EPPING, N.H. — Veteran Modified ace Matt Hirschman, nicknamed “Big Money”, was back to his winning ways on Saturday night at Star Speedway. Hirschman scored a victory with a winning purse of over $14,000 in the 10th annual SBM classic at Star in the third race of the Tri Track Open Modified Series season.
By Souza Media/Kyle Souza
The win was the first of the season in Tri Track competition for Hirschman — a five-time series champion — and also his third since Tri Track took over the SBM event. It was Hirschman’s 13th in his 32 career Tri Track starts — 10 victories more than any other driver.
As a driver who is known for tire maintenance, Hirschman’s strategy was nearly the opposite with all of the extra lap money bonuses on the line. After winning his qualifying heat race, Hirschman took part in a 12-car redraw to determine the starting lineup and started the race from the pole position. He led the first 78 laps, essentially unchallenged, before he took his car to pit road for a fresh Hoosier tire.
When he did — nearly half of the rest of the field — who had all pitted earlier in the race — stayed on the track. That sent Hirschman back to the middle of the pack, where he restarted 13th. He would slice his way into the top-10 by lap 85, then into the top-five on lap 95. He chased down leader Jon McKennedy and took the top spot on lap 112, then held off the field following a late flurry of cautions, and one red flag, to score the victory.
Behind him, McKennedy settled for second, with Chase Dowling third, Ronnie Williams fourth and Ron Silk fifth. The run marked the third consecutive top-five for Silk to open the Tri Track season, which gives him a comfortable lead in the championship standings at the halfway point of the six-race schedule.
Max Zachem, Justin Bonsignore, Brian Robie, Dana DiMatteo and NASCAR Cup Series regular Ryan Preece finished the top-10. Sam Rameau, who won the Tri Track season opener at Monadnock Speedway on May 1 and entered the race second in the championship standings, struggled most of the day and finished 23rd.
Through the Pepsi Challenge, the following drivers earned $300 for winning qualifying heat and consi races: Chase Dowling, Brian Robie, Jon McKennedy, Matt Hirschman, Earl Paules, Cam McDermott and Anthony Nocella.
The Tri Track Open Modified Series returns to the track at Monadnock Speedway for race four of the six-race schedule on Saturday, August 14. For more information on the series, visit tritrackmodifieds.com and follow on social media.
RESULTS: TRI TRACK OPEN MODIFIED SERIES SBM X: STAR SPEEDWAY: JULY 24, 2021:
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- Matt Hirschman
- Jon McKennedy
- Chase Dowling
- Ronnie Williams
- Ron Silk
- Max Zachem
- Justin Bonsignore
- Brian Robie
- Dana DiMatteo
- Ryan Preece
- Andy Jankowiak
- Chris Pasteryak
- Dylan Izzo
- Earl Paules
- Les Hinckley
- Kirk Alexander
- Anthony Sesely
- Cam McDermott
- Richard Savary
- Woody Pitkat
- Matt Swanson
- Ryan Doucette
- Sam Rameau
- Anthony Nocella
- Kyle James
- Patrick Emerling
- Eric Berndt
- Austin Kochenash
- Josh Cantara
