Photo Credit: Phil Cavali
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Photo Credit: Blake Harris
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ROOKIE LUKE BALDWIN CAPTURES 2024 SMART MODIFIED TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Justin Bonsignore Wins the Season Finale at North Wilkesboro Speedway
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
North Wilkesboro, NC (October 19, 2024) - 18-year-old modified rookie, Luke Baldwin, is the 2024 SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic champion.
The third-generation modified racer secured the title, and the Racing Electronics Rookie of the Year honors, with the SMART Mods by finishing third in the season finale Saturday at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina.
“I told a couple of people that just four years ago I was sitting in my room playing iRacing, praying for something like this,” said Baldwin after he climbed out of his race car and celebrated with his SS Racing team. “I can't say thanks to everyone enough. Pace-O-Matic, Sadler Stanley Racing, I have said it a couple of times but, I don’t know if I would be racing right now if it wasn’t for Hermie Sadler and Bill Stanley. This is unbelievable.”
While Baldwin cherished his newly crowned championship, series-invader Justin Bonsignore dominated the race to ride the elevator to the famous victory lane at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Bonsignore, from Holtsville, New York, led all but three laps (96 of 99) enroute to his first series win in his first-career SMART Modified Tour race. Bonsignore held off Matt Hirschman to the checkered flag.
“Matt Hirschman is the ultimate at these tire-saving races and he was charging hard on old tires,” said Bonsignore in the Pace-O-Matic Victory Lane. “We had a really good car in the beginning, but Matt (Hirschman) was able to flip the strategy after getting crashed. You never can count him out, even on older tires. I was able to get the lead, but we’re not used to changing just one tire during a race. We don’t do that with our series, so we’re not accustomed to the adjustments you need to make,” added Bonsignore. “The car was just giving up too much there at the end. I think if it was anybody beside Matt Hirschman on the last lap, we would have ended up in the fence.”
“Congrats to the whole 7-team (on winning the championship). I’m really happy for Luke, they are a great family,” added Bonsignore. “I wanna thank Ryan Stone and this whole crew. We had a good time with the SMART Tour, so who knows, maybe we’ll run some more next year.”
Bonsignore became a 44-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour winner by capturing the victory on Sunday at North Wilkesboro as well. He is a three-time champion of that series.
Baldwin, from Mooresville, NC, is the champion with two wins on the season, but he was one of five championship contenders in a winner-take-all scenario amongst those drivers during the 99-lap race at Wilkesboro.
Carson Loftin, from Lexington, NC, is a five-time winner this year in the number-23 car. The 16 year-old will settle for second in points after finishing seventh in the North Wilkesboro race.
Ryan Newman, from South Bend, IN, was a victim of someone else’s mishap early in the race and finished eighth in the event. He ended up third in the championship chase.
Burt Myers, from Walnut Cove, NC, and Danny Bohn, from Freehold, NJ, crashed hard after other drivers in front of them triggered a multi-car accident in the latter stages of the race. Myers and Bohn will finish fourth and fifth in the standings.
The race was streamed live on FloRacing, the official streaming broadcast partner of the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic.
For updates on the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic, be sure to follow the series on social media (Facebook: SMART Modified Tour| Twitter: @SMARTMods_ | IG: @smartmods_).
