2020
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14: Double Up: Matt Hirschman Gets Richie Evans Memorial Win, Tour Type Mod World Series Title
by Shawn Courchesne
It’s been a week of dramatic show after dramatic shows in Tour Type Modified action at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway. Friday night in the closing event of the World Series it was Matt Hirschman putting a sleeper hold on all the drama.
Hirschman, of Northampton, Pa., chased a win all week and finally got it in the Richie Evans Memorial 100 Friday at New Smyrna Speedway.
The dominating victory for the Northampton, Pa. driver clinched the 2020 Tour Type Modified division World Series championship. It was the second consecutive year that Hirschman has won the Richie Evans Memorial 100.
“I wish they called them all Richie Evans races because I think it brings out the best in me,” Hirschman said. “… Winning any race in honor of Richie Evans is extra special. I want to make sure I’m here tonight for this. This is the one you want to win. … You come down here, I would have liked to have gotten a few more, or one more, but getting this one is the one. And the cherry on top is the championship.”
Tyler Rypkema of Owego, N.Y. was second and Craig Lutz of Miller Place, N.Y. third.
Hirschman had three consecutive second place finishes to start the week and then finished third in Thursday’s 35-lap event.
On Monday Anthony Nocella held off Hirschman in a side-by-side battle to the checkered flag to get his first career New Smyrna victory in the 50-lap opener for the division. On Tuesday it was Craig Lutz scoring his first World Series win in a 35-lapper. Wednesday saw the drama of Monday’s finish ramped up with Nocella and Hirschman finishing in a virtual dead heat at the checkered. Track officials deemed Nocella the victory of the John Blewett III Memorial 76. Patrick Emerling scored the victory in Thursday’s 35-lap feature.
Hirschman came into Friday’s finale with six-point lead over Nocella in the standings. Nocella had mechanical issues in Friday’s feature and ended up retiring from the event with about 10 laps remaining. Nocella ended up scored 16th in the 20-car field Friday.
“A little mini-series championship up North it would be like good, but it’s just a little series,” Hirschman said. “But when you come down here and come to this race track six days in a row and five straight nights with this group of guys here and all your hard work and sweat and sometimes lack of sleep. But I kept it clean for them this year so we were able to come in every day positive and just drive for a win that night. We had all good finishes.”
Hirschman started on the pole Friday and led until the bulk of the field pitted under caution on lap 54. Jimmy Blewett stayed out and inherited the lead, but it took Hirschman only until lap 61 to regain the lead. From there Hirschman went unchallenged the rest of the way.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13: Patrick Emerling Takes Tour Type Mod Win At New Smyrna World Series
It was a night where going on the offense early and playing defense late proved to be the perfect recipe for Patrick Emerling.
The Orchard Park, N.Y driver held off Jimmy Blewett and Matt Hirschman on a late restart to win the 35-lap Tour Type Modified division feature at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway Thursday.
It was the first victory of the week for Emerling.
“We’ve kind of struggled in the last couple weeks here,” Emerling said. “We finally got it where it needed to be tonight and that was the best car we’ve had so far.”
Blewett, of Howell, N.J., was second and Hirschman, of Northampton, Pa. third.
Blewett led from the start before Emerling went to the top spot on lap seven.
The race played out caution from a lap five restart until the yellow returned on lap 33 to set up the late battle.
“I was hoping for no cautions there,” Emerling said. “That caution definitely made things interesting there.”
Emerling was able to fend off Blewett and Hirschman following the lap 33 restart and allowed them to fight over the runner-up spot.
“We had a fast car tonight,” Blewett said. “He just got by me early. He had a lot of speed. I wanted to save just a little bit if I could for the end there, which I did. I was going to cross him over coming off of [turn] two and I think [Hirschman] knew that so he tried to cross me over as well. I wasn’t going to put [Emerling] three-wide. We did the best we could. We’ve got a big race all of us tomorrow night. I know [Hirschman] is running for points and every spot counts for him, but he ran me like a gentleman and so did Patrick. It’s on to tomorrow night.”
It was the first race of the week that Hirschman didn’t finish second.
