Thanks in part to a rebuilt No. 51 Modified he’s parked in Victory Lane after the last two races, Justin Bonsignore is on a heater as the 2024 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season reaches its Oct. 26 finale at Martinsville Speedway.
And thanks in part to that heater, the championship scenario for Bonsignore at the half-mile paperclip in southern Virginia is simple: Finish fourth or better, and he’ll clinch his fourth Modified Tour title regardless of what his rivals do Saturday night.
If Bonsignore finishes fifth or worse Saturday, the scenarios will open for two-time champion Ron Silk to steal a third title. Even Patrick Emerling, who soared to third place in the standings with some late-season success, has a chance to swoop in for a championship.
RELATED: Updated Modified Tour points
Bonsignore took the points lead from Silk with his dominant victory at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday. The former’s win combined with the latter’s 11th-place run flipped the standings in stunning fashion, as Silk entered the penultimate race of the year with a five-point lead over Bonsignore.
Both drivers have a series-high four wins this season, but Bonsignore’s recent success gives him the edge at Martinsville, a track where he’s experienced more success than Silk has over the years.
Bonsignore has finished third or better three times in four Martinsville starts; Silk in eight Martinsville starts has just one top-five finish. Neither has won at the paperclip.
Precious points will be available throughout the day Saturday, as the Modified Tour awards one bonus point to the driver who wins the Mayhew Tools Dominator Pole Award, one point to any driver who leads a lap in the race and one point to the driver who leads the most laps in the race.
Additionally, the race winner is automatically awarded three bonus points.
So with plenty left to be decided in the season finale at Martinsville, below are the championship points scenarios for all three drivers who are mathematically in the hunt for the title.
Championship points scenarios for Justin Bonsignore, Ron Silk and Patrick Emerling at Martinsville Speedway
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship points tiebreakers
(Via the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour rule book)
17-8 Ties
17-8.1 Championship points
A. In the event two or more drivers or Car Owners have the same number of points (a tie), each driver or Car Owner will be ranked according to the greatest number of 1st place finishes in 2023 Events for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour as of that time.
B. If a tie still exists, the greatest number of 2nd place finishes, 3rd place finishes, etc., will be used in the same manner, until the tie is broken.
C. If a tie still remains, the driver and/or Car Owner having the highest finishing position first during the current season in which the driver and/or Car Owner competed for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at the time will prevail.