6/19/05
MATT HIRSCHMAN WINS FATHER’S DAY ROC MOD TOUR THRILLER AT WCIS
The Sunoco Race of Champions Modified Tour returned to the Wyoming County International Speedway for a special Father’s Day appearance. Twenty-nine of the top Modified teams from New York, Pennsylvania, and beyond jammed the pits for what turned out to be one of the most action packed Modified races in recent history at WCIS.
Eric Beers and Rick Kluth would get lucky in the redraw for the top 12 starting spots, as they drew the top two starting spots and would lead the field of 28 to the green flag for the 75-lap event. Beers would get the jump from the pole position on the start and bring along Tom McGrath into second after starting directly behind Beers.
The top two pulled away from the field until the race’s first caution on lap 13 after Matt Parsons spun in turn two. Following the double-file restart, McGrath took the lead from Beers on lap 15.
The yellow flag would come out again on laps 16 and 17. During the caution on lap 16, Jan Leaty retired from the race after a piece of asphalt from the racing surface knocked a hole in his radiator. On lap 17, Todd Smith would lose the handle of his car going down the backstretch and spin out just moments after passing Zane Zeiner for third.
Racing resumed on lap 18 with McGrath and Beers still in front, but behind them there was plenty of passing going on. Both Pete Brittain and George Kent would start to surface into the top five as they were running third and fourth by lap 30. Brittain, however, would start to slip back around the halfway point as some of the cars that started deep in the field were pressing their way to the front.
Earl Paules and Tony Hanbury started 18th and 20th respectively but made large strides to land in the top five by the halfway mark. On lap 40, Pete Brittian would spin out on the front stretch and head to the pits with a flat tire. Matt Hirschman of Northampton, PA pitted during that yellow flag period as well.
With 25 laps to go, Paules would get by Beers for second while Hanbury would take third place on the following lap. The yellow flag would fly for a seventh time on lap 53 after Bobby Osgood got out of shape on the front stretch and tagged the wall. Bill Putney also suffered front-end damage in the incident but would drive to the pits and return several laps later. Beers and Kent would take advantage of the situation and head to the pits as both cars were starting to fade backwards through the pack. Beers came out with a brand new right rear tire.
Following the restart, Hanbury would pass Paules for the second spot but McGrath continued to lead. With about 20 laps to go, several drivers who pitted earlier in the race were beginning to make their presence felt at the front of the field. Some of those drivers included, Lee Sherwood, Rusty Smith, and Matt Hirschman.
Pete Brittain would bring out another caution with just six laps to go. On the ensuing restart, Hanbury made a challenge on McGrath for the lead. Hanbury went to the outside of McGrath heading into turn three on lap 71, but he would slip out of the groove and spin. There may have been some contact made, but it wasn't enough for McGrath to face any kind of reprimand from officials.
So there would be one final restart, as McGrath led with Sherwood, Smith, John Markovic, and Matt Hirschman running behind him. When the green flag waved again, Sherwood tried to get underneath McGrath, but he wouldn’t budge. On the final lap, Matt Hirschman came flying on the outside groove and got by McGrath coming off of turn two.
Hirschman took off down the backstretch with the lead and drove to his second career RoC Tour victory. It was an extra special win as his father, NASCAR Modified star and former Race of Champions winner Tony Hirschman, was at the race helping spot for him over the radio.
Tom McGrath would hang on for second in the end after leading 60 laps. Lee Sherwood, Rusty Smith, and Eric Beers would complete the top five.
In SST Modified action, Chris Zacharias would get his first career WCIS win. The Chemung Speedrome promoter passed Mike Logsdon on lap eight and would never look back to get the win. He becomes the fifth different winner in five races at WCIS.
Zacharias celebrated the win a victory roof stomp and then did a celebratory jig before jumping off the car. Logsdon held on for second in his best run of the year. RoC Tour regular, John Markovic, brought along his SST car with him and drove it to a third place finish.
Jeff Polaski scored his third win of the year in the Street Stocks. Polaski led for 21 laps after passing Brian Gordon on lap four. Ken Barber finished second, while Gordon got a career-best third. Duane Evans and Tony Knoll rounded out the top five.
Mike Burley earned his first win of the year in the 4-Cylinder Wasps. Jesse Hartloff dominated the 15-lap Mini Cup feature.
As the summer season arrives, the action heats up at WCIS. Next week, June 26, the Late Models will make their second appearance on Welcome Summertime Fun day at WCIS. Everyone who comes through the turnstiles will get a free Coca-Cola. Racing starts at 2:30 PM.
RESULTS
SUNOCO RACE OF CHAMPIONS MODIFIED TOUR
Heat Winners – Eric Beers, Tom McGrath, Zane Zeiner
B-Main Winner – Matt Parsons
RoC Tour 75-lap Feature Finish:
1. (9!) MATT HIRSCHMAN #52
2. (3) Tom McGrath #12
3. Lee Sherwood #95
4. Rusty Smith #34
5. (1) Eric Beers #9
6. John Markovic #95M
7. (5) Todd Smith #5 (52)
8. (2) Rick Kluth #44
9. Ben Reynolds #17R
10. Wes Swartout #25s
11. Daren Scherer #3
12. (20) Tony Hanbury #00
13. Brian DeFebo #53
14. Mark Tychoniewicz #01
15. Mike Leaty #2 (25)
16. (18) Earl Paules, Jr. #8
17. Larry Jackson #80 (84)
18. T.J. Potrzebowski #72
19. George Kent #4
20. Pete Brittain #71
21. (4) Zane Zeiner #76
22. Bill Chandler #27
23. Billy Putney #88
24. Bobby Osgood #09
25. Ryan Russo #58 (53x)
26. Tommy Flanagan #87
27. Jan Leaty #6
28. Matt Parsons #84
DNS: Justin Ely #38
SST SPORTSMAN
Heat Winners – Butch Crawford, Chris Zacharias
Feature – CHRIS ZACHARIAS, Mike Logsdon, John Markovic, Patti Pruitt, Dan Hoag, Ricky Knapp Jr., Phil Johnson, Richard Thomas, Don Wylie, Mike VerWeire, Tom Wiest, Butch Crawford, Ken Gilbert, Jim Love, Dick Kluth and Billy Ray Pruitt.
STREET STOCKS
Heat Winner – Jeff Polaski
Feature – JEFF POLASKI, Ken Barber, Brian Gordon, Duane Evans, Tony Knoll, Wayne Semmel, Bill Verwys, Bob Herman and Josh Beardsley.
4- CYLINDER WASPS
Heat Winners – Ryan Corso, Eric Walker
Feature – MIKE BURLEY, Andy Howe, Kevin Grom, Frank Piccione, Matt Ford, Jeff Pringle, Dan Scott, Erin Shaugnessy, Justin Walker, Ryan Corso and Eric Walker.
WNY MINI CUP CLUB
Heat Winner – Jesse Hartloff
Feature – JESSE HARTLOFF, Paul Young, Charlie Pellien, Kevin Suttner, Robbie Micoli, Amy Becker, Tony Kulesza and Chris Hammon.
Source: Dave Buchanan/Wyoming County International Speedway PR
Posted: June 20, 2005