Bonsignore Brings Home First Win
Justin Bonsignore converted his
home-track advantage into his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
victory. The 23-year-old from Holtsville, N.Y., drove away with
the Lighthouse Mission 200 Saturday at Riverhead Raceway.
Bonsignore, the 2010 NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour Sunoco Rookie of the Year, also runs regularly in
Riverhead's weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modified
Division. He is second in the track's point standings.
Todd Szegedy was second, followed by Ron
Silk, Ryan Preece and Doug Coby. Rowan Pennink rebounded from an
early wreck to finish sixth. The finish allowed Silk to take the
points lead by five over Pennink.
Jamie Tomaino, Patrick Emerling, Bobby
Santos and Richie Pallai rounded out the top 10.
Earlier in the day, Riverhead veteran
Howie Brode earned his first career Coors Light Pole Award on
the tour. His night ended early, though, when he was caught up
in a multi-car accident in the first half of the race.
Brode led the first 17 laps before
Bonsignore made the decisive move to the front on Lap 18.
With his sixth-straight top-five finish,
Silk passed Pennink for the season points lead. Silk now leads
by five tallies with nine races remaining.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will be
back on track Friday, Aug. 5 for the Town Fair Tire 150 at
Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-Lighthouse
Mission 200 Unofficial Results
Saturday
At Riverhead Raceway
Riverhead, N.Y.
Lap length: 0.25 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (2) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 175 laps,
34.464 mph.
2. (3) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 175.
3. (16) Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 175.
4. (7) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Chevrolet, 175.
5. (9) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 175.
6. (6) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 175.
7. (10) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 175.
8. (28) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, N.Y., Ford, 175.
9. (19) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Dodge, 175.
10. (27) Richie Pallai, Jr., Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Chevrolet,
175.
11. (23) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 175.
12. (18) Dave Brigati, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 175.
13. (24) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 175.
14. (22) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 175.
15. (20) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 172.
16. (25) Eric Berndt, Cromwell, Conn., Chevrolet, 160.
17. (4) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 158,
accident.
18. (21) Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 158.
19. (8) Shawn Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 146, accident.
20. (26) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 124.
21. (12) James Civali, Meriden, Conn., Pontiac, 119.
22. (13) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Pontiac, 85, radio.
23. (1) Howie Brode, East Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 69, accident.
24. (5) Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 69,
accident.
25. (15) Bryon Chew, Mattituck, N.Y., Chevrolet, 60, suspension.
26. (17) Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y., Chevrolet, 58, accident.
27. (11) George Brunnhoelzl, III, W. Babylon, N.Y., Chevrolet,
22, accident.
28. (14) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 1, accident.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 16 minutes 10 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.352 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: H.Brode (75.898 mph, 11.858 seconds)
Caution Flags: 11 for 100 laps.
Lead Changes: 1 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: H. Brode 1-17; J. Bonsignore 18-175.
Standings: 1. R. Silk, 1129; 2. R. Pennink, 1124; 3. T. Szegedy,
1038; 4. T. Christopher, 1032; 5. M. Hirschman, 995; 6. D. Coby,
970; 7. E. Beers, 969; 8. B. Santos, 967; 9. R. Yuhas,Jr., 890;
10. E. Rudolph, 870.
Source:
NASCAR PR (with edits from LongIslandJam.com)
Posted: July 31, 2011