SMART Modified Tour Race #14
Unofficial Race Results for the SMART Tour Finale - 10/19/2024
North Wilkesboro Speedway- North Wilkesboro, NC - 0.625 mile
Race Length: 99L - 61.875 M - 99.578 KM
Fin-Str-Car-Driver-Sponsors-Laps
1-1-51-Justin Bonsignore-Phoenix Communications-99
2-2-60-Matt Hirschman-Boykin Spaniel Rescue-99
3-4-7va-Luke Baldwin-Pace-O-Matic / Mohawk Northeast-99
4-6-12pa-Jake Crum-All-American Roofing & Restoration-99
5-8-179-Austin Beers-Jensen Motorsports-99
6-14-18va-Bobby Labonte-Pace-O-Matic / Cookout-99
7-5-23-Carson Loftin-L&R Transmissions / LeBleu Water-99
8-15-2-Ryan Newman-SHIT Coolers / Montrose Molders-99
9-9-02-Joey Coulter-SRI Performance / TORCH Eyewear-99
10-70-6ma-Samuel Rameau-New England Truck Design-99
11-23-21-Jimmy Wallace-Carolina Drilling-99
12-16-48-Jonny Kay-A-Best Forklift-99
13-10-4-Jason Myers-QRC HVAC & Refrigeration-99
14-26-18-Daniel Yates-Yates Grading & Paving-99
15-21-45-Gary Young Jr.-Ideal Comfort Heating & Air-99
16-17-69-John Holleman IV-Black Sand Company-98
17-19-79-Anthony Bello-SunDrop / Walkertown Mill-98
18-18-43-Matt Kimball-Poodiak Wealth Management-98
19-22-11-Norman Newman-Family Funland-98
20-25-22-Jason Tutterow-Carolina Drilling-97
21-28-09-Christopher Hatton-Generac-97
22-27-64-Ethan Truell-Sponsor Wanted-96
23-20-25-Tom Buzze Jr.-Mark III Financial / UNITS Moving-94
24-3-1-Burt Myers-Citrusafe Grill Cleaner / Peanut Patch-63
25-11-24-Danny Bohn-AmeriFast Supply of NC-63
26-24-v4-Tim Connolly-Mystic Missle Racing-30
27-13-24nj-Andrew Krause-Pete & Elda's Bar & Pizza-26
28-12-16va-Jonathan Cash-Pace-O-Matic-24
29-29-8-John-Michael Shenette-Eighty-Two Services GC-22
SMART Modified Tour
The SMART Modified Tour captures the essence of one of the most legendary forms of racing in America, pavement Modifieds. Born in 1988, these ground-pounding, 600-horsepower missiles for the SMART Tour are a must-see for any racing fan.
In 2020, Chris Williams brought SMART Modifieds back to prominence after a brief hiatus. Due to the overwhelming popularity from its fan base, a four-race schedule in its initial year has given birth to an adventurous 15-race schedule in 2024.
This year will mark the fourth full-season of SMART Modified Tour racing since its return. Many of Modified racing’s best drivers, from all over the country, will compete with the series, which visits 13 different racetracks in three different states in the Mid-Atlantic - North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
SMART Modifieds compete on grueling asphalt oval short tracks, embedded in quaint local communities, each spring, summer and fall.
Pace-O-Matic
Pace-O-Matic develops, produces, and licenses fun and entertainment in the form of skill games in various states, including Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kansas, South Carolina, Texas and Wyoming, among others. Since its founding in 2000, the organization has built a talented leadership team and a culture defined by integrity, innovation, and compliance. Learn more at www.paceomatic.com.
Justin Bonsignore Wins the Season Finale at North Wilkesboro Speedway
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
North Wilkesboro, NC (October 19, 2024) - 18-year-old modified rookie, Luke Baldwin, is the 2024 SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic champion.
The third-generation modified racer secured the title, and the Racing Electronics Rookie of the Year honors, with the SMART Mods by finishing third in the season finale Saturday at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina.
“I told a couple of people that just four years ago I was sitting in my room playing iRacing, praying for something like this,” said Baldwin after he climbed out of his race car and celebrated with his SS Racing team. “I can't say thanks to everyone enough. Pace-O-Matic, Sadler Stanley Racing, I have said it a couple of times but, I don’t know if I would be racing right now if it wasn’t for Hermie Sadler and Bill Stanley. This is unbelievable.”
While Baldwin cherished his newly crowned championship, series-invader Justin Bonsignore dominated the race to ride the elevator to the famous victory lane at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Bonsignore, from Holtsville, New York, led all but three laps (96 of 99) enroute to his first series win in his first-career SMART Modified Tour race. Bonsignore held off Matt Hirschman to the checkered flag.
“Matt Hirschman is the ultimate at these tire-saving races and he was charging hard on old tires,” said Bonsignore in the Pace-O-Matic Victory Lane. “We had a really good car in the beginning, but Matt (Hirschman) was able to flip the strategy after getting crashed. You never can count him out, even on older tires. I was able to get the lead, but we’re not used to changing just one tire during a race. We don’t do that with our series, so we’re not accustomed to the adjustments you need to make,” added Bonsignore. “The car was just giving up too much there at the end. I think if it was anybody beside Matt Hirschman on the last lap, we would have ended up in the fence.”
“Congrats to the whole 7-team (on winning the championship). I’m really happy for Luke, they are a great family,” added Bonsignore. “I wanna thank Ryan Stone and this whole crew. We had a good time with the SMART Tour, so who knows, maybe we’ll run some more next year.”
Bonsignore became a 44-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour winner by capturing the victory on Sunday at North Wilkesboro as well. He is a three-time champion of that series.
