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PIT BOX: Another Modified Tour championship race at Martinsville comes down to Justin Bonsignore vs. Ron Silk
By Adam Fenwick


(Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR)
The battle for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship will come to a close Saturday night when the series returns to historic Martinsville Speedway for the running of the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 (8 p.m. ET on FloRacing).
Justin Bonsignore enters the finale with a 10-point advantage on defending champion Ron Silk as both look to secure another championship while also chasing a Martinsville Speedway grandfather clock.
Charlie Jarzombek won the first two Modified Tour events held at Martinsville in 1985. Other notable names to earn Martinsville victories on the Tour include Brett Bodine, Reggie Ruggiero, Mike McLaughlin, Tom Baldwin, Mike Ewanitsko, Tony Hirschman, Jeff Fuller, Mike Stefanik, Ted Christopher, Donny Lia, Bobby Santos III, Corey LaJoie and last year’s winner Ryan Preece.
Tickets to the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 can be purchased here. Below is everything you need to know about the final race of the 2024 NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour season.
Justin Bonsignore enters the finale with a 10-point advantage on defending champion Ron Silk as both look to secure another championship while also chasing a Martinsville Speedway grandfather clock.
Charlie Jarzombek won the first two Modified Tour events held at Martinsville in 1985. Other notable names to earn Martinsville victories on the Tour include Brett Bodine, Reggie Ruggiero, Mike McLaughlin, Tom Baldwin, Mike Ewanitsko, Tony Hirschman, Jeff Fuller, Mike Stefanik, Ted Christopher, Donny Lia, Bobby Santos III, Corey LaJoie and last year’s winner Ryan Preece.
Tickets to the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 can be purchased here. Below is everything you need to know about the final race of the 2024 NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour season.

Cars in action during the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 26, 2023. (Photo: Veasey Conway/NASCAR)
Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 at Martinsville Speedway
What started in February at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway comes to a close Saturday night at Virginia’s Martinsville Speedway as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour wraps up the 2024 season with the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200.
Just like one season ago, the battle for the Modified Tour championship (likely) comes down to Justin Bonsignore vs. Ron Silk.
Unlike last year, when Silk entered the finale as the championship leader, it’s Bonsignore who enters Martinsville as the driver in command of the standings.
Thanks to consecutive wins at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park and North Wilkesboro Speedway, Bonsignore holds a 10-point edge on Silk entering Martinsville. If Bonsignore finishes fourth or better Saturday, he will win his fourth Modified Tour championship no matter what Silk does.
Neither driver has visited Victory Lane at Martinsville in the past, and both would love to add a grandfather clock to their personal trophy collections.
RELATED: Modified Tour championship scenarios
Patrick Emerling is also mathematically eligible to win the Modified Tour championship, but at 24 points behind Bonsignore, he’ll need a ton of help if he hopes to leave Martinsville as series champion.
Several other competitors will be looking to play spoiler in Saturday’s race. Among them is Matt Hirschman, who will be attempting to join his father Tony Hirschman as a Martinsville winner. Veteran NASCAR Cup Series stars Ryan Newman and Bobby Labonte are both entered to compete, as well. Newman will drive for John-Michael Shenette, while Labonte will again drive the No. 38 for Sadler-Stanley Racing.
Rising stars Luke Baldwin and Carson Loftin are both entered after competing last weekend at North Wilkesboro. Andy Seuss, a two-time champion of the former NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, is also entered.
Other notable entrants include Austin Beers, Craig Lutz, Tommy, Tyler and Trevor Catalano, Tyler Rypkema and Jake Lutz.
The complete entry list for Saturday’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 is available here.
Just like one season ago, the battle for the Modified Tour championship (likely) comes down to Justin Bonsignore vs. Ron Silk.
Unlike last year, when Silk entered the finale as the championship leader, it’s Bonsignore who enters Martinsville as the driver in command of the standings.
Thanks to consecutive wins at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park and North Wilkesboro Speedway, Bonsignore holds a 10-point edge on Silk entering Martinsville. If Bonsignore finishes fourth or better Saturday, he will win his fourth Modified Tour championship no matter what Silk does.
Neither driver has visited Victory Lane at Martinsville in the past, and both would love to add a grandfather clock to their personal trophy collections.
RELATED: Modified Tour championship scenarios
Patrick Emerling is also mathematically eligible to win the Modified Tour championship, but at 24 points behind Bonsignore, he’ll need a ton of help if he hopes to leave Martinsville as series champion.
Several other competitors will be looking to play spoiler in Saturday’s race. Among them is Matt Hirschman, who will be attempting to join his father Tony Hirschman as a Martinsville winner. Veteran NASCAR Cup Series stars Ryan Newman and Bobby Labonte are both entered to compete, as well. Newman will drive for John-Michael Shenette, while Labonte will again drive the No. 38 for Sadler-Stanley Racing.
Rising stars Luke Baldwin and Carson Loftin are both entered after competing last weekend at North Wilkesboro. Andy Seuss, a two-time champion of the former NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, is also entered.
Other notable entrants include Austin Beers, Craig Lutz, Tommy, Tyler and Trevor Catalano, Tyler Rypkema and Jake Lutz.
The complete entry list for Saturday’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 is available here.

Drivers battle for position during the 2023 running of the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 at Martinsville Speedway. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)
RACING REFERENCE
- Previous NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races at Martinsville
- NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drivers at Martinsville
Race | Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 |
Date | Saturday, October 26, 2024 |
Track | Martinsville Speedway |
Layout | 0.526-mile asphalt oval |
Location | Martinsville, Virginia |
Start time | 8 p.m. ET |
Laps | 200 |
Posted Awards | $120,734 |
Tickets | Here |
How To Watch | FloRacing |
SCHEDULE: Saturday, October 26… Final practice from 12:50 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET … Qualifying at 3:45 p.m. ET … Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 at 8 p.m. ET (FloRacing).
QUALIFYING: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time. Starting field for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 is limited to 32 starters including Provisional Positions.
TIRE ALLOTMENT: The maximum tire allotment available for this event is twelve (12) tires per team. All tires used for qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by Hoosier, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. All qualifying tires must remain in impound until released by NASCAR Officials. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. The tire change rule is two (2) tires, per caution period.
TIRE ALLOTMENT: The maximum tire allotment available for this event is twelve (12) tires per team. All tires used for qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by Hoosier, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. All qualifying tires must remain in impound until released by NASCAR Officials. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. The tire change rule is two (2) tires, per caution period.