“I just got tired of finishing second so we were going to finish somewhere else,” Hirschman joked. “… I should have probably finished second. I think I could have went in and slid up and instead I thought maybe about a run on the bottom of [turn] four on Emerling, but probably cost myself second. Then once Jimmy got back ahead of me that last corner I was going to let them settle in and see what happened there. We’ll move on to tomorrow night.”
After four events this week, Hirschman will take the series points lead into the finale Friday, the Richie Evans Memorial 100.
On Monday Anthony Nocella held off Hirschman in a side-by-side battle to the checkered flag to get his first career New Smyrna victory in the 50-lap opener for the division. On Tuesday it was Craig Lutz scoring his first World Series win in a 35-lapper. Wednesday saw the drama of Monday’s finish ramped up exponentially with Nocella and Hirschman finishing in a virtual dead heat at the checkered. Track officials deemed Nocella the victory of the John Blewett III Memorial 76.
Nocella, who was third Tuesday and came into Thursday as the points leader, finished seventh. Hirschman takes a six point lead over Nocella into the week’s finale. Lutz is a distant third in the standings, 28 points behind Hirschman.
“The way the week started I would have thought we’d probably have got a win or two by now,” Hirschman said. “But we’re finishing every night.”
WEDNESDAY, FEB 12: Anthony Nocella Tops Matt Hirschman In John Blewett III Memorial 76 Thriller At New Smryna
They proved to have two of the best Tour Type Modifieds at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway over the first two events of the 2020 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.
They put on a side-by-side battle to the checkered on the first night of action.
And on Wednesday night at New Smyrna Anthony Nocella and Matt Hirschman used those Modifieds to put on a show that won’t soon be forgotten.
A five-lap battle for the lead over the closing laps ended in a virtual dead heat at the checkered flag at the conclusion of the 76-lap John Blewett III Memorial feature Wednesday at New Smryna.
Following an extended delay at the conclusion of the event, Anthony Nocella was declared the winner.
“It’s pretty awesome, especially to beat Matt,” Nocella said. “Everywhere we go, anytime we show up and he’s there, he’s a car to [contend to] win and we know we’re going to have to beat him for the win, especially here, especially in these long distance races. He’s probably the best out there in saving tires in these races.”
“I felt coming to the line, I felt I had him by six inches to a foot,” Hirschman said. “I just looked at a photo that shows that. So, but you know, I can plead my case but at this point it doesn’t look like it’s going to matter. I felt I beat him, but don’t take anything away from that finish. That is a lesson right there for all you young racers out there. Not just Modified racers, but all racers. That’s how you race.”
It was the second victory in three Tour Type Modified events this week at New Smryna for Nocella, of Woburn, Mass., who won the 50-lap opener on Monday in another side-by-side battle the checkered with Hirschman.
It was the third consecutive second place finish of the week at New Smyrna for Hirschman, of Northampton, Pa. Hirschman was second to Craig Lutz in Tuesday’s 35-lap feature.
Jimmy Blewett of Howell, N.J. was third.
The NBC Track Pass image of the finish between Anthony Nocella and Matt Hirschman at New Smyrna
Blewett went by Eric Goodale for the lead on lap 20.
Nocella got by Hirschman for second place on lap 63 restart and quickly closed on Blewett at the front.
With nice laps remaining Nocella went by Blewett for the lead with Hirschman moving past Blewett for second a lap later.
The duel was on at that point between Nocella and Hirschman. Hirschman led at the line on lap 73, but Nocella was scored back to the front on the next lap. On lap 76 Hirschman got the run off of turn two to close down Nocella’s lead coming to the white flag. The pair reached the checkered side-by-side. Officials studied video and photographic evidence to declare Nocella the winner.
“It’s kind of tough there,” Nocellsa said. “We swapped the lead those last five laps, six laps or so side-by-side. It was kind of whoever got the best run out of [turn] four there. I definitely could hit him up going in there, I’m on the bottom, I could use him up and get him up some and easily probably win it – kind of like we sort of lost the race [Tuesday] night. I grew up in Midgets and stuff like that and you can’t bang. Matt runs me clean for the most part all the time. … He ran me clean the whole rest of the race before that. … I figured I’d give him my best shot there on the bottom. I found a little something down there where my car was working. We were able to get just enough grip up off the bottom there and just beat him to the line.”
