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View Full Version : Matt Hirschman Dominates Thompson Modified Mania Race Of Champions Tour: PART 1



RGeeProductions
09-10-2007, 12:23 PM
It was Modified Mania Weekend at Thompson International
Speedway, featuring the three major Modified touring series in the
Northeast. First on Sunday’s schedule was a 75-lap Race of Champions Asphalt
Modified Tour Combo Region event. Twenty-two Modifieds started the
race, with Matt Hirschman of Northampton, PA dominating the field to take
home the victory. Hirschman took the lead on lap 2 and was never
seriously challenged as he sailed to Victory Lane.
“It helped that we had a good draw (third) for our starting
position today,” explained Hirschman after the race. “Several times this
year I’ve picked twelve and it would have made it harder to get to the
front, although I still think we could have won. I felt after qualifying
yesterday we had the fastest car. I put a lot of emphasis on this race
this year because last year here I only had three days to turn the car
around for Oswego and it showed. We ended up finishing second here last
year and think if I had had the time to do more and take more chances I
could have won. Coming here this year I came to win, we did what was
needed, and we got it done. Now we can go to Oswego for the 200 in two
weeks, a race I would like to win even more than this one, with some
momentum.
“There is no doubt my experience here at Thompson paid off today.
When you come here for the first or second time, you’re at a
disadvantage compared to where I’m at now. But Ricky Kluth surprised me. He ran
really good – I was running hard out front and he wasn’t far behind.
That says a lot for what he did today. The guys I really thought I would
have to beat would have been the guys with experience here, like Woody
Pitkat, Carl Pasteryak and Eric Beers, but it ended up being two RoC
guys (Kluth and Pete Brittain) right behind me so that says a lot for
those two guys. That speaks highly of RoC drivers.”
In Saturday qualifying Hirschman won the pole with a fast lap of
18.760 seconds followed by Lee Sherwood, Eric Beers, Steven Reed and Pete
Brittain. In the redraw for feature starting positions, veteran NASCAR
Modified Tour racer Carl Pasteryak picked the pole position flanked by
RoC regular Rick Kluth. Hirschman would line up third on the grid.
At the drop of the green flag, Kluth took the lead but Hirschman
powered past him on the second circuit with NASCAR Modified Tour driver
Woody Pitkat following to second as Kluth settled into third. Hirschman
would pull away by several car lengths but that margin would evaporate as
True Value Modified Racing Series driver Bryan Shumway spun in turn
four. Eric Beers was brought to pit road by RoC officials to check for a
possible oil leak and pulled behind the wall to end his day early.
On the restart Hirschman once again pulled away by a comfortable
margin over Pitkat and Kluth with Billy Putney moving to fifth behind
Pasteryak. On the 33rd lap Kluth would pass Pitkat as the Hillbilly
Racing #79 began to fade back in the field. At the halfway mark Hirschman’s
lead over Kluth had grown to twelve car lengths with Pasteryak, Putney
and Sherwood filling out the top-five as Pitkat had slipped back to
ninth. Brittain was up to fifth past a fading Sherwood on the 43rd
circuit. Caution was displayed once again on lap 45 as Shumway stopped along
the turn two wall.
After a lap 50 caution for a spin by Butch Perry, Hirschman would
once again pull away from Kluth on the restart. Pasteryak was fading
quickly and was passed by Putney, Brittain and six-time NASCAR Modified
Tour champion Mike Stefanik. Caution was back out for fluid on the
track on lap 58 and Putney was the culprit, ending his race. Hirschman now
led Kluth, Brittain, Stefanik and Pasteryak. Pasteryak continued to
fade on the restart and tangled with John Markovic off turn four to bring
out the caution once more. Sherwood was sent to the rear of the field
for making contact with Pasteryak and elected to pit, joined there by
Pasteryak and Markovic. Under the caution Stefanik lost power and was
pushed behind the wall.
The race went back to green on lap 59 and Hirschman maintained
his lead over Kluth as a resurgent Pitkat passed Brittain for third. With
15 laps to go Hirschman had pulled away by several car lengths as
Pitkat battled with Kluth for second. On the 69th lap Brittain reclaimed
third from Pitkat and closed in on Kluth. Hirschman was well out front as
the battle for second was heating up. Brittain would complete the pass
on lap 73. At the checkered flag it was Hirschman by a sizeable margin
over Brittain, Kluth, Pitkat and a fast-closing Sherwood. Rounding out
the top-ten were Daren Scherer, Phil Slater, Pasteryak, Gary McDonald
and Sean Patterson. By virtue of his win, Hirschman moved into the RoC
Combo Region point lead.

Sunday, 09/09/2007
Thompson International Speedway Modified Mania
Race of Champions 75-lap Combo Region Modified Feature Finish

1. Matt Hirschman Northampton, PA
2. Pete Brittain Oakhurst, NJ
3. Rick Kluth Brockport, NY
4. Woody Pitkat Stafford, CT
5. Lee Sherwood Binghamton, NY
6. Daren Scherer Binghamton, NY
7. Phil Slater Owego, NY
8. Carl Pasteryak Lisbon, CT
9. Gary Mc Donald Ronkonkoma, NY
10. Sean Patterson Wading River, NY
11. Doug Reaume Syracuse, NY
12. Bryan Shumway Belchertown, MA
13. Butch Perry Asltaway, RI
14. Mike Stefanik Coventry, RI
15. John Markovic Bethlehem, PA
16. Billy Putney East Aurora, NY
17. Steven Reed Freehold, NJ
18. Lenny Fisher Medford, NY
19. Ken Bouchard Thompson, CT
20. Kenny Barry Preston, CT
21. Eric Beers Northampton, PA
22. Matt Clemens Slatington, PA

Lap Leaders: Rick Kluth 1; Matt Hirschman 2-75
Hoosier Tire Hard Luck Award: Eric Beers
Hoosier Tire Hard Charger: Sean Patterson
Rookie of the Race: Steven Reed

Roc PR/Bruce Boucher