The ARCA Menards Series kicks off its 2024 campaign with the Daytona ARCA 200. The entry list is huge this year as 50 cars will try to make the 40-car field. One such driver getting his first superspeedway experience is three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore, who will make his ARCA and Daytona debut behind the wheel of the Rette Jones Racing's No. 30 car.
Bonsignore would have never made it to this point without the Road to Daytona program, which invites seven NASCAR Roots drivers to a pre-season test of an ARCA car at Daytona International Speedway. Bonsignore's performance in that test in January led to his opportunity in this weekend's ARCA 200.
Then again, he wasn't NASCAR's original choice from the Whelen Modified Tour. Ron Silk, who bested Bonsignore for the 2023 Modified Championship, was the first choice, but he had prior commitments, paving the way for Bonsignore to put down laps at Daytona.
Fast forward a few weeks, and Bonsignore, with some help from fellow ARCA driver Andy Seuss, got in touch with Mark Rette according to ARCARACING.com's Adam Fenwick.
"He gave me a lot of insight on what to look for at the pre-race practice and teams and this and that," Bonsignore said of Seuss. "He said, 'You should call Mark Rette. I think he's in need of a driver.' I made a call to David Lewis at Roush Yates Racing Engines, my engine builder on the Modified Tour, who does a lot of ARCA stuff. He reached out to Mark on my behalf immediately."
Rette, who is the co-owner of Rette Jones Racing, which famously had actor-turned-racer Frankie Muniz run full-time in the No. 30 in 2023, knew of Bonsignore's success on the Modified Tour, but other than that had not heard much about him.
That quickly changed after Lewis connected the owner and driver, as Rette quickly learned about Bonsignore's three championships and that he sits fourth on the all-time wins list in Whelen Modified Tour series.
Now Bonsignore will get a chance to prove himself in a good ride, which Muniz piloted to a 4th-place finish in the 2023 ARCA championship. Rette believes Bonsignore's modified experience, combined with his maturity as a driver, could give him a great opportunity to win.
"My expectations are high. I think this guy can go compete," Rette said. "Strength is in numbers with Venturini obviously having five cars, Rev Racing having two cars. Strength is in numbers when it comes to superspeedway racing. But I think if we put ourselves in the right position I think we can go down there and compete and have a shot at it. It would be a storybook thing for Justin. A modified guy comes to Daytona, races at New Smyrna in a Modified Tour car on Saturday night, and a week later he's competing for a win at Daytona. How cool is that story?"
It certainly would be special.
