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JUSTIN
BONSIGNORE TURNS 2015 NASCAR WMT FORTUNES AROUND
WITH HOOSIER TIRE 200 VICTORY AT RIVERHEAD RACEWAY SUNDAY |
It
might have taken two days to get the Hoosier Tire
200 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race in the books
this weekend at Barbara & Jim Cromarty's Riverhead
Raceway with the race completed despite numerous
rain delays that forced the race to be moved from
Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon. After fighting
off three rain delays Sunday, Justin Bonsignore of
West Islip would stand in victory lane after posting
a hard fought victory at the track where he cut his
eye teeth in racing as well as winning the 2011
NASCAR Modified championship.
Saturday evening Tom Rogers Jr. took the Coors Light
Pole Award with a lap of 12.018. However Tom's team
was penalized for making an unimproved change to
their car in post qualifying impound and he'd have
to start the race 28th. Just as the cars rolled to
the track Saturday for the 200 lapper the rains
moved in and after attempts to dry the track were in
vain the race was moved to Sunday afternoon. Rain
then would interrupt the start of the race twice but
finally Vinny Biondolillo and Timmy Solomito would
bring the 28-car field to the green flag with
Solomito racing out front with Justin Bonsignore
making a quick inside pass of Biondolillo to come to
second. Solomito and Bonsignore who both started
their careers racing go karts at Riverhead were now
tussling for the lead in a NASCAR Touring Series
race with Bonsignore diving under Solomito for the
race lead entering the third turn on lap 9. Solomito
would spend the following 26 laps chasing Bonsignore
until he was then passed on lap 36 by Ryan Preece
for second.
On a lap 50 double file restart Solomito was bale to
sneak back around Preece for second but just 10 laps
later the roles were reversed on another restart
where Preece got back by Solomtio for second. The
race then hit an extended green flag run during
which Doug Coby was on the march making some bold
moves on his way toward the front of the field. On
lap 112 Coby got under Preece for second exiting the
second corner and it was now time to set his sights
on racer leader Bonsignore. As is commonplace on the
quarter mile lapped traffic from time to time would
test the will of the race leader while working to
the advantage of his challengers.
Another heavy mist halted the race on lap 141 with
the red flag displayed and many on hand thought the
race would be over since it was indeed official.
Jimmy Wilson the NASCAR WMT Series Director had
other ideas though as he wanted to reward the fans
for all their patience over the two days with a
complete race. After yet another session of track
drying the race would resume on lap 149.
Despite all that was thrown at him by either Doug
Coby or the thick lapped traffic Justin Bonsignore
stayed focused and somewhat calm out front. Lap 160
during a restart Todd Szegedy worked his way by Doug
Coby for second with Coby reclaiming the position
one lap later on the 161st circuit but Szegedy
quickly responded by passing Coby back for the spot
on lap 162.
With Szegedy and Coby swapping second that allowed
Justin Bonsignore in the M3 Technologies Chevy to
remain out front and drive off to victory in the Ken
Massa owned entry. "We've had a rough stretch so far
in 2015 but nobody on this team gave up " Bonsignore
reflected afterwards. "It was a weird weekend with
the light rain, delays and all and then during the
race some of the lapped cars would go double file in
front of me but we got through it all for a much
needed win"
Todd Szegedy of Ridgefield, Ct. was second in the
Modzelewski's Towing & Storage Dodge with defending
WMT champion Doug Coby of Milford, Ct. third in the
Dunleavy's Repair Chevy. Eric Goodale of Riverhead
and Woody Pitkat of Stafford, Ct. completed the top
five.
Hoosier Tire 200:
1. Justin Bonsignore 2. Todd Szegedy 3. Doug
Coby 4. Eric Goodale 5. Woody Pitkat 6. Timmy
Solomito
7. Tom Rogers Jr. 8. Ryan Preece 9. Vinny
Biondolillo 10. Dave Sapienza 11. Ted Christopher
12. Kyle Ellwood
13. Chase Dowling 14. Max Zachem 15. Keith Rocco 16.
Patrick Emerling 17. Brendon Bock 18. Shawn Solomito
19. Jerry Solomito Jr. 20. Bobby Santos 21. Jamie
Tomaino 22. Troy Talman 23. Donny Lia 24. Ken Heagy
25. Rowan Pennink 26. Frank Vigliarolo Jr. 27. Ron
Silk 28. James Civali
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Source:
Bob Finan /
Riverhead Raceway
Posted:
June 28, 2015 |
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