For quite a spell, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, known for its custom-built stock cars, had a bit of a wrench with its starting lineup. After the drivers put their best foot forward in time trials, they’d throw in a bit of luck with a qualifying redraw. They’d pick a number out of the hat from the top performers, giving the front of the pack a bit of a shuffle. But that practice took a back seat a few years back, with time trials taking the wheel to line up the racers.

Now, in a fresh change, they’re bringing the redraw back into the mix for some of the Whelen Modified Tour races this season. So, it looks like a little bit of chance is back on the track, spicing things up at the starting line!

Drivers back to relying on luck

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, steeped in history, is bringing back an old tradition for its starting lineups. In 2023, the Modified Tour played a supporting role in the Daytona 500 festivities and tagged along with the Cup Series at iconic tracks like Richmond, New Hampshire, and Martinsville. They even took center stage for a solo act at North Wilkesboro Speedway in the fall. To spice things up, big names often jumped behind the wheel to draw in the crowds, like when Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart took the wheel back in July 2006.

But as 2024 gears up with its kickoff at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida, there’s a change for setting the stage upfront. After qualifying, a select few from the top 10 will leave their fate to a draw, reshuffling their start based on luck rather than just speed. The throwback tactic will make its comeback on May 4 at Monadnock Speedway in New Hampshire.

Here’s how it’ll go down:

• The quickest qualifier will pick a pill to set the stage for a reshuffle of starting spots. They’ll be drawing for 4, 6, 8, or 10 positions up for grabs in the reshuffle. Right after that first pill is picked, NASCAR will be all set with buckets to kick off the reshuffling. Drivers will pick their fate in the order they qualified, from first to tenth, depending on how many are in for the draw.
• The top spot on the grid and any extra perks go to the speediest in the qualifying round, sealing their spot as the official pole-sitter. Drivers will tip their hats to the crowd in the order they zipped around the track in qualifying. As they gear up for the pace laps, they’ll jockey into position based on their luck in the draw.
• If rain plays spoiler, they’ll stick to the rulebook for the lineup but still go ahead with the draw based on the weather-affected order. And while there’s no pole prize in a rainout scenario, the excitement of the draw remains.

As the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour shakes things up, Justin Bonsignore, a three-time champ, is setting his sights on conquering the Daytona ARCA 200, aiming to add another feather to his cap.

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3-time NY champ is making a grand entry into the ARCA Series

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It all started with the conversations between Mark Rette, the co-owner of Rette Jones Racing, and their former driver, Frankie Muniz, to field a Daytona ARCA entry. But since that plan fell apart and Bonsignore contacted Rette at just the right time, fans can now expect the Modified Tour star to dominate the ARCA Series lineup for the season opener!

On one side Ryan Preece, a Cup series stalwart, still participates in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and even left his mark in 2021 with victories at New Hampshire, Stafford, and Richmond. Justin Bonsignore, on the other hand, is making a switch to ARCA. His journey down the Road to Daytona was triggered by the absence of 2023 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Champion Ron Silk. It all started when Bonsignore reached out to fellow Modified racer Andy Suess, asking him for contacts that could help put together a Daytona ARCA 200 opportunity.

3-Time Champ From New York Makes His Grand Entry to the ARCA Series

So for Justin Bonsignore, 2024 could be the year of ups and downs. But what else can you expect from a champion who knows what he’s after and proactively goes after ensuring it sees the light of day?