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2021

NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY - RACE # 5
by Shawn Courchesne 


Big Score: Matt Hirschman Wins Richie Evans Memorial, World Series Title At New Smyrna

Matt Hirschman came to New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway this week looking to defend his 2020 World Series of Asphalt Stock Racing Tour Type Modified division championship. 

And Hirschman played the defense of that title to near perfection.  Hirschman, of Northampton, Pa., closed out his second consecutive Tour Type Modified division championship in a way he’s become quite familiar with.  
Hirschman held off Ryan Preece on a green-white-checkered finish to win the Richie Evans Memorial 100 Friday at New Smyrna Speedway. 

The victory Friday easily clinched the championship for the five-event mini-series at New Smyrna. It was the second consecutive victory on the week for Hirschman, who won the 35-lap Tour Type Modified event on Thursday. 

“Last night, it was nice to win, but it was hard for me to celebrate it because to me there was a bigger prize ahead,” Hirschman said. “Tonight we got it. We also won the championship. It’s a team accomplishment. It’s just great to be here.” 

Jon McKennedy of Chelmsford, Mass. was second and Anthony Nocella of Woburn, Mass. third. Preece fell to fourth after getting passed by McKennedy and Nocella on the final lap. 

It was Hirschman’s third consecutive victory in the Richie Evans Memorial 100 and his fifth victory in eight starts in the event. The five victories matched the late Ted Christopher for career wins in the historic event.

“I started my career over 20 years ago at Evergreen Speedway in Pennsylvania,” Hirschman said. “I never knew if I’d win one race. To come down here to Florida and win the biggest race here, named after Richie Evans, is just quite a career. I’m thankful for everyone that’s helped get me here. Not just here to Florida, but just throughout my career, especially tonight. I’ve got to thank my guys. They worked hard all week. Pee Dee Motorsports, we’ve had a lot of success here over the last few years. They’re all memorable these Evans 100 wins.” 
 
Hirschman was on the podium for all five events at the World Series. He was third in the 50-lap opener on Monday, second in the 35-lap event on Tuesday and third in the John Blewett III Memorial 76 on Wednesday. He got his first win of the week in Thursday’s 35-lap feature. 

Hirschman was the only multi-time winner on the week. Craig Lutz (Monday), Patrick Emerling (Tuesday) and Preece (Wednesday) were the other winners on the week. 

Lutz started on the pole and led the first 76 laps before heading to pit road with mechanical issues. The Lutz retirement handed Hirschman the lead with Preece behind him in second. 

The fourth caution of the race flew on lap 99 when Stephen Kopcik ended up hard into the backstretch wall after his right front tire caught a piece of debris off the car of Chuck Hossleld and came apart. 

On the ensuing restart Preece was able to get the lead from Hirschman. Hirschman battled back with a shot from behind in turn three, but the caution flew once again before the lap was completed, setting Hirschman back to the lead for a second attempt at the green-white-checkered finish. 

On the final restart Hirschman got the jump on Preece and left him fighting for second place. On the final lap McKennedy was able to get outside of Preece for second place with Nocella following to third. 

“We were just able to get ahead of him there and get the win,” Hirschman said of Preece. “Obviously he’s a great talent. I hope he wins the Daytona 500 on Sunday.”

After issues the first two nights McKennedy closed out the week with a fourth place on Wednesday and consecutive second place finishes on Thursday and Friday.

“The car was good, it was a good solid run,” McKennedy said. “My guys all worked their butts off all week. We started off the week a little bit behind there. A couple of torn up cars the first two nights. But the guys did an awesome job the last few nights. A fourth and two seconds. Big thanks to them.”


Pos    #    Driver    Start
1    60    Matt Hirschman    8
2    7NY    Jon McKennedy    4
3    92    Anthony Nocella    17
4    6    Ryan Preece    10
5    58    Eric Goodale    13
6    20    Eddie McCarthy    16
7    50    Ronnie Williams    7
8    2    Chuck Hossfeld    15
9    2X    JR Bertuccio    11
10    36    David Sapienza    24
11    0    Zane Zeiner    18
12    55    Jeremy Gerstner    22
13    14    Bobby Measmer, Jr.    25
14    25    Brian Robie    23
15    45    Timmy Catalano    20
16    59    Matthew Galko    19
17    179    Stephen Kopcik    2
18    8    Chris Finocchario    26
19    9    Tom Martino, Jr.    28
20    17K    Danny Knoll, Jr.    27
21    32    Tyler Rypkema    5
22    46    Craig Lutz    1
23    17TC    Tommy Catalano    12
24    07    Patrick Emerling    9
25    79    Chris Jensen    29
26    51    Jimmy Blewett    14
27    64    Tyler Catalano    35
28    16    Ron Silk    6
29    56    Amy Catalano    21
30    70    Andy Seuss    3
31    1    Bobby Jones    30
32    73    Paul Hartwig, Jr.    33
33    73J    Jonathan Laureigh    34
34    21    Jim Gavek    32


NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY - RACE # 4

Matt Hirschman was a model of consistency during the first three nights of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.  But the driver known as “Big Money” didn’t earn his nickname by finishing second and third.
On Thursday night, Hirschman used an exciting last-lap pass on Jon McKennedy to break through and score his first victory of the week at New Smyrna Speedway.
“I have to thank my whole team, Pee Dee Motorsports.  It’s a big effort to come here and do this, so I have to thank them,” Hirschman said on the NBC Trackpass broadcast.  “My whole crew, they’ve been working hard.  We’ve been here later than we have in recent years with the delays and rain and stuff like that, so I’m glad to get a win for them.  Hope for tomorrow night, too, but at least we got one because one is going to be tough to get this week.”
Former Tri-Track Open Modified Series champion Ronnie Williams set fast time in qualifying at the half-mile oval and started on the outside of the front row after an invert of two.  Williams jumped out to the early lead, showing the way for the opening 15 laps.
Jon McKennedy, who has battled bad luck throughout the week, charged to the front and moved under Williams for the lead on lap 16.  McKennedy led until the final lap, when Hirschman powered to his inside in turn three and made slight contact battling for the win.  As McKennedy drifted high, Hirschman powered off of turn four to the checkered flag and his ninth career World Series victory.
“We’ve been close all week to winning and started getting closer and closer,” Hirschman said.  “I would’ve been content with a second, but he just backed up to me too much.  The 50 (Williams) was backing up to me at the beginning and I probably should have been more aggressive because as soon as the 16 (Ron Silk) got a chance there, he sent it in.  Last night, I saw Preece send it in.  It’s been tough, but tonight they came to me at the right time and we didn’t get any late restarts because we’ve been terrible on those.”
McKennedy recorded his best finish of the week with a runner-up performance.  Ron Silk finished third, while Patrick Emerling and Ronnie Williams completed the top five.
With the win, Hirschman will extend his points lead entering Friday’s Richie Evans Memorial, the finale for Tour-type Modifieds at New Smyrna.  Ryan Preece, who sat 10 points behind Hirschman after Wednesday’s racing, missed Thursday night’s race while competing in the Duels at nearby Daytona International Speedway.

-Story by: Brandon Paul, Speed51 Director of Content – Twitter: 
-Photo credit: Speed51 / Will Bellamy

 
Tour-type Modifieds Unofficial Results

New Smyrna Speedway (FL) – February 11, 2021 

Pos    #    Driver    Start
1    60    Matt Hirschman    4
2    7NY    Jon McKennedy    3
3    16    Ron Silk    1
4    07    Patrick Emerling    5
5    50    Ronnie Williams    2
6    46    Craig Lutz    7
7    58    Eric Goodale    6
8    2X    JR Bertuccio    13
9    92    Anthony Nocella    12
10    32    Tyler Rypkema    14
11    2    Chuck Hossfeld    11
12    179    Stephen Kopcik    15
13    20    Eddie McCarthy    16
14    51    Jimmy Blewett    8
15    59    Matthew Galko    17
16    36    David Sapienza    9
17    56    Amy Catalano    18
18    9    Tom Martino, Jr.    24
19    25    Brian Robie    20
20    17K    Danny Knoll, Jr.    27
21    8    Chris Finocchario    26
22    28    Buddy Charette    22
23    64    Tyler Catalano    29
24    1    Chris Ridsdale    25
25    79    Chris Jensen    28
26    21    Jim Gavek    31
27    48    Marcello Rufrano    10
28    17TC    Tommy Catalano    19
29    14    Bobby Measmer, Jr.    21
30    45    Timmy Catalano    23
31    0    Zane Zeiner    32
32    1S    Bobby Jones    30
33    55    Jeremy Gerstner    35
34    73J    Jonathan Laureigh    34
35    73    Paul Hartwig, Jr.    33



NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY - RACE # 3

Shortly after 8 p.m. on Wednesday night, NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece locked himself into Sunday’s 63rd Annual Daytona 500. Three hours later, after making the quick drive from Daytona International Speedway to New Smyrna Speedway, Preece stood in victory lane celebrating his second career win in the John Blewett III Memorial for Tour-type Modifieds.