Said Hirschman: “I’m not really disappointed. That was a great race. New Smyrna Speedway, I’ve seen some of the best Modified races I’ve ever watched here and now I’ve been a part of a few of them in the same week. Just incredible really. Great race.”
TUESDAY, February 11: Craig Lutz Wins Tour Type Mod Feature On World Series Night Two At New Smyrna
After two nights of Tour Type Modified division racing at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway the theme has been first-time winners.
On Monday it was Anthony Nocella grabbing his first career New Smyrna World Series victory in the 50-lap opener for the division.
Tuesday Nocella looked to be rolling on rails to a second consecutive victory, until Craig Lutz got physical and grabbed victory away late.
Lutz got aggressive on a lap-25 restart to grab the lead from Nocello and went on to win in the 35-lap Tour Type Modified division feature Tuesday at New Smyrna Speedway.
It was the first career New Smyrna World Series victory for Lutz, of Miller Place, N.Y.
“This is huge,” Lutz said. “To come down to Florida you’re against the best of the best. I’m just so thankful for this opportunity. … It wasn’t pretty but we got the job done.”
Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa. picked up his second consecutive second place finish. Nocella, of Woburn, Mass., was third.
Nocella started on the pole and had checked out from the field twice. Nocella chose to use the outside lane for the lap 25 restart, but it was Lutz who pushed up him the track through turns one and two to grab the lead.
“You’re stuck on the bottom, you don’t have much you can do except try to beat the guy into turn one,” Lutz said. “It’s short track racing. We’ve got nerf bars and we rub. We both ended up down here on the podium.”
Said Nocella: “I still think the outside is the preferred groove and the place to fire off here, if you didn’t get out way up in the marbles. That’s racing. We were a little free off on the bottom. I knew my best shot was really to get it in deep and get around him on the outside as I did the time before. He did what he had to do to win. I would have ran him a little cleaner than that. Maybe run him up, but not in the fourth groove. He did what he had to do to win and we’ll go from there.”
Hirschman was able to get by Nocella for second on the decisive restart and then stalked Lutz over the final five laps, but for the second night in a row, couldn’t find a way to the lead.
“We’re right there,” Hirschman said. “I like wins, but we’ll just take a second. We’re in one piece.”
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10: Opening Drama: Anthony Nocella Holds Off Matt Hirschman In Tour Type Mod Thriller At New Smyrna
It’s been a few months since the big dogs of Tour Type Modified racing have had the chance to let it all hang out.
But Monday night at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway, it was Anthony Nocella and Matt Hirschman proving they were quick to thaw from the Northeast winter chill upon arrival in Florida.
Nocella held off a charging Hirschman at the checkered to win the 50-lap Tour Type Modified division feature Monday at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.
“I knew we had a pretty good car, but I know he’s always fast here and I knew he’d be there at the end,” Nocella said. “He’s probably one of the best at saving his tires until the end and making a run. … I just figured if I could keep him behind me I’d have a shot there at the end.”
It was the first career victory at the New Smyrna World Series for the Woburn, Mass. driver.
It was the first of five consecutive nights of Tour Type Modified features this week at New Smyrna.
Hirschman, of Northampton, Pa., was second by inches in the side-by-side run to the checkered. Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, N.Y. was third.
Nocella went by Craig Lutz for the lead on lap 13 and easily held the field at bay for most of the event.
But on lap 43 Hirschman got by Emerling for second and set sail for Nocella.
Hirschman spent the last four laps stalking Nocella’s bumper before going to the outside in turns three and four on the final lap. Hirschman wrangled in a sliding car off of turn four to get to Nocella’s side for the drag race to the checkered.
“I just ran out of time,” Hirschman said. “But no excuses. … Exciting finish and it’s Monday night. I’m happy with where we’re at. I’d like to win, but I’d like to win every race. That’s just not going to happen. We’ve got four ahead of us coming up. It was a good show. These Modifieds put on a better show than any fendered class any day of the week.”
NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece of Berlin was fourth and Craig Lutz of Miller Place, N.Y. fifth.
The Tour Type Modifieds will run a 35-lap feature on Tuesday night.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8:Matt Hirschman Seals The Deal at Bronson Speedway
Tour Type Modifieds came to Bronson Speedway to start the 2020 racing season following winter break.
Making the trip to the warm and sunny Florida weather, six teams came to support Ann Young and her Bronson Speedway. Fans paid $8 to $12 and saw a 50 lap modified shootout. There were only six Modifieds on the track, but there was enough action that fans were on their feet.
Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa. had luck on his side as he pulled the No. 1 spot in the draw to start on the pole. Jimmy Blewett pulled No.2 for the outside pole.
Hirschman led all 50 laps to take home his second career win at Bronson Speedway.
“Starting on the pole made it easier than it would have been with more cars,” Hirschman said. “We had a good car and we will take it. It is a good start to the week. We had an issue in practice and it is good that we got it out of the way. Now we will go on to New Smyrna for the week.”
Blewett from Howell, N.J., finished where he start the race. In second.
For a portion of the race, he was moved back to third after Jeremy Gerstner of Wesley Chapel, Fla. passed him for position. But before race end, Blewett regrouped and gained his spot back.
“It would have been more fun if Matt and I started at the back and had to race our way up through the pack,” Blewett said. “Maybe next year we can put some kind of money up, get some people together and come down and have some fun. And do something like that – starting from the rear.”
Said Gerstner, who started last: “The car was really good. We just did not need to start so deep. We used a lot coming up through the field. Track position means a lot here. We hurt the right rear a little rolling off the corner trying to get around the field. But the car has great speed and it is going to be really good at New Smyrna. I am looking forward to next week.”
On lap 16, Brian Robie’s car started spewing fluid coming out of turn two. Robie’s car was towed in and the first restart of the night was staged. Gerstner was able to gain enough momentum to pass Blewett for second on lap 18 and start a pursuit of the leader.
“I got around Jimmy on that restart and ran a pace where I kept appearing to catch Matt,” Gerstner said.
With ten laps to remaining Blewett made his move to retake second.
Blewett tapped Gerstner’s rear bumper to indicate that he was coming get out of the way.
“That is Jimmy,” Gerstner said. “He is kind of like TC, he wants to let you know he is back there. I am going to be honest that he hit me a little harder than he needed to, almost enough to rip the bumper off of it. I will keep that in my memory bank and move on to race better. It was a good hard race and yes this is short track racing and you are going to have contact like that.”
Drivers will now make the ride southeast to New Smyrna Speedway for five nights of modified racing. Join us back for live updates all week as we take you through the action both on and off the track.
Notes from Bronson Speedway
We asked the top three finishers their thoughts on only six Modfied teams coming to Bronson Speedway?
Matt Hirschman
“The obvious thing is the lack of cars. Six cars that is a heat race. You double that on a track this size and you have a field where you could have a good show. We had as many as fourteen mods here and an emphasis needs to be done on how we can swing it back into that direction. … Everyone can give their opinions and then listen. Maybe we can work together and get the car count back up. It is a fun little track to run on. You do not need twenty cars here to make it look like a field but you need more than six. So we would like to have more cars.”
Jimmy Blewett
“It is a fun little race track. It is a good little race track. It is a shame that we cannot get the car count here. Ann [Young] runs this place in the memory of her husband. This was something that he bought and he had a vision and a dream to build it. As long as I am racing and I have the opportunity I will come down and give my support to her and her family, we are going to do it. It is just tough to get people out here. It is a good place and it puts on a good show. … My guess is that it is still early in the week and people do not want to come down and wreck their stuff. Maybe next week they can have it the Saturday after and we can get more cars.”
