XFINITY: Justin Bonsignore’s engine lets go on early restart at Pocono
by Brock Beard / LASTCAR.info Editor-in-Chief
SCREENSHOT: The CW, @TheCW_Sports
Justin Bonsignore picked up the 2nd last-place finish of his NASCAR XFINITY Series career in Saturday’s Pocono Mountains 250 at the Pocono Raceway when his #19 TW Cable LLC Toyota lost the engine after 7 of 100 laps.
The finish, which came in Bonsignore’s sixth series start, was his second of the season and first since April 19, 2025 at Rockingham, six races ago. In the XFINITY Series’ last-place rankings, it was the 35th for the #19, the 171st for Toyota, and the 289th from engine issues. Across NASCAR’s top three series, it was the 89th for the #19, the 426th for Toyota, and the 1,159th from engine woes.
Saturday’s race marked Bonsignore’s first XFINITY race since he was disqualified for a technical infraction following his mid-race crash at Rockingham. In that time, he’s continued to focus on his full-time effort in NASCAR’s Whelen Modified Tour, where he’s finshed no worse than 11th in the season’s first five races. That streak was capped just last week, when Bonsignore won the pole and led 93 of 207 laps en route to victory at New York’s quarter-mile Riverhead Raceway.
Bonsignore was also one of 38 entrants for the race, meaning all would qualify for the main event. In practice, he ranked 23rd with a speed of 56.091 seconds (160.454mph) after running a session-high 24 laps, then improved to 17th in qualifying with a lap of 55.083 seconds (163.390mph). He was sponsored by TW Cable, LLC, a New York based telecommunications company which previously sponsored Landon Cassill when he drove for StarCom Racing’s Cup Series team.
Starting in the 38th and final spot was Logan Bearden, who rejoined Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen in the #53 Chevrolet, now sponsored by KitchenAid. Bearden was unable to turn a lap in qualifying after he broke a sway arm in practice, nor did 37th-place Kyle Sieg, whose hood flew up over his windshield, damaging his #28 Shop Shades Ford. The slowest turned lap was by Leland Honeyman, Jr., whose #70 LH Construction Chevrolet had a conspicuous lack of hood and quarter-panel sponsorship. Honeyman spun during his qualifying lap, which clocked in at just 100.496 seconds (89.556mph).
Bearden incurred a redundant tail-end penalty for repairs to his car, joined by 37th-place Kyle Sieg and the 35th-place starting #07 Camel Beach Outdoor Waterpark Chevrolet of Patrick Emerling, who received unapproved adjustments in the second round of his weekend double-header with the Truck Series. Also docked was 16th-place Harrison Burton, whose crew discovered an engine issue on the #25 DEX Imaging Ford, requiring a last-minute swap.
When the green flag dropped, the last car across the line belonged to Dawson Cram, whose #74 Realty.com Chevrolet for Mike Harmon Racing finally made its first start since Las Vegas. Heading into Saturday’s race, the team had since stacked up six DNQs, a withdrawal at Bristol, and an unfounded rumor on social media that the team was shutting down. Harmon’s team, which last attempted the race at Charlotte, has actually since expanded back into the Truck Series for the first time since 2018. On Lap 3, Patrick Emerling bounced off the wall exiting Turn 1, damaging the right-rear of his #07. He remained on track until the first caution fell on Lap 4, when Daniel Dye spun his #10 Chevrolet in Turn 3. Under the resulting caution, Dye took the spot on Lap 5, and Emerling came down pit road for repairs. The driver remarked he likely got into the marbles coming off the corner.
On pit road, the SS-Green Light Racing crew had trouble applying the bear bond to Emerling’s damaged car, the crew chief remarking that the crew was wrinkling it. They were about to check for concrete dust on the right-side wheels but sent him back out to stay on the lead lap, though now in last place on Lap 6. Emerling was called back to pit road on Lap 7 for right-side tires and more bear-bond as the previous patch job had come apart, loosening the right-rear quarter panel. This stop was made on Lap 8, Emerling peeling off onto pit road just as the leaders formed up for the restart. Seconds later, the team’s spotter said, “They’re wrecking,” and the caution was out again.
In reality, the issue was Bonsignore, whose #19 erupted in smoke heading into Turn 1. He quickly pulled out of line to the inside, then pulled to a stop on the apron of the corner, near the emergency crews. The driver climbed out, and the car was soon towed behind the wall, headed to the garage through the access roads. By Lap 10, Bonsignore had dropped to last behind Emerling, and the car was brought past the DGM Racing x JIM hauler for Ryan Ellis’ #71 team. There, the crew examined the car and reported “the pipes are wet.” The team said they were done on Lap 13, and on Lap 18, NASCAR declared Bonsignore the first driver out of the race.
Engine Engine Number 9(teen).
— 4 and Fuel Podcast (@4andFuelPodcast) June 21, 2025
Justin Bonsignore's day comes to an end quickly after blowing up 💥
Also, some wild fan jumps up alongside the tow truck en route to the garage.#NASCAR | #ExplorePocono250 pic.twitter.com/4MtfhBqmXH
Taking the 37th spot was Kris Wright, who cited suspension issues for his #5 First National Bank, Corp. Chevrolet pulling off the track at 69 laps. Sheldon Cree was involved in two separate accidents in his #00 Road Ranger Ford, ultimately falling out after he slapped the inside wall in the next-to-last caution of the day. Austin Hill incurred damage to the right-rear of his #21 Global Industrial Chevrolet during a pileup on Lap 33, then finished four laps down. One lap down in 34th came Carson Ware in the Gase team’s #35 Costa Oil Ford.
LASTCAR STATISTICS
*This marked the third time the #19 finished last in a XFINITY Series race at Pocono. Driving the #19 Menards Toyota for JGR, Brandon Jones took the spot in back-to-back years, crashing after 6 laps on June 1, 2019, then crashing on the opening lap on June 28, 2020.
THE BOTTOM FIVE
38) #19-Justin Bonsignore / 7 laps / engine
37) #5-Kris Wright / 69 laps / suspension
36) #00-Sheldon Creed / 88 laps / crash
35) #21-Austin Hill / 95 laps / running
34) #35-Carson Ware / 98 laps / running
2025 LASTCAR XFINITY SERIES OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Joe Gibbs Racing, Kaulig Racing (4)
2nd) Sam Hunt Racing (2)
3rd) Alpha Prime Racing, Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen, JR Motorsports, Our Motorsports, SS-Green Light Racing, Young’s Motorsports (1)
2025 LASTCAR XFINITY SERIES MANUFACTURER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Chevrolet (10)
2nd) Toyota (6)
2025 LASTCAR XFINITY SERIES DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
