facebook for the latest updates, including from the track on race day. Race Advance by Souza Media
HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. – As the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season concludes this Thursday evening at Martinsville Speedway, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will be in the spotlight. The championship battle is down to the final event of the 18 on the 2023 schedule and Justin Bonsignore has a shot to win the title. He enters the race 13 points behind Ron Silk, looking for his fourth title. Although Bonsignore has goals of sealing the title Thursday, his other goal is winning a Grandfather Clock at Martinsville. The clock is a historic trophy in all of racing and Bonsignore would love to leave there Thursday with one to bring home to his living room. In the last three years of running the ‘Paperclip’ track in Virginia, Bonsignore has finished on the podium twice and led 52 laps. He was running inside the top-five in the final laps last year before a mechanical issue. The entire Kenneth Massa Motorsports team is excited for the opportunity in front of them. “We just have to go to Martinsville and try to win the race,” Bonsignore said. “Leaving there with a Grandfather Clock would be special for all of us. As soon as they added Martinsville back to the Whelen Modified Tour schedule, it was one we circled on the calendar. We’re going to give it our best shot to win the race and see how the rest plays out after 200 laps.” The schedule for the season-finale at Martinsville includes one practice from 3-4 p.m., followed by Mayhew qualifying at 5:30 p.m. and the Virginia Is For Racing Lovers 200 at 8 p.m. For those who can’t make it to the track, the race will be live on FloRacing.TV. For more information on three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow his Athlete page on Facebook for the latest news and updates, including from the track on race day. Leads NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Championship Standings With Two Races Remaining
Race Advance by Souza Media HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. – With just two races remaining in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship battle, three-time series champion Justin Bonsignore leads the series back to Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park this weekend. The Tour will be part of the 61st annual Sunoco World Series at Thompson - a staple event in the Northeast - with more than 15 divisions on the card for three days of racing. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour 150 is set for Sunday afternoon, with practice and qualifying scheduled for Saturday. In August, during the only other Thompson event of this season, Bonsignore took the lead late and rocketed to Victory Lane. The victory pushed Bonsignore into a tie with Ted Christopher for second all-time for Tour wins at Thompson, with 13. Bonsignore has finished inside the top-five in 12 of his last 13 Thompson starts and is looking forward to a reunion with the high-banks. He leads the championship standings by two points over Ron Silk heading for the final two events. The season will conclude at Martinsville Speedway on Thursday, October 26. “We were happy to see things turn back our way and get back to Victory Lane at Thompson in August,” Bonsignore said. “It’s definitely been a good track for us. We’re excited to get there and be part of the World Series. It’s a great weekend filled with a lot of different divisions and fans. The championship battle is coming right down to the final laps of the season and every position is going to matter in the next two races. We’re just taking it one race at a time and look forward to competing for the win at the World Series.” The World Series schedule includes practice on Saturday from 1-2:15 p.m., followed by qualifying at 4 p.m. The race is scheduled for Sunday at 4 p.m. and will be aired live on FloRacing.TV. A full weekend schedule can be found online at ThompsonSpeedway.com. For more information on three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow his Athlete page on Facebook for the latest news and updates, including from the track on race day. Justin Bonsignore Scores Third-Place Finish at North Wilkesboro
NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. – After 150 laps at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Justin Bonsignore brought his No. 51 machine home in third-place on Saturday night. As the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour made their debut at the North Carolina oval in the Brushy Mountain Powersports 150, Bonsignore ran inside the top-five for much of the race. A final green-white-checkered finish where Bonsignore lined up in fifth was exactly what he needed in the Phoenix Communications entry. Bonsignore followed fellow championship contender Ron Silk up through the field to finish third, just behind Silk. In the title battle, Bonsignore will hold a two-point lead heading for the final two races of the season. “The green-white-checkered restart definitely helped get us back to the podium,” Bonsignore said. “We got a good jump on the final restart. It was a good night for us. We were just a bit tight on the second set of tires. It’s going to go down to the end. It’s going to be a championship battle for the ages.” Bonsignore will move to Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park next on Sunday, October 8 for the Sunoco World Series 150. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is part of a three-day event at Thompson next weekend. For more information on three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow his Athlete page on Facebook for the latest news and updates, including from the track on race day. Historic North Carolina Track To Host NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Saturday
Race Preview by Souza Media HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. – With just three races remaining in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship chase, Justin Bonsignore is heading for one of the most historic short-tracks in the country this Saturday. North Wilkesboro Speedway will host the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in the Brushy Mountain Powersports 150 - the first ever NASCAR Modified Tour sanctioned event at North Wilkesboro. Bonsignore enters the race coming off two straight Whelen Modified Tour wins at Monadnock Speedway and Riverhead Raceway - his fourth and fifth victories of the season. Driving the No. 51 for Kenneth Massa Motorsports, Bonsignore has climbed to fourth on the all-time series win list and is just two back of Ted Christopher for third with 40 career wins. Racing at North Wilkesboro is something Bonsignore and the rest of the teams will not take lightly. The track was closed down for many years, but revived in an effort by multiple top members of the motorsports community, and the state of North Carolina. This Saturday, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour takes center stage. Bonsignore is ready for the challenge. “You just don’t know how it’s going to shake out until it gets started and the race unfolds with the strategy that will be involved with racing at North Wilkesboro,” Bonsignore said. “The track certainly eats up tires, so having the right strategy is going to be important. The highlight of the day for someone is going to be riding up the lift with your team to the prestigious Victory Lane at North Wilkesboro. It’s going to be a moment someone will never forget. We’re excited for the challenge in front of us for the next three races.” Saturday’s schedule includes two NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour practice sessions – 1-1:45 p.m. and 2:30-3:15 p.m. – followed by qualifying at 5:15 p.m. and the green flag for 150 laps at 8 p.m. Fans can catch the race live on FloRacing.TV. For more information on three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow his Athlete page on Facebook for the latest news and updates, including from the track on race day. Captures Second Straight Ed Partridge 256 Trophy
RIVERHEAD, N.Y. – Saturday night’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Riverhead Raceway came down to the final five laps, with the two championship contenders battling it out to the finish. At the checkered flag, Justin Bonsignore scored his 11th career Riverhead Raceway victory, tying Mike Ewanitkso for the most all-time at the New York bullring. The win was also his 40th career in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour competition and fifth of the 2023 season. Bonsignore is one of just four drivers in the history of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour to win 40 events. He is currently just two wins behind tying Ted Christopher for third on the all-time list. With the win, Bonsignore took over the points lead over Ron Silk with just three races remaining in the season. Silk finished third on Saturday after the two battled down the stretch. “Tying Mike Ewanitsko has been a goal of mine since I was fortunate enough to start winning races here on the Whelen Modified Tour,” Bonsignore said. “I wish he was here tonight, but I’m sure I will get something funny in texts later tonight. It was a heavyweight fight for sure tonight. This is an awesome event that everyone here puts together to keep racing going on Long Island and honor Ed Partridge. The momentum has been on our side lately - onto North Wilkesboro in two weeks.” The next event on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule is set for Saturday, September 30, as the series heads to North Wilkesboro Speedway, one of the most historic tracks in NASCAR history. For more information on three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow his Athlete page on Facebook for the latest news and updates from the track. |
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