After missing qualifying at New Smyrna while driving his No. 37 JTG Daugherty Racing car at Daytona, Preece started the race at the tail of the field.  Patiently navigating his way to the front while avoiding the mishaps of others, the Connecticut native found himself in victory lane after 76 laps.

“A bad race car.  A really bad a– race car,” Preece said on the NBC Trackpass broadcast.  ” I’ve got to thank my team for working here today, getting this thing prepared, and letting me just come and drive.  We actually broke something [in the rear suspension] when Matt got turned.  I was just hoping it would hold on, and it did.”

Tuesday night’s winner Patrick Emerling led the field to the green flag and led the opening 31 laps before Eric Goodale powered out front on lap 32.  Making good on his Tuesday night promise to be in contention the rest of the week, Goodale showed the way until Preece made the race-winning pass with slight contact on lap 69.

An array of late-race cautions forced Preece to work even harder for the victory, but he fended off a fierce challenge from Matt Hirschman in the closing laps.

Scoring a win in one of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing’s most prestigious races made the triumph even more meaningful for Preece.

“I remember the day John died.  He was a racer, man.  A lot of Modified guys are racers, but John Blewett was a racer,” he said.  “I’ve had a ton of respect for Jimmy Blewett and John Blewett, so to be able to win this race, it’s been a while since I’ve won here.  It’s been over a year, so it’s pretty cool.”

Hirschman overcame adversity of his own Wednesday night.  After being involved in an accident with 15 laps to go, the driver known as “Big Money” charged back to the front before ultimately finishing second to Preece.

“I congratulated [Preece] and also thanked him for not cleaning me out after I got cleaned out,” Hirschman said.  “He was the first car I saw when I spun around, coming right at me.  Obviously he’s a talent, so he was able to avoid that.  I’ll go to bed and thank my lucky stars tonight that we have a race car because that was very bad.”

Tuesday’s winner Patrick Emerling completed the podium, while Jon McKennedy and Ron Silk round out the top five.

Fans can follow Speed51’s on-location coverage presented by BMR Drivers Academy throughout the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.  Live updates are available on Race Day Now by clicking here.  Fans can also enjoy all of Speed51.TV’s on-demand video content from the World Series with a free seven-day trial by clicking here.

-Story by: Brandon Paul, Speed51 Director of Content 
-Photo credit: Speed51 / Will Bellamy

John Blewett III Memorial Unofficial Results

New Smyrna Speedway (FL) – February 10, 2021

Pos    #    Driver    Start
1    6    Ryan Preece    37
2    60    Matt Hirschman    11
3    07    Patrick Emerling    1
4    7NY    Jon McKennedy    5
5    16    Ron Silk    8
6    59    Matthew Galko    34
7    2H    Chuck Hossfeld    13
8    20    Eddie McCarthy    19
9    14    Bobby Measmer, Jr.    18
10    36    David Sapienza    15
11    56    Amy Catalano    20
12    58    Eric Goodale    4
13    2    JR Bertuccio    14
14    46    Craig Lutz    12
15    28    Buddy Charette    21
16    8    Chris Finocchario    28
17    32    Tyler Rypkema    3
18    179    Stephen Kopcik    7
19    79    Chris Jensen    31
20    4    Burt Myers    17
21    92    Anthony Nocella    2
22    50    Ronnie Williams    6
23    55    Jeremy Gerstner    16
24    17TC    Tommy Catalano    10
25    51    Jimmy Blewett    36
26    17K    Danny Knoll, Jr.    26
27    48    Marcello Rufrano    9
28    9    Tom Martino, Jr.    23
29    99    Tyler Truex    24
30    1    Bobby Jones    30
31    1NY    Chris Ridsdale    27
32    73J    Jonathan Laureigh    33
33    73    Paul Hartwig, Jr.    32
34    0    Randall Richard    25
35    21    Jim Gavek    29
36    25    Brian Robie    22
37    73M    Ron Mullen    35


NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY - RACE # 2
by Shawn Courchesne 

It’s been a rough week for Patrick Emerling at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway. 

He blew a motor in his primary car. He got taken out while running in the top-five late in the first feature of the week. He even had issues in the pits with the lift gate on his trailer going bad. 

Tuesday night the Orchard Park, N.Y. driver got lifted up finally in New Smyrna, and in the process got to exact a bit of revenge. 


 
Emerling held off Eric Goodale on a pair of late restarts to win the caution-marred 35-lap Tour Type Modified division feature Tuesday at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway. 

“So far there’s just been a lot of things go wrong,” Emerling said. “It’s good to have one thing go right for once.” 

Goodale, of Riverhead, N.Y., was second and Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa. third. 

