Ron Silk just proved that part-time doesn't mean part-effort. He dominated at Thompson Speedway, securing his 30th NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory! Even though he's running a limited schedule in 2025, Silk is ending the season with more wins than any other driver. Let's dive into how he pulled it off, and why this victory is more significant than you might think.
Silk's triumph came at Saturday's World Series 150 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. He led for half the race, showcasing a performance that can only be described as masterful. This victory marks his fourth of the year and cements his place among the elite, making him only the eighth driver in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour history to reach the coveted 30-win milestone. This is huge – it's like joining a Hall of Fame of speed and skill!
The two-time series champion didn't just win; he dominated. He cruised to the checkered flag with a staggering eight-second lead. While Silk himself admitted he didn't expect such a wide margin of victory, he felt confident about his chances once he settled into a rhythm. "We just had a great car," Silk stated. "We didn’t qualify great in 11th, but I knew the way it practiced and even how it drove in qualifying that I’d be able to get it to the front. It was probably a weird race for the fans, and I’m sure they would have liked to see some excitement there toward the end, but it was pretty good from my seat."
Thompson Speedway holds a special place in Silk's heart and career. It's where he scored his first three Modified Tour victories back in 2007 and 2008. Now, he boasts a total of nine victories at this iconic track. Think of it as his home away from home, a place where he consistently finds success. And this is the part most people miss... Thompson isn't just a track to Silk; it's a symbol of his journey and evolution as a driver.
His first Thompson victory with Haydt-Yannone Racing in 2023 was particularly memorable. He was locked in a fierce championship battle with Justin Bonsignore, and that win proved crucial in securing his second Modified Tour title. That victory wasn't just about winning a race; it was about strategically positioning himself for the ultimate prize.
Even though Silk and Haydt-Yannone Racing intentionally skipped several races this year, effectively ruling out another championship run, they've proven to be one of the most formidable teams on the Tour. Silk not only leads in wins for 2025 but also in laps led, a statistic he further solidified at Thompson. This speaks volumes about their consistency and raw speed.
Silk is quick to credit the strong chemistry within Haydt-Yannone Racing for their continued success, even with a reduced schedule. He takes immense pride in knowing that he and the team remain at the top of their game, regardless of how many races they compete in. "I thought there were a couple [of races] we could have won earlier in the year, but you don’t want to get greedy," Silk confessed. "Four [wins] was good for the amount we ran, and we’re happy with it."
Matt Swanson followed Silk across the finish line, securing a distant second place. But here's where it gets controversial... Swanson's runner-up finish also clinched him the FloRacing Connecticut Challenge, a unique in-season championship designed for new teams or programs that haven't competed in the past three years. Some might argue that this is a great way to encourage new talent, while others might see it as a separate competition that distracts from the overall tour championship. What do you think?
Modified Tour points leader Austin Beers finished third, extending his lead over Justin Bonsignore. Beers patiently stalked Bonsignore for much of the second half of the race before making a decisive pass. Matt Hirschman and Craig Lutz rounded out the top five. Justin Bonsignore, Kyle Bonsignore, Patrick Emerling, Tyler Rypkema, and Stephen Kopcik completed the top 10.
With only one race remaining, the 2025 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion will be crowned at Martinsville Speedway on October 23rd. The Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 promises to be an exciting conclusion to the season, with live coverage available on FloRacing.
NWMT Thompson World Series 150 Results
Thompson Speedway
October 11, 2025
| Pos. | No. | Name | Sponsor | Laps | Diff. |
|------|-----|----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------|--------|
| 1 | 16 | Ron Silk | Blue Mountain Machine/Future Homes | 150 | |
| 2 | 25 | Matt Swanson | Ceravolo’s Auto/Mully’s Auto Repair/Casella Snowplows | 150 | 8.122 |
| 3 | 64 | Austin Beers | G&G Eletric Supply/Dell Electric/Fastrack Electric/Lumiere Electrical/Andrew James Int/AP Marquadt & | 150 | 12.447 |
| 4 | 60 | Matt Hirschman | Elite Towing/Bar Harbor Bank and Trust | 150 | 13.432 |
| 5 | 46 | Craig Lutz | Riverhead Building Supply | 150 | 14.936 |
| 6 | 51 | Justin Bonsignore | Phoenix Communications Inc | 150 | 15.663 |
| 7 | 22 | Kyle Bonsignore | MTT/ChaLew Performance/Munns Auto | 150 | 19.097 |
| 8 | 1 | Patrick Emerling | Fleetworks Inc. | 149 | 1 Lap |
| 9 | 3 | Tyler Rypkema | USNE Power/SYP/Northeast Drilling | 149 | 1 Lap |
| 10 | 21 | Stephen Kopcik* | Newtown Pools/Wanick Construction | 149 | 1 Lap |
| 11 | 17 | Anthony Nocella | Keene Towing & Recovery/Copart/Xtreme Autobody/Sontag Motorsports/Bells Septic | 149 | 1 Lap |
| 12 | 44 | Chase Dowling | S&S Paving/Harshaw Paving | 149 | 1 Lap |
| 13 | 56 | Trevor Catalano | USNE Power | 148 | 2 Laps |
| 14 | 82 | Woody Pitkat | Horton Ave Materials/Gunsmoke Stables Racing/Metro Door Boston/Hartford | 148 | 2 Laps |
| 15 | 55 | Teddy Hodgdon IV* | Montanari Fuel/Business Time Motorsports | 148 | 2 Laps |
| 16 | 11 | Eric Berndt | Ferguson Motorsports LLC | 147 | 3 Laps |
| 17 | 54 | Tommy Catalano | FX Caprara/USNE | 147 | 3 Laps |
| 18 | 18 | Ken Heagy | Speed 77 | 145 | 5 Laps |
| 19 | 8 | John Michael-Shenette | USNE Power Midwest/Eighty-Two Services/Heinz Performance/Anglers Choice | 145 | 5 Laps |
| 20 | 63 | Dylan Slepian | Eastport Feeds | 144 | 6 Laps |
| 21 | 29 | Mike Marshall | MLM Diagnostics/Jusczak Electric | 140 | 10 Laps|
| 22 | 66 | Timmy Solomito | USNE/Natural Design/FX Caprara/McKinney Construction | 27 | 123 Laps|
| 23 | 58 | Eric Goodale | GAF Roofing | 27 | 123 Laps|
| 24 | 12 | Brian Sones* | DW Machine & Fabricating Co./Bergen Industries | 26 | 124 Laps|
| 25 | 20 | Max Zachem | USNE/Lu-Mac’s | 17 | 133 Laps|
*Denotes Rookie
So, what do you think about Silk's dominant performance and his status as a part-time racer? Does it diminish his achievement in any way, or does it make it even more impressive? And what about the FloRacing Connecticut Challenge – is it a good addition to the tour, or does it take away from the overall championship focus? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
