Patrick Boniferro Dominates and Comes From 10th Place to Win 2018 TNT Super Series Championship

Boniferro gets first ever event wins and earns championship by one point!

NEW YORK – Championship weekend for the 2018 Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series on Sept 14-16 was something nobody would have predicted. Patrick Boniferro from Niagara Falls, Ontario found his way to all three final rounds, winning two and at the same time taking the 2018 TNT Super Series championship.

Boniferro came into the weekend in 10th place, 99 points behind the leader. Never in the 12 year history of the TNTSS has a driver moved from 10th to win the championship this late in the season.

Friday at Lancaster Dragway presented by Jan-Cen Motorsports – Boniferro methodically worked his way through the field taking out #2 in the points Jen Guenther. He then laid a .513 light on points leader Chris VanBaalen. Round three he was 9 total against past Lancaster track champion Jeff Sobczynski which sent him to a bye run and then into the final.

There he faced Mark Herbold and was .007 behind at the hit but lit another beacon with a 7.005 to Herbold’s too fast 6.993. This was Boniferro’s first win in his young drag racing career.

Then the series moved on to Empire Dragway for a double presented by Sam LoVetro Automotive.

Saturday – Boniferro kept right on rolling starting with Reid Ricketson in round one. In round two he got lucky when last year’s TNTSS champion Tom Coonly went .004 red. Then he paired up against seasoned Hot Rod racer Mike Schiberl. An advantage at the hit carried him to the semi’s. Former TNTSS champ Ted Barnes was next to get in Boniferro’s way. Barnes was ahead 003 at the hit (.015 to .012), but went too fast taking .004 stripe (needed to take .0035 to win) and running 6.999 to Boniferro’s 7.001.

This final had him paired with current points leader Chris VanBaalen. VanBaalen went .003 red and handed the win to Boniferro. Boniferro was ready though with a .009 light and 7.003 through the lights.

Sunday – This is where things get interesting. Boniferro now sat only 19 points behind VanBaalen for the championship. Everyone was paying attention. VanBaalen qualified better in 3rd while Boniferro was 9th. That opened up the gap to 31 points.

Both drivers got through round one and as the ladder would have it, they faced each other in round two. VanBaalen with lane choice turned the tree trip zip red and that sent Boniferro to face one of the best in JJ Jablonski for round three. Jablonski had .022 in the bank off the hit but Boniferro took the stripe by .005 for the W. In the semi’s Boniferro faced Joe Karosik – Double O Joe they call him. It was Boniferro who was .008 and got his 14th win light of the weekend. That round win put him in the points lead by one point.

Boniferro went to the final for the third day in a row where he lost to Pete Maduri Jr with these numbers – Boniferro .009 6.976 to Maduri’s .006 6.983. Only .004 at the stripe.

“I want to thank Kevin and Laurie Orr for offering and trusting me with their car this year and making it to every race,” said Boniferro. “I wanted to get the car to a winner’s circle this year but never expected this!”

“I want to thank my dad (Joe Boniferro) and Ted Barnes for the great series. Also thank my family for their support.” Boniferro was quick to thank Jan-Cen Motorsports and Sam LoVetro Automotive for sponsoring the races this weekend. “And of course, Joe’s Transmission – the series title sponsor. I can’t forget Scott Jahren for helping me find a baseline with throttle stop setups at the beginning of the year. And there are so many sponsors and supporters of this series – I can’t list them all – But thank you!”

Patrick Boniferro earned himself his first Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series championship by defeating some very tough competitors and taking out the points leader three times in one weekend!

Boniferro will take home $4000 in cash and prizes at the upcoming TNT Super Series Awards Night. Last year the series gave away over $15000 in awards overall that night. Stay tuned to www.tntsuperseries.com or www.facebook.com/TNTSuperSeries for date and location.