STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. — October 2, 2026 — Jon McKennedy strengthened his grip on the Monaco Modified Series championship Friday night, scoring a $10,000 victory in the 53rd running of the NAPA Auto Parts Fall Final at Stafford Motor Speedway.
McKennedy wheeled the No. 79 to the front of the 29-car field and was there when it mattered most, taking the checkered flag in the 80-lap main event over Ron Silk. Kyle Bonsignore finished third, with Ronnie Williams and Austin Beers rounding out the top five.
Brett Meservey crossed the line sixth, followed by Noah Korner, Chris Pasteryak, Justin Bonsignore and Teddy Hodgdon.
Before the green flag fell, Matt Hirschman showed the way in Riverhead Building Supply qualifying, capturing the pole position. Hirschman then drew the No. 5 pill, inverting the five fastest qualifiers for the start of the Fall Final.
Hodgdon took advantage of the five-car invert to grab the early lead, but McKennedy wasted little time moving forward. He climbed to second by lap three and powered around Hodgdon following a lap-seven caution to take command. McKennedy remained out front through the halfway point as the race settled into a long green-flag run.
A lap-46 caution sent the leaders to pit road for a permitted one-tire change and adjustments, with McKennedy returning to the track fourth behind Hodgdon, Williams and Silk. McKennedy quickly went back to work, moving into second shortly after the restart before eventually reclaiming the lead.
A final caution with 71 laps in the books set up a late-race dash to the finish. McKennedy was untouchable over the closing laps, taking the checkered flag ahead of Silk. Kyle Bonsignore, Williams and Beers completed the top five.
In addition to the $10,000 winner’s share, McKennedy earned the $250 Constantine Paving & Sealing Most Laps Led Award and a $500 Creative Racing Products gift card before celebrating in Sign Pro Victory Lane.
Woody Pitkat earned the $500 Van Horst General Contractors Hard Charger Award for his charge through the field.
The Stafford victory marked McKennedy’s third Monaco Modified Series win of the 2026 season, giving him valuable momentum as the championship chase heads into its final two events.
Friday’s race also tightened the focus on the $50,000 USNEPower/Union Insurance Group Points Championship. McKennedy leaves Stafford with 303 points and a 13-point advantage over Silk, who sits second with 290. Williams remains firmly in the championship hunt in third with 286 points, 17 behind McKennedy. Kyle Bonsignore sits fourth with 249 points, while Chris Pasteryak rounds out the top five with 224.
The battle for the USNEPower Energizer Zone is just as competitive. With McKennedy, Williams, Bonsignore and Silk all remaining inside the championship top five following Stafford, McKennedy and Williams now lead with seven races apiece in the Zone, followed by Bonsignore with six and Silk with five. The driver who spends the most race weeks inside the championship top five will collect the $2,000 USNEPower Energizer Zone bonus at season’s end.
With just two races remaining, McKennedy, Silk and Williams continue to lead the championship battle into the World Series at Thompson, separated by only 17 points.
Those who joined us at Stafford — or watched the action live on FloRacing — haven’t seen everything yet. Be sure to follow the Monaco Modified Series on social media in the coming days for even more spectacular drone views from the NAPA Fall Final, along with previously unseen onboard camera footage that puts fans right in the middle of the action.
The Monaco Modified Series returns to action Saturday, October 10, at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park for the 64th Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing. The Series will headline Saturday’s portion of the World Series weekend with a 75-lap event on Thompson’s high-banked 5/8-mile oval.
Following Thompson, just one event will remain on the 2026 Monaco Modified Series schedule — the USNEPower Haunted Hundred XL at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday, October 24.
Photo courtesy of Tom Morris Racing Photography.