WINCHESTER, N.H. – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour super star Justin Bonsignore won more than $11,000 Sunday at Monadnock Speedway, topping the JDV Productions Duel at The Dog 200-lap NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour main event.
By Gary Dutton
Starting up front alongside hometrack hot shoe Matt Kimball, the34-year-old Empire State blaster led the first 23 go-rounds and then the final two to lead the 25-car field under the checkers in the $83,000-plus JDV biggie, the second in a three-race 2022 Granite State series.
The afternoon’s main event, slowed only by four quick drama-free cautions, showcased a trio of Modified racing royalty racing often under a blanket in the battle for the big money. Postponed from Saturday night by a surprise rainstorm that swept through the Monadnock region, Sunday’s Duel at The Dog did not disappoint, keeping the large crowd at the edge of their seats for all 200 laps.
Bonsignore, Matt Hirschman, and Ron Silk battled at the front of the sizzling pack for all 200 laps, with the Holtsville, N.Y. giant firing low through lapped traffic to take the lead from Hirschman with two to go. With Silk just inches back in third, Sam Rameau and Doug Coby rounded out the top five.
Second-generation full-fender star DJ Shaw paid tribute to his father, northeast racing legend Dale Shaw, in victory lane after scoring an impressive pull-away victory in Sunday’s caution-free GSPSS 75-lap Pro Stock feature.
Shaw grabbed the lead from Dylan Estrella on lap 42 and never looked back. Hot shoe Joey Doiron got up for second on lap 47 but had nothing for Shaw. Nick Cusack came home third in the rapid-fire event.
Street Stock ace Tommy O’Sullivan blasted into the lead on the 39th circuit of Sunday’s special Duel At The Dog 50-lapper and then held his nephew, Chris Buffone, in his shadow the rest of the way. Two-time 2022 winner Keith Johnson was third, division points leader Tim Wenzel fourth, and Geoff Rollins fifth.
Justin Littlewood won his second Late Model Sportsman feature in a row. He took the lead on lap two and led all the way to score the win ahead of points leader Ryan Currier and his brother, three-time winner Cole Littlewood,
Ricky Bly, bidding for the lead when squeezed up track on lap 17, returned from the pits to finish fifth. Kevin Vaudrien’s hard work brought him home fourth.
Mini Stock rocketman Gordon Farnum took charge on lap 11 Sunday and charged off to his third win of the summer. Cameron Sontag and Kevin Clayton joined him on trophy row.
In the Pure Stocks, Kyle Boniface – sporting his late father’s well known 27 – took charge on lap 11 and then held Chris Davis in his shadow the rest of the way to score his first win of the summer. Multi-race winner Kyle Robinson Newell was strong in third.
Monadnock Speedway returns to action next Saturday, June 25, when the NE Big Block Super Modified Series will invade the high banks for a 75-lap main event, along with a full card of NASCAR Weekly Racing Series events. Post time is 6 p.m.
MONADNOCK SPEEDWAY JUNE 19 TOP TENS
DUEL AT THE DOG MODIFIED 200: Justin Bonsignore, Matt Hirschman, Ron Silk, Sam Rameau, Doug Coby, Eric Goodale, Jake Johnson, Austin Beers, Tommy Catalano, Jacob Perry.
GSPSS PRO STOCK 75: DJ Shaw, Joey Doiron, Nick Cusack, Jimmy Renfrew Jr., Jeremy Sorel, Dylan Estrella, Joe Pastore, Josh King, Garrett Hall, Angelo Belsito.
STEEET STOCK 50: Tommy O’Sullivan, Chris Buffone, Keith Johnson, Tim Wenzel, Geoff Rollins, Billy Clement, Bryce Howard, Hillary Renaud, Nate Nunez, Colby Kokosa.
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN: Justin Littlewood, Ryan Currier, Cole Littlewood, Kevin Vaudrien, Ricky Bly, Dan Comeau, Nancy Muni Ruot, Sammy Silva, Matt Winter, Rocky Smith.
MINI STOCK: Gordon Farnum, Cameron Sontag, Kevin Clayton, Jeff Asselin, Kevin McNight, Tim Griffith, Chris Sontag, Deion Russell.
PURE STOCK: Kyle Boniface, Chris Davis, Kyle Robinson Newell, JD Stockwell, Damien Houle, Jimmy Zellman, Zach Zilinski, Kyle Templeton, Cory Lofland, Billy Graham.
