Bonsignore Earns
Whelen Modified Rookie Award
NASCAR announced today that Justin Bonsignore has earned 2010
Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Whelen Modified
Tour.
Bonsignore, who hails from Holtsville on New York’s Long Island,
registered four top 10s and was the Sunoco Rookie of the Race in
eight of the season’s 14 events. His rookie campaign was
highlighted by a runner-up finish in the Made In America Whelen
200 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway and laps led at his home
track, Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway, in the Riverhead 200.
Bonsignore finished 13th in the season standings behind the
wheel of the No. 51 M3 Technology Chevrolet, a team owned by
Kenneth Massa that competed on the Whelen Modified Tour for the
first time. He earned Coors Light Pole Awards in the UNOH
Perfect Storm 150 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and in the
CARQUEST Fall Final at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway and
became the first rookie to capture more than one pole since
Chuck Hossfeld recorded a pair in 2002.
A regular in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modified
division at Riverhead prior to this season, Bonsignore became
the second driver in a row with a background from the Long
Island quarter-mile track to claim Whelen Modified Tour rookie
honors. Riverhead resident Eric Goodale was the 2009 honoree.
Bonsignore finished two points ahead of Richie Pallai Jr. in the
final Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings. Pallai was 12th in
the overall season points with a pair of top 10s and a best
finish of ninth at Martinsville.
Bonsignore will be recognized for his accomplishments as part of
the festivities surrounding the NASCAR Night of Champions
Touring Awards Gala on Dec. 11 at the Charlotte Convention
Center's Crown Ballroom in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Source: Jason
Cunningham/NASCAR PR
Posted: October
20, 2010
