The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is set to return to Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in Connecticut for the second time this season, marking the 154th event in the series’ history on Wednesday night. Nearly 30 of the nation’s top Modified drivers have registered to compete at ”The Big T,” so let’s explore potential contenders for the victory.
2024 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Thompson Speedway
First up is Matt Hirschman, who is eager for redemption at Thompson after last August’s race. For those who may not recall, Hirschman was involved in a multi-car accident on the backstretch, resulting in a wrist injury that kept him sidelined for several weeks. Following the crash, he opted out of last fall’s World Series 150 at Thompson and finished ninth in this spring’s Icebreaker 150. A win during Wednesday’s race would be a fitting comeback for Hirschman, one year after his injury.
However, to clinch the win, Hirschman must overcome the defending champion, Ron Silk, who has been exceptional at Thompson recently. Silk has dominated the last two races there, winning both and leading 129 of the 300 laps completed in those events, starting from last fall’s World Series 150.
Yet, Silk will need to reclaim that winning form for Wednesday night, as his recent race results have not met his usual standards. He finished tenth after a crash at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in June and followed that with a crucial runner-up finish at Monadnock Speedway weeks later. However, he once again placed tenth at Lancaster Motorplex earlier this month. As a result, Justin Bonsignore is now just one point behind Silk as they head into Wednesday’s race at a venue where Bonsignore has historically excelled.
This brings us to Justin Bonsignore, a three-time Tour champion and one of the most successful drivers at Thompson Speedway. Bonsignore is the defending champion of this race, having led a race-high 75 laps last year. With 13 victories at Thompson, he is tied with the legendary Ted Christopher for second place in NWMT history. A win on Wednesday would grant Bonsignore sole possession of that second spot, putting him merely one win away from the late Mike Stefanik, who holds the record with 15 NWMT victories at Thompson. Additionally, a win would elevate Bonsignore to 43 career wins, placing him in sole possession of third place on the all-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour wins list, surpassing Christopher, whom he is currently tied with at 42 wins following his impressive showing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in June.
It’s clear that Bonsignore, as he is in every race, stands as a strong favorite for the win on Wednesday night, which would be pivotal for his quest for a fourth NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship.
This overview captures just a glimpse of the 27-car entry list for the upcoming 150-lap face-off at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. The complete entry list is provided below.
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