Tim Gullo (Race of Champions Super Stock); Paulie Hartwig, III (Race of Champions Sportsman Modified); Adriana Purvis (Race of Champions FOAR SCORE Four Cylinder Dash Series and TJ Cochrane (Hobby Stock / Street Stock Challenge) all Winners at Shangri-La II Speedway
BARTON, N.Y. (October 26, 2026) — Matt Hirschman of Northampton, PA, took the lead in the late stages of the 125-lap 76th annual Al Gerber Trophy Race of Champions this past Sunday afternoon at Shangri-La II Speedway near Owego, NY and went on to his 11th victory in “The Greatest Tradition in Modified Racing” at Shangri-La II Speedway. It was the 5th different track that Hirschman accomplished this including Oswego (NY) Speedway; Chemung (NY) Speedrome; Lake Erie Speedway in North East, PA and Thompson (CT) Speedway.
Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, NY, started from the pole and was quickly passed by Jake Lutz of Hamburg, NY, who went on to lead a great deal of the race before Hirschman took over.
“We had speed from the time we unloaded,” offered Hirschman from victory lane. “It turned into a great day for us. It is very humbling to win these races and to do it at all of the tracks we have been able to do it at is incredible. My team did an awesome job today. I have to thank my family, my team, everyone and the fans for coming out. It was a great day for all of us which capped off another great Race of Champions season.”
Lutz raced his way back to finish second passing Ron Silk of Norwalk, CT to finish second. Silk was third. Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, NY finished fourth with Andrew Lewis, Jr., the 2026 Race of Champions Sportsman Modified Series champion, rounding out the top-five. Hirschman posted the fastest time in green-white-checker qualifying.
Tim Gullo of Elmira, NY won the Race of Champions Super Stock Series event on Sunday afternoon along with the Series championship.
Trisha Connolly of Palmerton, PA was crowned the Race of Champions FOAR SCORE Four Cylinder Dash Series champion.
HARTWIG; COCHRANE AND ADRIANA PURVIS SCORE SATURDAY VICTORIES
The Race of Champions Sportsman Modified Series wrapped their season Saturday afternoon at Shangri-La II Speedway. Paulie Hartwig, III of Galloway, NJ, captured the victory in the 50-lap event. Hartwig topped Andy Jankowiak and Mason Hanel of Clarence Center, NY.
TJ Cochrane of Cheektowaga, NY, won the first-ever Hobby Stock / Street Stock challenge.
Adriana Purvis of Elmira, NY, won her first Race of Champions FOAR SCORE Four Cylinder Dash Series race.
This event concluded the 2026 Race of Champions “Family of Series” season. There is a Championship Celebration tentatively scheduled for Saturday, February 27, 2026.
Full unofficial results from Shangri-La II Speedway “Championship Saturday” 10/24/26; http://www.rocmodifiedseries.com/schedules/event/654654
Full unofficial results from Shangri-La II Speedway “76th annual Al Gerber Trophy Race of Champions 10/25/26”; http://www.rocmodifiedseries.com/schedules/event/654651
The Race of Champions is a premier sanctioning body for Modified and Stock Car racing on both asphalt and dirt surfaces throughout the Northeast, with events across New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Its primary marketing partners include Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Racing Tire, Racing America,Airport Collision, Rocket Performance, Waddell Communications, Image X Design, Sherwood Racing Wheels, DirtTrackDigest.com, and Speed Sport.
The 77th Annual Race of Champions Weekend will take place in 2027, continuing its tradition as the second-longest-running auto racing event in North America—second only to the Indianapolis 500.
For more information, contact Race of Champions Media at media@rocmodifiedseries.com
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