Justin Bonsignore secured a long-awaited victory in the Justin Bonsignore Whelen Modified Tour at New Smyrna Speedway on Saturday night, holding off Tyler Rypkema during a series of tense late-race restarts. This triumph marked Bonsignore’s first win at the historic Florida track, adding a significant achievement to his already extensive racing resume.
Bonsignore Breaks Through After Narrow Misses
For Bonsignore, the New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200 represented a long-standing pursuit. Despite his status as a four-time series champion and finishing second at this event in both 2023 and earlier in 2024—and third last year—Bonsignore had not yet stood atop the podium at New Smyrna Speedway. On this occasion, he finally conquered the track after five attempts, ending what had become a personal challenge. By clinching this victory, he achieved his 48th overall win in the Whelen Modified Tour, further solidifying his position as second on the tour’s all-time win list.
Reflecting on his emotional breakthrough, Bonsignore remarked,
“First one on the [Whelen Modified Tour] at New Smyrna. I’ve been close a handful of times. This place has kind of whooped my butt. It’s nice to get one tonight.”
—Justin Bonsignore, Series Champion
Teamwork and Preparation Key to Victory
Bonsignore credited the win to significant offseason efforts and the ability to prepare extensively at the track during a December tire test. This preparation led his team to adopt strategies and vehicle adjustments they hadn’t used during points-focused races, leveraging crucial insights that paid off on race day. Bonsignore celebrated the group’s resiliency through the winter and their commitment to trying new approaches despite previous hesitations.
He emphasized the shared achievement, saying,
“It’s been a tough winter for us. This just feels good to come out and do what we did today. We had a great car. Obviously we got the opportunity to do the tire test here [in December] and we learned a lot. … We worked really hard on some new stuff that we’ve been hesitant to try while we were in points battles. It was really good. And just some lines we learned at the test was good.”
—Justin Bonsignore, Series Champion
Rypkema and Beers Deliver Strong Performances
Tyler Rypkema proved to be Bonsignore’s toughest competitor during the closing laps, launching multiple attempts to overtake the leader during overtime restarts. He stayed close to Bonsignore’s bumper during a final green-white-checkered finish, but a late caution caused by Luke Baldwin‘s spin after the white flag extinguished his final opportunity for a last-lap attack. Rypkema expressed the effort required in the late stages, noting the challenges of maintaining momentum and drive on the outside lane, yet he remained positive about opening his season with a runner-up finish.
Rypkema reflected,
“Those last three restarts, firing off on the outside, it’s so tough late in a run like this to get some good drive off the top and hang with him,”
—Tyler Rypkema, Whelen Modified Tour Driver
He added,
“We were just good at the end there and tried to hang him with him. Got a good restart that last one there, but it’s tough. To finish second though, that’s a great way to start the season out points-wise.”
—Tyler Rypkema, Whelen Modified Tour Driver
Bonsignore acknowledged Rypkema’s challenge, remarking,
“Tyler kept us honest on the last bunch of [restarts].”
—Justin Bonsignore, Series Champion
Defending Champion and Top Finishers
Austin Beers, who is entering the new season as the defending Whelen Modified Tour champion, began his title defense with a solid third-place finish despite grappling with handling issues. He admitted to struggling with car setup in the closing stages, citing tire strategy as a factor late in the race. Beers shared his satisfaction with the result as a solid start to his campaign.
Beers commented,
“This one race I’m happy with a third,”
—Austin Beers, Defending Series Champion
He elaborated,
“We were struggling there. I was just a little too tight. We took [rear tires twice] so we didn’t have a right front there at the end and I think it hurt us.”
—Austin Beers, Defending Series Champion
Rounding out the top five were Patrick Emerling in fourth place and Craig Lutz in fifth, each delivering consistent performances to open the series at New Smyrna Speedway.
Significance of Bonsignore’s Win and What’s Next
Justin Bonsignore’s long-awaited triumph at New Smyrna Speedway not only enhances his career record, but also sets an energetic tone for the remainder of the Whelen Modified Tour season. With strong performances from competitors like Rypkema, Beers, Emerling, and Lutz, the early races indicate a fiercely competitive field. The focused preparation and resilience exhibited by Bonsignore and his team may serve as a roadmap for success as the championship hunt unfolds at tracks across the calendar.
