Justin Bonsignore, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Stafford Motor Speedway

JUSTIN BONSIGNORE LOOKS TO SEAL THIRD WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR TITLE AT STAFFORD

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By Souza Media/Kyle Souza

HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. — Justin Bonsignore is heading to Stafford Motor Speedway this Saturday, September 25, with two goals in mind, but one is more important than the other. Bonsignore would love to finally carry the checkered flag at the Connecticut half-mile, after coming up short in his first 40 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races at the track. However, the larger goal surrounds the championship battle.

The Holtsville, New York native — and two-time series champion — enters the race with a 16-point advantage over Patrick Emerling, in search of a third title in four years. Bonsignore will need to have a solid day at Stafford in order to clinch the championship for his Kenneth Massa Motorsports based team and etch his name in the record books once again.

“We just have to go out there and race the same way we have been racing all season,” Bonsignore said. “We have to have a maximum day — qualify well, get a good pit stall selection, and try to get out front, lead laps and control the race, then wait for the pit stop. With the different tire strategies that happen at Stafford, it makes it difficult to figure it out. This should be a lot of business as usual for us, just a bit more conscious of where we are at with the points. There is a long way to go before we can think about winning the championship — we don’t want to be ahead of ourselves. It would be special to become a three-time series champion. Not many guys are on that list and they are all legends of the modifieds.”

Bonsignore has 18 wins across his last 54 Whelen Modified Tour starts as part of the last four year run at the top of the series. Even in 2019, he finished second in the championship battle. He looks to become only the fourth driver in the history of the series to capture three or more titles — he would join Mike Stefanik (seven), Doug Coby (six) and Tony Hirschman (five) on the list, if he can accomplish the feat.

The schedule for the final race of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season includes one practice session from 1:20-2:20 p.m., followed by Mayhew Tools pole qualifying at 4 p.m. The drop of the green flag in the NAPA Fall Final 150 is scheduled for 6 p.m., and will air live on NBC Sports Gold’s TrackPass platform. Tickets will also be available for those who are near the track and would like to watch the season-finale in person. 

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

Riverhead Raceway

LOU & TRACY MAESTRI TO CONTINUE JOE DIGANGI WINNING CREW CHIEF AWARD FOR SUPER PRO TRUCKS AT RIVERHEAD RACEWAY FINALE SATURDAY

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Riverhead, NY Sept. 22nd
By Bob Finan

Whether it was in the Street Stocks, Late Models or Super Pro Trucks for decades there was on constant in Lou Maestri’s racing career, crew chief Joe DiGangi. The tandem raced together at Islip Speedway, Flemington Fairgrounds Speedway before attaining their most success at Riverhead Raceway in the Super Pro Trucks. Since Joe’s sudden passing Lou & Tracy Maestri have presented the Joe DiGangi Memorial Crew Chief of the race award at the final race of the season. 

Aside from their racing endeavors Lou & Joe also worked together for the Town of Babylon Department of Public Works where Lou remains to this day as a foreman. The duo were more like brothers than co-workers and racers. No matter what time of the day you saw Joe at the track he was smiling, greeting you with a hearty hello no matter what the on the track result may have been for Lou. When the 20-lap Super Pro Truck finale concludes Saturday, the winning Crew Chief will receive $150 and a trophy in Joe DiGangi’s name, a tradition started after Joe’s 2009 passing. For the first time since starting the award it was Lou who won the last SPT event last October. Lou and Tracy presented the Joe DiGangi award to noted fabricator John Matlach of Maestri Racing who serves as their crew chief.

The 2021 Championship Night at Riverhead Raceway Saturday will include the Buzz Chew Chevrolet NASCAR Modifieds, Late Models, Crate Modifieds, Figure Eights, Blunderbusts, Super Pro Trucks and INEX Legend Race Cars. Aside from all race winners, the 2021 champion in each division will be interviewed post race.
Pits will open at 1:00 pm, practice at 2:00 pm. Spectator gates open at 4:00 pm while qualifying starts at 4:30 pm. Adults are $30, kids 6-12 $10 with 5 and under free. The live stream of the final regular season show will start at 4:15 pm on Riverheadraceway.Tv.

Lake Erie Speedway, ROC Race of Champions Series

FLEX SCHEDULE TO BE IN PLAY FOR PRESQUE ISLE DOWNS & CASINO RACE OF CHAMPIONS WEEKEND AT LAKE ERIE SPEEDWAY

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–  Track and Series Management willing to adjust Schedule in Order to give Fans and Participants Entire Show –

North East, Pa. – (September 22, 2021) – Lake Erie Speedway and Race of Champions management are prepared to offer fans a “flex” schedule in case it is needed to give fans and participants an opportunity to see the entire show on Saturday, September 25 and Sunday, September 26 as part of Presque Isle Downs & Casino Race of Champions Weekend at Lake Erie Speedway.

Utilizing a “flex” schedule means management may adjust the schedule in the event of any situation that may occur to ensure that the racing program will take place. This could mean the race starts earlier, later or qualifying programs are adjusted to accommodate an earlier start time for feature racing activity. Several other facilities and series commonly use “flex” scheduling to accommodate their customers.

The “flex” schedule option will be used, only if necessary and any adjustments to the schedule will be posted one-hour prior to events changing on all forms of track and series social media, along with Public Address announcements at the track. “Flex” scheduling may adjust the start time and order of events, in order to give everyone an opportunity to accommodate everyone. If you are on the Lake Erie Speedway property, tune into 107.3 FM for any announcements that may need to be made.

At this point, everything remains on schedule as planned and announced, however, management of the Track and the Series wanted to let fans know there is an alternative plan, should adjustments become necessary to complete either day of racing.

Tickets may be purchased for the weekend and will be available at the Lake Erie Speedway ticket office or at www.lakeeriespeedway.com. In the event that there is inclement weather, the event will be postponed to 2022. Pit Passes are available on the PitPay App. 

If you are planning to attend the Presque Isle Downs & Casino Race of Champions Weekend and camp at the facility, spots are being sold at the track for the designated camping areas. Tickets and camping spots for the Presque Isle Downs & Casino Race of Champions Weekend are available at the Lake Erie Speedway ticket office 814.725.3303. 

Where: Lake Erie Speedway, North East, Pa.

When: Friday, September 24; Saturday, September 25 and Sunday, September 26, 2021.

Directions: The track is located just twenty minutes of East Erie, Pa., minutes from Interstate 90 and directly of Interstate 86 at 10700 Delmas Drive, North East, Pa., 16428

What: Presque Isle Downs & Casino Race of Champions Weekend; the 68th Annual Race of Champions 250f

More Information: www.lakeeriespeedway.com (Track Phone: 814.725.3303) / www.rocmodifiedseries.com        

The Race of Champions is a sanctioning body presenting Modified and Stock Car racing on asphalt and dirt surfaces throughout the Northeast, with events in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey with primary marketing partners Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Waddell Communications, Image X Graphic Designs, Sherwood Racing Wheels, DirtTrackDigest.com, FX Caprara and Billy Whittaker Ford. The 71st annual Race of Champions weekend will take place in 2021 at Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Pennsylvania and is the second longest consecutive auto-racing event in North America, second only to the Indianapolis 500.

For more information, contact;

Race of Champions Media at media@rocmodifiedseries.com

Follow us on Twitter; Instagram and Facebook; @RoCModSeries or visit our website: www.rocmodifiedseries.com    

Covering the Entire Northeast