Bonsignore Scores Solid Second In Whelen Modified Tour Opener at New Smyrna

Photo: Tom Morris

Story by Kyle Souza

​NEW SMYRNA, Fla. – Justin Bonsignore and the Kenneth Massa Motorsports team opened the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season on a high note Saturday night in Florida. 

The driver of the Phoenix Communications No. 51 started from the fifth spot after qualifying washed out due to rain, and crossed the line after 200 laps in second-place. 

Bonsignore dashed through the field inside the final 35 laps on a restart, taking the lead momentarily from Ron Silk, twice. Bonsignore spun around while running second, managed to work his way back to the front, and took the lead again in the final six laps. 

Over the final laps, Silk and Bonsignore raced hard for the top spot – with Silk taking the lead for the final time late and never looking back. Bonsignore’s second-place finish was the best to start to a season for him since 2020 – and was his 104th career finish inside the top-five in series history – all with Kenneth Massa Motorsports.

“I just couldn’t quite get away from him when I took the lead,” Bonsignore said post-race. “I tried to cross him over, but I just didn’t work. Overall, it was a good start to the year – we weren’t great all night, but the guys made some good calls on the final pit stop, and we were able to drive to the front. Hopefully we hit on something here with the new tires for this year and we can build off it going forward.”

Next up for Justin Bonsignore and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will be the return to Richmond Raceway on Friday, March 31, for the second race of the season.

For more information on Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow his page on Facebook for the latest updates, including from the track.