3 Contenders, 3 Points and 2 Races to Decide the NWMT Title
As the expression goes, the other championship contenders in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour screwed around and found out what happens when you let Justin Bonsignore, Ryan Stone and the Kenneth Massa Motorsports No. 51 back in the mix.
After poor performances at New Smyrna (31st place) and Riverhead (25th place), despite a win at Richmond in between, Bonsignore found himself in a difficult position in the standings, ranking 10th and 36 points away from first place.
Three races into the season, the recognizable No. 51 car with its black, white and green paint job was nearly a complete race behind the leader. However, from that point forward, none of the other competitors managed to outdistance themselves from the rest of the group.
For most of the season, Ron Silk was leading the standings, even having a 26-point lead over Jon McKennedy at one point. However, an early crash in the July race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway set the division on a trajectory towards a championship showdown.
Only two races are left in the World Series — one at Thompson Speedway this Saturday and another at Martinsville Speedway on October 27. The championship standings, after 14 races, are as tight as one could feasibly anticipate.
Jon McKennedy
Ron Silk -3
Justin Bonsignore -3
While the crash at New Hampshire — or landing on the wrong side of a strategy play at Oswego — could lead to a tremendous number of what ifs for Silk, the 2011 champion actually hasn’t won on the Whelen Modified Tour yet with Haydt Yannone Racing and crew chief Phil Moran.
“Regarding six podiums and a 6.9 average finish without a victory, Silk said, “We have established the law of averages.”
They emerged victorious in the World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna and the Fall Final at Stafford, but achieving victory on the Tour is their main focus. He also believes that ultimately, winning will determine the championship.
“Despite the success we’ve had this season, particularly winning the Fall Final amidst tough competition, I believe we shouldn’t overlook our accomplishments,” said Silk. “However, I firmly believe that we need to secure a victory in a Tour race to truly mark this season as a great success.”
“I also believe that due to how closely we’re all matched, the championship will hinge on whoever is able to secure a victory in one of the upcoming two races. In fact, it may even require winning both races.”
Bonsignore has done precisely that in the last two races, achieving wins at Oswego and Riverhead. This has provided the three-time champions with four victories and an average finish of 8.1. Considering how things began, it’s not a poor performance.
Bonsignore is honestly surprised to have a chance at securing a third straight championship and his fourth in five years in the last two races.
“Definitely, it was a bit of a surprise,” admitted Bonsignore. “We were confident about our ability to win races and gradually close the gap, but we knew it would also require some misfortune on their side. And that happened — but we also validated it with our own victories.”
“I was doubtful about our return to the championship hunt, but I never believed it to be impossible, if that makes sense.”
Of course, his argument is that the 51 team had the potential to go on a winning streak, but McKennedy and Silk were just as likely to do so. However, since acquiring Ryan Stone as crew chief in 2018, Bonsignore has secured victories in 22 out of 60 races.
Bonsignore quickly highlights that a season like 2022 is more typical compared to what Tour enthusiasts have experienced in the past five years.
“Bonsignore admitted, “We had some difficulty with the tires this year towards the end of spring and the beginning of summer. They were slightly different and I just couldn’t achieve the feel I was seeking. It was not about speed. I was more accustomed to a different feel and fortunately, we discovered some aspects that restored that feel and kept our speed intact.”
“But occasionally, people would inquire, ‘hey, what’s amiss this year,’ and I would have to reassure them that nothing is amiss. This is the usual scenario. What we’ve been doing for the past few years has been the anomaly.”
Jon McKennedy, who departed from Tommy Baldwin Racing last year, is now leading the new program under the ownership of Tim and Cheryl Lepine. Throughout the season, McKennedy has consistently been a strong contender, with only two finishes outside the top-10.
Simultaneously, McKennedy has achieved only two podiums, with one being a victory at Claremont.
“Indeed, I’m aware of the points, but I’ll just let things unfold as they’re meant to,” McKennedy shared with RacedayCT earlier this season. “The only thing within your control is to give your best and avoid trouble, and let the points land where they may.”
First on the agenda is Sunday’s World Series, followed by the march towards the Whelen Modified Tour championship.
