Three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore has raced at all kinds of tracks during his near two-decade career.
Daytona International Speedway could not be further from the bullrings to which Bonsignore has grown accustomed in the northeast, but he is set to turn his first laps around the iconic facility this weekend during the ARCA Menards Series’ annual pre-race practice.
Bonsignore was selected as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour representative of ARCA’s Road to Daytona program, which provides short-track competitors a chance to gain experience at the 2.5-mile oval. Despite the unknowns, Bonsignore is excited about driving a full-bodied stock car around one of the most famous tracks in the United States.
“This is all kind of new to me,” Bonsignore said. “I’m trying to process it all, but this is a cool opportunity NASCAR and ARCA have come up with during the past few years. It’s going to be a cool experience to make some laps around Daytona.”
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While he initially aspired to advance through the developmental ladder, Bonsignore quickly found a home with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at the start of the 2010s. That passion has translated into a stellar career; Bonsignore ranks fourth on the series’ all-time wins list with 40 victories alongside his three titles.
The idea of partaking in a practice run at Daytona was something Bonsignore never considered until he received an invite for the ARCA pre-race practice.
Bonsignore considered the invitation a pleasant surprise, but he admitted he does not have much data to rely upon since only a handful of competitors within the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour have Daytona experience.
One driver Bonsignore did speak with ahead of the ARCA pre-race practice was 2022 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Jon McKennedy, who participated in last year’s Road to Daytona program. The main piece of advice McKennedy provided Bonsignore was to stay true to key Modified principles such as being smooth and holding the wheel steady.
Bonsignore also plans to reach out to 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion and current NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece for any recommendations on how to get the most out of his maiden trip to Daytona, which he hopes includes plenty of time drafting with other drivers.
Drafting is not a foreign concept to Bonsignore, but he is anticipating a much different environment compared to a Modified with at least a half-dozen cars running full throttle around Daytona.
“I want to have a good experience and hopefully make as many laps as I can,” Bonsignore said. “Hopefully I’ll get approved to run some laps in the draft and experience what that’s like. We do experience something similar to that at Loudon with the Modifieds, so we’re looking to see what it’s all about and have a better understanding of what the drivers are going through.”
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Fortunately for Bonsignore, the Road to Daytona program provides a sturdy foundation for its drivers through the cars supplied by Fast Track Racing owner Andy Hillenburg. Daytona was kind to Hillenburg during his time in ARCA, as he scored two of his three career victories at the track in 1995 and 1997.
Hillenburg’s leadership and equipment have been pivotal in helping several drivers understand the fundamentals of finding success at drafting tracks. Among the notable names who have gone through the Road to Daytona program include current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Ty Majeski and defending ARCA Daytona winner Greg Van Alst.
Having seen what Hillenburg has done with other drivers who have extensive short-track backgrounds, Bonsignore is optimistic he and his six other Road to Daytona teammates are in for a solid two days of learning about how an ARCA car functions in both single-car and group runs.
Although there are currently no plans for Bonsignore to make a return trip to Daytona in February for the ARCA season-opener, he did not rule out the possibility of making his series debut that weekend if all the necessary circumstances come together.
“[Racing at Daytona] is something I’d have to work on funding for,” Bonsignore said. “We’ll see how this test goes, but if somebody comes back to us for an available car for the ARCA race and if I enjoy myself, which I’m sure I will, maybe we’ll try to put together some sponsorship. It’s a short turnaround, but we want to see how test unfolds, and then we’ll go from there.”
Even if his Daytona track time in 2024 is confined to just the ARCA pre-race practice, Bonsignore plans to cherish every moment alongside his father Tom and car owner Ken Massa, who has overseen all three of Bonsignore’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championships to date.
Not many Modified competitors have been in Bonsignore’s position, which is why he plans to proudly represent the discipline inside the ARCA garage area and build some early momentum before starting his pursuit of a fourth title.
“I have to thank NASCAR, ARCA and Ron Drager for what they have put together with this opportunity for the Modified guys.” Bonsignore said. “It’s really cool and not something that happens too often for us, so I’m real appreciative of that and Andy Hillenburg’s team for being a part of this.
“We’re looking forward to having some fun and taking it all in while we’re down there.”
The ARCA Menards Series pre-race practice officially commences for Bonsignore and more than 70 other drivers on Friday morning at 10 a.m. ET. There will be one continuous session for both Friday and Saturday, with each ending at 5 p.m. ET.