Ron Silk just proved that part-time doesn't mean part-effort! Even though he's scaled back his schedule on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, he's absolutely dominating, leaving everyone else in the dust. In a stunning display of skill and strategy, Silk clinched his fourth victory of the 2025 season at Saturday's World Series 150 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. But here's the kicker: this win wasn't just another notch on his belt; it catapulted him into an elite group of drivers!
With this dominant performance, Silk became only the eighth driver ever in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour history to reach the incredible milestone of 30 wins. That's right, thirty! It's a testament to his enduring talent and the strength of his team.
The two-time series champion didn't just win; he dominated. He pulled away to secure the victory with a jaw-dropping eight-second lead at the checkered flag. While Silk admitted he didn't anticipate such a large margin of victory, he exuded confidence about his chances in the World Series 150 once he found his rhythm on the track.
"We just had a great car," Silk said, humbly acknowledging the crucial role of his team and equipment. "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's conquered Thompson's Victory Lane a staggering nine times! This track clearly brings out the best in him.
And this is the part most people miss... His victory at Thompson in 2023 with his current team, Haydt-Yannone Racing, was a pivotal moment. He was locked in a fierce championship battle with Justin Bonsignore, and that win proved to be the deciding factor in securing his second Modified Tour title. It showcased not just his skill, but his ability to perform under immense pressure.
Voluntarily reducing their race schedule this year meant that another championship wasn't in the cards for Silk and Haydt-Yannone Racing. But here's where it gets controversial... some might argue that focusing on a smaller number of races actually enhanced their performance. They remained one of the most formidable teams on the Tour. Silk not only boasts the most wins in 2025 but also leads in laps led, a statistic he further solidified at Thompson. Is it better to spread yourself thin or focus your energy? What do you think?
Silk expresses deep gratitude for the strong connection he shares with everyone at Haydt-Yannone Racing. He emphasizes the team's continued efficiency, even with their reduced schedule. Regardless of the number of races they participate in each season, Silk takes immense pride in knowing that he and Haydt-Yannone Racing consistently perform at the highest level. Their success speaks volumes about their dedication and teamwork.
“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 said. “Four [wins] was good for the amount we ran, and we’re happy with it.”
While Silk celebrated his dominant win, Matt Swanson secured a noteworthy second-place finish at Thompson. This achievement also earned Swanson the FloRacing Connecticut Challenge, a unique in-season championship designed for new teams or programs that haven't competed in the past three years across the three Thompson races. It's a fantastic initiative to encourage fresh talent and innovation in the sport!
Modified Tour points leader Austin Beers managed to extend his lead over Justin Bonsignore after the Thompson race. Beers patiently positioned himself behind Bonsignore for much of the second half of the race before finally making the pass to claim third place. A smart, strategic drive!
Matt Hirschman and Craig Lutz completed the top five. Justin Bonsignore, Kyle Bonsignore, Patrick Emerling, Tyler Rypkema, and Stephen Kopcik rounded out the top 10.
The 2025 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season is drawing to a close, with just one race remaining. The season finale, the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200, will take place at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 23. Don't miss the live coverage on FloRacing!
NWMT Thompson World Series 150
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 |
So, what are your thoughts? Did Silk's part-time schedule actually help him dominate, or would he have been even more unstoppable with a full-time commitment? And who are you rooting for in the final race at Martinsville? Let us know in the comments below!
