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   The Chrome Horn - NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
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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
 
Source: Bob Finan / Riverhead Raceway
Posted
: June 28, 2015

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