Jeremy Gerstner
“Maybe we all need to take a step back and look at the day that this race is scheduled. I was thinking if we moved the Bronson Speedway to the Saturday after Speedweeks at New Smyrna we would have a larger car count catching modified teams on their way home. Either way we may have to rethink the date to get teams here.”
by Shawn Courchesne
It’s been a week of dramatic show after dramatic shows in Tour Type Modified action at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway. Friday night in the closing event of the World Series it was Matt Hirschman putting a sleeper hold on all the drama.
Hirschman, of Northampton, Pa., chased a win all week and finally got it in the Richie Evans Memorial 100 Friday at New Smyrna Speedway.
The dominating victory for the Northampton, Pa. driver clinched the 2020 Tour Type Modified division World Series championship. It was the second consecutive year that Hirschman has won the Richie Evans Memorial 100.
“I wish they called them all Richie Evans races because I think it brings out the best in me,” Hirschman said. “… Winning any race in honor of Richie Evans is extra special. I want to make sure I’m here tonight for this. This is the one you want to win. … You come down here, I would have liked to have gotten a few more, or one more, but getting this one is the one. And the cherry on top is the championship.”
Tyler Rypkema of Owego, N.Y. was second and Craig Lutz of Miller Place, N.Y. third.
Hirschman had three consecutive second place finishes to start the week and then finished third in Thursday’s 35-lap event.
On Monday Anthony Nocella held off Hirschman in a side-by-side battle to the checkered flag to get his first career New Smyrna victory in the 50-lap opener for the division. On Tuesday it was Craig Lutz scoring his first World Series win in a 35-lapper. Wednesday saw the drama of Monday’s finish ramped up with Nocella and Hirschman finishing in a virtual dead heat at the checkered. Track officials deemed Nocella the victory of the John Blewett III Memorial 76. Patrick Emerling scored the victory in Thursday’s 35-lap feature.
Hirschman came into Friday’s finale with six-point lead over Nocella in the standings. Nocella had mechanical issues in Friday’s feature and ended up retiring from the event with about 10 laps remaining. Nocella ended up scored 16th in the 20-car field Friday.
“A little mini-series championship up North it would be like good, but it’s just a little series,” Hirschman said. “But when you come down here and come to this race track six days in a row and five straight nights with this group of guys here and all your hard work and sweat and sometimes lack of sleep. But I kept it clean for them this year so we were able to come in every day positive and just drive for a win that night. We had all good finishes.”
Hirschman started on the pole Friday and led until the bulk of the field pitted under caution on lap 54. Jimmy Blewett stayed out and inherited the lead, but it took Hirschman only until lap 61 to regain the lead. From there Hirschman went unchallenged the rest of the way.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13: Patrick Emerling Takes Tour Type Mod Win At New Smyrna World Series
It was a night where going on the offense early and playing defense late proved to be the perfect recipe for Patrick Emerling.
The Orchard Park, N.Y driver held off Jimmy Blewett and Matt Hirschman on a late restart to win the 35-lap Tour Type Modified division feature at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway Thursday.
It was the first victory of the week for Emerling.
“We’ve kind of struggled in the last couple weeks here,” Emerling said. “We finally got it where it needed to be tonight and that was the best car we’ve had so far.”
Blewett, of Howell, N.J., was second and Hirschman, of Northampton, Pa. third.
Blewett led from the start before Emerling went to the top spot on lap seven.
The race played out caution from a lap five restart until the yellow returned on lap 33 to set up the late battle.
“I was hoping for no cautions there,” Emerling said. “That caution definitely made things interesting there.”
Emerling was able to fend off Blewett and Hirschman following the lap 33 restart and allowed them to fight over the runner-up spot.
“We had a fast car tonight,” Blewett said. “He just got by me early. He had a lot of speed. I wanted to save just a little bit if I could for the end there, which I did. I was going to cross him over coming off of [turn] two and I think [Hirschman] knew that so he tried to cross me over as well. I wasn’t going to put [Emerling] three-wide. We did the best we could. We’ve got a big race all of us tomorrow night. I know [Hirschman] is running for points and every spot counts for him, but he ran me like a gentleman and so did Patrick. It’s on to tomorrow night.”
It was the first race of the week that Hirschman didn’t finish second.
