Justin Bonsignore Bio
Justin R. Bonsignore (born February 3, 1988) is an American professional stock car racing driver from Holtsville, New York. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, driving the No. 51 Chevrolet for Kenneth Massa Motorsports. Bonsignore is a four-time champion of the Whelen Modified Tour and has also made selected starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Beyond the Modified Tour, Bonsignore has competed in the ARCA Menards Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series, expanding his résumé across multiple national NASCAR platforms. Long recognized as one of the top Modified competitors on the East Coast, he continues to balance his dominant Tour schedule with occasional opportunities in NASCAR’s higher divisions.
Early Life and Background
Justin R. Bonsignore was born on February 3, 1988, in Holtsville, New York. Raised on Long Island, he grew up surrounded by the short-track racing culture of Riverhead Raceway and the surrounding New York circuit. His family has long owned and operated a kart racing shop, giving him hands-on exposure to race preparation from a young age.
Bonsignore began his racing career with go-karts at the age of eight. In 1997, he competed in his first national event at Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina, finishing thirteenth. During his go-kart career, he collected eighteen national event wins, thirteen poles, and forty-five top-five finishes across eighty-one national starts, including victories at Len Sammon’s Indoor Kart Race at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, and the East End Shootout at Riverhead Raceway.
Path to NASCAR
Bonsignore transitioned to stock cars in 2005, competing in Riverhead Raceway’s Charger Division and the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series. He finished third in the standings, earned Rookie of the Year honors, and set the best rookie finish on record for the division. A wrist injury limited his 2007 season, but he returned to claim his first stock car win in 2008.
In 2009, Bonsignore partnered with local business owner Ken Massa, and the two formed a team with the goal of running the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour full-time. The relationship produced immediate results, including a runner-up finish in the King of the Mountain 150 at Sundance Vacations Speedway in Pennsylvania. By 2010, Bonsignore was named the Sunoco Rookie of the Year on the Whelen Modified Tour, signaling his arrival as a legitimate contender in NASCAR’s oldest touring series.
Justin Bonsignore Career
Early Career (2007-2014)
Bonsignore made his first Whelen Modified Tour start in 2007 and steadily built his program with the support of the Massa family operation. On July 30, 2011, he scored his first Tour victory at his home track of Riverhead Raceway, leading the final 158 laps in dominant fashion. He also captured the NASCAR Weekly Series Modified championship at Riverhead that same year, clinching the title on September 10, 2011.
Between 2012 and 2014, Bonsignore finished seventh and eighth in Whelen Modified Tour points, adding wins at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park and Monadnock Speedway. In 2014, his team switched to Spafco Chassis and Robert Yates Racing Spec engines, and he won three races on the way to a third-place finish in points. He also won the Modified Racing Series championship that season driving for Art Barry.
Whelen Modified Tour Breakthrough (2015-2021)
Bonsignore’s profile rose sharply in 2016, when he scored four wins and thirteen top-fives on the way to a runner-up points finish behind Doug Coby. After a winless 2017, he rebounded in emphatic fashion in 2018. The No. 51 team switched to FURY Chassis and brought in Ryan Stone as crew chief, and the changes transformed the program. Bonsignore won the 2018 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship with eight wins, five poles, twelve top-fives, fifteen top-tens, and 695 laps led, leading every major statistical category.
He added Tour championships in 2020 and 2021, cementing his status as the face of the modern Modified Tour. His four titles, earned in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2024, place him among the most successful champions in series history.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Debut (2024-Present)
On May 16, 2024, it was announced that Bonsignore would compete in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, driving the No. 19 for Joe Gibbs Racing. With qualifying rained out, he led three laps and ran inside the top five before a late incident dropped him to a twenty-second-place finish. In January 2025, Joe Gibbs Racing revealed plans for Bonsignore to contest five Xfinity Series races during the 2025 season, and the schedule was expanded to nine races the following month. He also piloted the No. 18 Toyota at Martinsville when William Sawalich was sidelined by post-concussion symptoms.
Kenneth Massa Motorsports Era (2009-Present)
Bonsignore’s long-running partnership with Kenneth Massa Motorsports, formed in 2009, has produced all four of his Whelen Modified Tour championships. With crew chief Ryan Stone joining the team in 2018, the No. 51 operation has become the standard-setter on the Tour, combining FURY Chassis equipment with Yates spec engines. The team has finished among the championship contenders in nearly every season since the alliance began.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bonsignore is known for his short-track race craft, particularly on the tight, abrasive circuits of the Northeast such as Riverhead Raceway, Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, and Monadnock Speedway. His ability to lead long runs, conserve equipment, and execute clean restarts has been central to his success. The partnership with crew chief Ryan Stone has produced consistent pit work and setup direction that complements his methodical driving style.
Notable Races and Milestones
His first Whelen Modified Tour victory at Riverhead Raceway in 2011 remains a defining moment, as does his 2018 championship season in which he topped the series in wins, poles, top-fives, top-tens, and laps led. He has also earned Coors Light Pole Awards at Bristol Motor Speedway and Stafford Motor Speedway, demonstrating his qualifying speed on both large and small ovals. His expansion to the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Joe Gibbs Racing marks the most significant national-series step of his career.
Justin Bonsignore Career Wins
Bonsignore’s win ledger is anchored by the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, where he has been one of the most prolific winners of his generation. His championships in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2024 are paired with consistent double-digit top-ten seasons across more than a decade of full-time Tour competition.
Whelen Modified Tour Highlights
Bonsignore has won the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship four times, in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2024. His 2018 title run featured eight wins and five poles, while he continued to add victories across his subsequent championship campaigns. His first Tour win came at Riverhead Raceway in 2011, and he has also won at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Monadnock Speedway, and several other Northeast ovals.
Other Wins and Performances
Bonsignore captured the NASCAR Weekly Series Modified championship at Riverhead Raceway in 2011 and the Modified Racing Series championship in 2014. In 2024, he made his ARCA Menards Series debut at Daytona International Speedway with Rette Jones Racing, expanding his national-series footprint beyond the Modified Tour.
Justin Bonsignore Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Bonsignore’s family has long owned and operated a kart racing shop, providing the foundation for his early career. Their involvement in the kart and short-track racing community on Long Island shaped his path from local go-karts to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
Personal Life
A native of Holtsville, New York, Bonsignore continues to be closely tied to the Riverhead Raceway community, where he earned many of his earliest wins. His long-term partnership with car owner Kenneth Massa has also become a defining part of his professional identity on the Modified Tour.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season positions Justin Bonsignore as the reigning champion following his 2024 title with Kenneth Massa Motorsports. With crew chief Ryan Stone returning to the No. 51 pit box, the team enters the year as the benchmark program on the Tour, focused on defending its championship form and adding to its growing list of race wins.
Beyond the Tour, 2025 marks Bonsignore’s most significant national-series commitment to date. Joe Gibbs Racing expanded his original five-race NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule to nine races, including a start in the No. 18 Toyota GR Supra at Martinsville. The additional seat time against top-tier Xfinity competition is designed to sharpen his road-course and intermediate-track skills while keeping his Modified Tour priorities intact.
With championships in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2024, Bonsignore arrives at 2025 with a clear opportunity to further cement his legacy on the Whelen Modified Tour while continuing his development in NASCAR’s national divisions. His dual role as a Tour championship contender and a developing Xfinity Series driver makes 2025 one of the most anticipated seasons of his career.