Motorsports history has no shortage of fascinating race wins. Saturday morning's Modified feature may have topped them all as Tyler Rypkema crashed while crossed the finish line.
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The New York native ran in second during overtime of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. In order to score his first win, he needed to pass four-time series champion Justin Bonsignore.
Rypkema nudged Bonsignore from behind before taking the white flag, but he could not get his competitor loose enough to make the race-winning pass. He ultimately had to dive onto the apron to make a pass on the inside. Yet, the battle was not over as Bonsignore tried to make a pass on the outside coming to the checkered flag.
Rypkema went to block, which led to contact between the two drivers. He slammed into the outside wall as the right front wheel flew off the No. 3 entry. He remained in front of Bonsignore while sliding across the finish line to score his first career win.
😮 Unreal finish at @NHMS, Tyler Rypkema is now a Whelen Modified Tour Winner! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/PoiOHU5FSt
— FloRacing (@FloRacing) September 20, 2025
"It would have been more exciting if we didn't tear up the car coming across the start-finish line because we now still have some more work to do," Rypkema said about his finish.
"Kinda funny — you look back at history, and you see pictures of (nine-time champion) Richie Evans crossing the finish line at Martinsville to win the race (in) similar fashion. You know, into the wall crossing the start-finish line."
Rypkema entered the New Hampshire Motor Speedway race with nine career top-five finishes. His previous career-best marks were a pair of runner-ups at Martinsville Speedway and Jennerstown Speedway.
He surpassed this mark in his 83rd career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour start. He finally scored his first career win, and he beat one of the sport's greatest drivers to accomplish this feat. Now, he just has some more work to do before his next race.