“I just got tired of finishing second so we were going to finish somewhere else,” Hirschman joked. “… I should have probably finished second. I think I could have went in and slid up and instead I thought maybe about a run on the bottom of [turn] four on Emerling, but probably cost myself second. Then once Jimmy got back ahead of me that last corner I was going to let them settle in and see what happened there. We’ll move on to tomorrow night.”
After four events this week, Hirschman will take the series points lead into the finale Friday, the Richie Evans Memorial 100.
On Monday Anthony Nocella held off Hirschman in a side-by-side battle to the checkered flag to get his first career New Smyrna victory in the 50-lap opener for the division. On Tuesday it was Craig Lutz scoring his first World Series win in a 35-lapper. Wednesday saw the drama of Monday’s finish ramped up exponentially with Nocella and Hirschman finishing in a virtual dead heat at the checkered. Track officials deemed Nocella the victory of the John Blewett III Memorial 76.
Nocella, who was third Tuesday and came into Thursday as the points leader, finished seventh. Hirschman takes a six point lead over Nocella into the week’s finale. Lutz is a distant third in the standings, 28 points behind Hirschman.
“The way the week started I would have thought we’d probably have got a win or two by now,” Hirschman said. “But we’re finishing every night.”
WEDNESDAY, FEB 12: Anthony Nocella Tops Matt Hirschman In John Blewett III Memorial 76 Thriller At New Smryna
They proved to have two of the best Tour Type Modifieds at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway over the first two events of the 2020 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.
They put on a side-by-side battle to the checkered on the first night of action.
And on Wednesday night at New Smyrna Anthony Nocella and Matt Hirschman used those Modifieds to put on a show that won’t soon be forgotten.
A five-lap battle for the lead over the closing laps ended in a virtual dead heat at the checkered flag at the conclusion of the 76-lap John Blewett III Memorial feature Wednesday at New Smryna.
Following an extended delay at the conclusion of the event, Anthony Nocella was declared the winner.
“It’s pretty awesome, especially to beat Matt,” Nocella said. “Everywhere we go, anytime we show up and he’s there, he’s a car to [contend to] win and we know we’re going to have to beat him for the win, especially here, especially in these long distance races. He’s probably the best out there in saving tires in these races.”
“I felt coming to the line, I felt I had him by six inches to a foot,” Hirschman said. “I just looked at a photo that shows that. So, but you know, I can plead my case but at this point it doesn’t look like it’s going to matter. I felt I beat him, but don’t take anything away from that finish. That is a lesson right there for all you young racers out there. Not just Modified racers, but all racers. That’s how you race.”
It was the second victory in three Tour Type Modified events this week at New Smryna for Nocella, of Woburn, Mass., who won the 50-lap opener on Monday in another side-by-side battle the checkered with Hirschman.
It was the third consecutive second place finish of the week at New Smyrna for Hirschman, of Northampton, Pa. Hirschman was second to Craig Lutz in Tuesday’s 35-lap feature.
Jimmy Blewett of Howell, N.J. was third.
The NBC Track Pass image of the finish between Anthony Nocella and Matt Hirschman at New Smyrna
Blewett went by Eric Goodale for the lead on lap 20.
Nocella got by Hirschman for second place on lap 63 restart and quickly closed on Blewett at the front.
With nice laps remaining Nocella went by Blewett for the lead with Hirschman moving past Blewett for second a lap later.
The duel was on at that point between Nocella and Hirschman. Hirschman led at the line on lap 73, but Nocella was scored back to the front on the next lap. On lap 76 Hirschman got the run off of turn two to close down Nocella’s lead coming to the white flag. The pair reached the checkered side-by-side. Officials studied video and photographic evidence to declare Nocella the winner.
“It’s kind of tough there,” Nocellsa said. “We swapped the lead those last five laps, six laps or so side-by-side. It was kind of whoever got the best run out of [turn] four there. I definitely could hit him up going in there, I’m on the bottom, I could use him up and get him up some and easily probably win it – kind of like we sort of lost the race [Tuesday] night. I grew up in Midgets and stuff like that and you can’t bang. Matt runs me clean for the most part all the time. … He ran me clean the whole rest of the race before that. … I figured I’d give him my best shot there on the bottom. I found a little something down there where my car was working. We were able to get just enough grip up off the bottom there and just beat him to the line.”