Baldwin, from Mooresville, NC, is the champion with two wins on the season, but he was one of five championship contenders in a winner-take-all scenario amongst those drivers during the 99-lap race at Wilkesboro.
Carson Loftin, from Lexington, NC, is a five-time winner this year in the number-23 car. The 16 year-old will settle for second in points after finishing seventh in the North Wilkesboro race.
Ryan Newman, from South Bend, IN, was a victim of someone else’s mishap early in the race and finished eighth in the event. He ended up third in the championship chase.
Burt Myers, from Walnut Cove, NC, and Danny Bohn, from Freehold, NJ, crashed hard after other drivers in front of them triggered a multi-car accident in the latter stages of the race. Myers and Bohn will finish fourth and fifth in the standings.
The race was streamed live on FloRacing, the official streaming broadcast partner of the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic.
For updates on the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic, be sure to follow the series on social media (Facebook: SMART Modified Tour| Twitter: @SMARTMods_ | IG: @smartmods_).
SMART Modified Tour Race #14
Unofficial Race Results for the SMART Tour Finale - 10/19/2024
North Wilkesboro Speedway- North Wilkesboro, NC - 0.625 mile
Race Length: 99L - 61.875 M - 99.578 KM
Fin-Str-Car-Driver-Sponsors-Laps
1-1-51-Justin Bonsignore-Phoenix Communications-99
2-2-60-Matt Hirschman-Boykin Spaniel Rescue-99
3-4-7va-Luke Baldwin-Pace-O-Matic / Mohawk Northeast-99
4-6-12pa-Jake Crum-All-American Roofing & Restoration-99
5-8-179-Austin Beers-Jensen Motorsports-99
6-14-18va-Bobby Labonte-Pace-O-Matic / Cookout-99
7-5-23-Carson Loftin-L&R Transmissions / LeBleu Water-99
8-15-2-Ryan Newman-SHIT Coolers / Montrose Molders-99
9-9-02-Joey Coulter-SRI Performance / TORCH Eyewear-99
10-70-6ma-Samuel Rameau-New England Truck Design-99
11-23-21-Jimmy Wallace-Carolina Drilling-99
12-16-48-Jonny Kay-A-Best Forklift-99
13-10-4-Jason Myers-QRC HVAC & Refrigeration-99
14-26-18-Daniel Yates-Yates Grading & Paving-99
15-21-45-Gary Young Jr.-Ideal Comfort Heating & Air-99
16-17-69-John Holleman IV-Black Sand Company-98
17-19-79-Anthony Bello-SunDrop / Walkertown Mill-98
18-18-43-Matt Kimball-Poodiak Wealth Management-98
19-22-11-Norman Newman-Family Funland-98
20-25-22-Jason Tutterow-Carolina Drilling-97
21-28-09-Christopher Hatton-Generac-97
22-27-64-Ethan Truell-Sponsor Wanted-96
23-20-25-Tom Buzze Jr.-Mark III Financial / UNITS Moving-94
24-3-1-Burt Myers-Citrusafe Grill Cleaner / Peanut Patch-63
25-11-24-Danny Bohn-AmeriFast Supply of NC-63
26-24-v4-Tim Connolly-Mystic Missle Racing-30
27-13-24nj-Andrew Krause-Pete & Elda's Bar & Pizza-26
28-12-16va-Jonathan Cash-Pace-O-Matic-24
29-29-8-John-Michael Shenette-Eighty-Two Services GC-22
SMART Modified Tour
The SMART Modified Tour captures the essence of one of the most legendary forms of racing in America, pavement Modifieds. Born in 1988, these ground-pounding, 600-horsepower missiles for the SMART Tour are a must-see for any racing fan.
In 2020, Chris Williams brought SMART Modifieds back to prominence after a brief hiatus. Due to the overwhelming popularity from its fan base, a four-race schedule in its initial year has given birth to an adventurous 15-race schedule in 2024.
This year will mark the fourth full-season of SMART Modified Tour racing since its return. Many of Modified racing’s best drivers, from all over the country, will compete with the series, which visits 13 different racetracks in three different states in the Mid-Atlantic - North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
SMART Modifieds compete on grueling asphalt oval short tracks, embedded in quaint local communities, each spring, summer and fall.
Pace-O-Matic
Pace-O-Matic develops, produces, and licenses fun and entertainment in the form of skill games in various states, including Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kansas, South Carolina, Texas and Wyoming, among others. Since its founding in 2000, the organization has built a talented leadership team and a culture defined by integrity, innovation, and compliance. Learn more at www.paceomatic.com.