Said Hirschman: “I’m not really disappointed. That was a great race. New Smyrna Speedway, I’ve seen some of the best Modified races I’ve ever watched here and now I’ve been a part of a few of them in the same week. Just incredible really. Great race.”
TUESDAY, February 11: Craig Lutz Wins Tour Type Mod Feature On World Series Night Two At New Smyrna
After two nights of Tour Type Modified division racing at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway the theme has been first-time winners.
On Monday it was Anthony Nocella grabbing his first career New Smyrna World Series victory in the 50-lap opener for the division.
Tuesday Nocella looked to be rolling on rails to a second consecutive victory, until Craig Lutz got physical and grabbed victory away late.
Lutz got aggressive on a lap-25 restart to grab the lead from Nocello and went on to win in the 35-lap Tour Type Modified division feature Tuesday at New Smyrna Speedway.
It was the first career New Smyrna World Series victory for Lutz, of Miller Place, N.Y.
“This is huge,” Lutz said. “To come down to Florida you’re against the best of the best. I’m just so thankful for this opportunity. … It wasn’t pretty but we got the job done.”
Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa. picked up his second consecutive second place finish. Nocella, of Woburn, Mass., was third.
Nocella started on the pole and had checked out from the field twice. Nocella chose to use the outside lane for the lap 25 restart, but it was Lutz who pushed up him the track through turns one and two to grab the lead.
“You’re stuck on the bottom, you don’t have much you can do except try to beat the guy into turn one,” Lutz said. “It’s short track racing. We’ve got nerf bars and we rub. We both ended up down here on the podium.”
Said Nocella: “I still think the outside is the preferred groove and the place to fire off here, if you didn’t get out way up in the marbles. That’s racing. We were a little free off on the bottom. I knew my best shot was really to get it in deep and get around him on the outside as I did the time before. He did what he had to do to win. I would have ran him a little cleaner than that. Maybe run him up, but not in the fourth groove. He did what he had to do to win and we’ll go from there.”
Hirschman was able to get by Nocella for second on the decisive restart and then stalked Lutz over the final five laps, but for the second night in a row, couldn’t find a way to the lead.
“We’re right there,” Hirschman said. “I like wins, but we’ll just take a second. We’re in one piece.”
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10: Opening Drama: Anthony Nocella Holds Off Matt Hirschman In Tour Type Mod Thriller At New Smyrna
It’s been a few months since the big dogs of Tour Type Modified racing have had the chance to let it all hang out.
But Monday night at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway, it was Anthony Nocella and Matt Hirschman proving they were quick to thaw from the Northeast winter chill upon arrival in Florida.
Nocella held off a charging Hirschman at the checkered to win the 50-lap Tour Type Modified division feature Monday at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.
“I knew we had a pretty good car, but I know he’s always fast here and I knew he’d be there at the end,” Nocella said. “He’s probably one of the best at saving his tires until the end and making a run. … I just figured if I could keep him behind me I’d have a shot there at the end.”
It was the first career victory at the New Smyrna World Series for the Woburn, Mass. driver.
It was the first of five consecutive nights of Tour Type Modified features this week at New Smyrna.
Hirschman, of Northampton, Pa., was second by inches in the side-by-side run to the checkered. Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, N.Y. was third.
Nocella went by Craig Lutz for the lead on lap 13 and easily held the field at bay for most of the event.
But on lap 43 Hirschman got by Emerling for second and set sail for Nocella.
Hirschman spent the last four laps stalking Nocella’s bumper before going to the outside in turns three and four on the final lap. Hirschman wrangled in a sliding car off of turn four to get to Nocella’s side for the drag race to the checkered.
“I just ran out of time,” Hirschman said. “But no excuses. … Exciting finish and it’s Monday night. I’m happy with where we’re at. I’d like to win, but I’d like to win every race. That’s just not going to happen. We’ve got four ahead of us coming up. It was a good show. These Modifieds put on a better show than any fendered class any day of the week.”
NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece of Berlin was fourth and Craig Lutz of Miller Place, N.Y. fifth.
The Tour Type Modifieds will run a 35-lap feature on Tuesday night.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8:Matt Hirschman Seals The Deal at Bronson Speedway
Tour Type Modifieds came to Bronson Speedway to start the 2020 racing season following winter break.
Making the trip to the warm and sunny Florida weather, six teams came to support Ann Young and her Bronson Speedway. Fans paid $8 to $12 and saw a 50 lap modified shootout. There were only six Modifieds on the track, but there was enough action that fans were on their feet.
Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa. had luck on his side as he pulled the No. 1 spot in the draw to start on the pole. Jimmy Blewett pulled No.2 for the outside pole.
Hirschman led all 50 laps to take home his second career win at Bronson Speedway.
“Starting on the pole made it easier than it would have been with more cars,” Hirschman said. “We had a good car and we will take it. It is a good start to the week. We had an issue in practice and it is good that we got it out of the way. Now we will go on to New Smyrna for the week.”
Blewett from Howell, N.J., finished where he start the race. In second.
For a portion of the race, he was moved back to third after Jeremy Gerstner of Wesley Chapel, Fla. passed him for position. But before race end, Blewett regrouped and gained his spot back.
“It would have been more fun if Matt and I started at the back and had to race our way up through the pack,” Blewett said. “Maybe next year we can put some kind of money up, get some people together and come down and have some fun. And do something like that – starting from the rear.”
Said Gerstner, who started last: “The car was really good. We just did not need to start so deep. We used a lot coming up through the field. Track position means a lot here. We hurt the right rear a little rolling off the corner trying to get around the field. But the car has great speed and it is going to be really good at New Smyrna. I am looking forward to next week.”
On lap 16, Brian Robie’s car started spewing fluid coming out of turn two. Robie’s car was towed in and the first restart of the night was staged. Gerstner was able to gain enough momentum to pass Blewett for second on lap 18 and start a pursuit of the leader.
“I got around Jimmy on that restart and ran a pace where I kept appearing to catch Matt,” Gerstner said.
With ten laps to remaining Blewett made his move to retake second.
Blewett tapped Gerstner’s rear bumper to indicate that he was coming get out of the way.
“That is Jimmy,” Gerstner said. “He is kind of like TC, he wants to let you know he is back there. I am going to be honest that he hit me a little harder than he needed to, almost enough to rip the bumper off of it. I will keep that in my memory bank and move on to race better. It was a good hard race and yes this is short track racing and you are going to have contact like that.”
Drivers will now make the ride southeast to New Smyrna Speedway for five nights of modified racing. Join us back for live updates all week as we take you through the action both on and off the track.
Notes from Bronson Speedway
We asked the top three finishers their thoughts on only six Modfied teams coming to Bronson Speedway?
Matt Hirschman
“The obvious thing is the lack of cars. Six cars that is a heat race. You double that on a track this size and you have a field where you could have a good show. We had as many as fourteen mods here and an emphasis needs to be done on how we can swing it back into that direction. … Everyone can give their opinions and then listen. Maybe we can work together and get the car count back up. It is a fun little track to run on. You do not need twenty cars here to make it look like a field but you need more than six. So we would like to have more cars.”
Jimmy Blewett
“It is a fun little race track. It is a good little race track. It is a shame that we cannot get the car count here. Ann [Young] runs this place in the memory of her husband. This was something that he bought and he had a vision and a dream to build it. As long as I am racing and I have the opportunity I will come down and give my support to her and her family, we are going to do it. It is just tough to get people out here. It is a good place and it puts on a good show. … My guess is that it is still early in the week and people do not want to come down and wreck their stuff. Maybe next week they can have it the Saturday after and we can get more cars.”
Jeremy Gerstner
“Maybe we all need to take a step back and look at the day that this race is scheduled. I was thinking if we moved the Bronson Speedway to the Saturday after Speedweeks at New Smyrna we would have a larger car count catching modified teams on their way home. Either way we may have to rethink the date to get teams here.”