Ryan Preece of Berlin and Craig Lutz of Miller Place, N.Y. rounded out the top-five respectively. 

It was the second of five consecutive nights of Tour Type Modified features at the World Series. Lutz won the 50-lap opening feature on Monday. 

Emerling got by Goodale for the lead on a lap 23 restart then never trailed again. It was fitting payback. Goodale spun Emerling out of fourth place with two laps remaining in Monday’s feature. 

“Last night was pretty unfortunate to us,” Emerling said. “We were decent. We were good enough to stay in the top-five and lead some laps last night. But we got taken out, so this definitely makes up for it.” 

Emerling was able to easily pace away from Goodale over the two late restarts Tuesday. 

“I was just trying too hard,” Goodale said of the final restart. “I spun the tires a little bit there. I still had a chance at him in [turns] one and two but [Emerling] was just a little bit better late in the race. He just had a little bit better drive on exits. This one slipped away. Me and Patrick got into yesterday so I’m glad for him to come back and get the win. It just sucks.” 

The “Big One” for the 36-car field came on lap 23 with some battling going on at the back end of the top-10 going bad. 

In turn three Doug Coby – running eighth – got hit from behind by Jimmy Blewett and forced into seventh place running Ryan Preece. Coby ended up spinning and jerked hard around into the outside wall. Marcello Rufrano on the outside got pushed into the wreck and piled into Coby. 

“Just a bunch of animals trying to win everything we can in a short feature and some guys just kind of started to go away with the handling there about halfway through the race,” Coby said. “[Blewett] was real loose. Couldn’t go on the outside that’s for sure. [Preece] looked real tight on the bottom so he was trying to arc his entry point a bit and stay on the bottom. I think he thought he could maybe [Ron Silk] and [Ronnie Williams] and he did a real wide arc into [turns] three and four to try to make a move. And I gave him the room in front of me, but then I got hit from the back [by Blewett] and got shoved into him, got crossed up, tried to save it, got hit again because nobody lifts for anybody. That’s asphalt Modified racing here when there’s no rules and no consequences other than wrecked race cars and people getting hurt. … It’s rough down here.” 

Said Rufrano: “I guess the guys don’t know that the pedal in the middle is the brakes. You’ve got a guy checked up sideways pointed toward the fence coming out of [turn] and the best decision for you is to push him through it? You’ve got hundreds of thousands of dollars in race cars out there and it’s uncalled for really. … It’s aggravating. It’s not cheap to come out here and run these.” 
1    07    Patrick Emerling    4
2    58    Eric Goodale    3
3    60    Matt Hirschman    2
4    6    Ryan Preece    10
5    46    Craig Lutz    5
6    16    Ron Silk    8
7    50    Ronnie Williams    7
8    51    Jimmy Blewett    6
9    179    Stephen Kopcik    23
10    55    Jeremy Gerstner    22
11    92    Anthony Nocella    15
12    2X    JR Bertuccio    19
13    70    Andy Seuss    17
14    56    Amy Catalano    27
15    32    Tyler Rypkema    25
16    59    Matthew Galko    24
17    36    David Sapienza    12
18    28    Buddy Charette    30
19    17K    Danny Knoll, Jr.    26
20    1    Bobby Jones    33
21    21    Jim Gavek    34
22    4    Burt Myers    20
23    1R    Chris Ridsdale    31
24    8    Chris Finocchario    28
25    20    Eddie McCarthy    18
26    2H    Chuck Hossfeld    11
27    0    Zane Zeiner    13
28    158    Michael Curtis    35
29    10    Doug Coby    14
30    48    Marcello Rufrano    9
31    25    Brian Robie    21
32    7NY    Jon McKennedy    1
33    17    Tommy Catalano    16
34    9    Tom Martino, Jr.    29
35    99    Tyler Truex    32
36    73J    Jonathan Laureigh    36


NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY - RACE # 1
by Shawn Courchesne 

Craig Lutz didn’t want to wait until Tuesday night to visit New Smyrna Speedway victory lane.  After winning the Tuesday night race during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing one year ago, Lutz did one better on Monday night by winning the Tour-type Modified opener.  The Miller Place, New York native bested a strong field of 40 drivers to claim the 50-lap victory, which didn’t end until early Tuesday morning.

To get the job done, Lutz was forced to hold off some of the best in the business on a handful of late-race restarts, including a green-white-checkered finish with Matt Hirschman, Ron Silk and Doug Coby breathing down his neck.

“I was just hoping it was going to be the last [restart],” Lutz said on the NBC Trackpass broadcast.  “This was the longest 50 laps I’ve ever raced, but it all worked out.  We struggled a little bit in practice, but this is an awesome group.”

Lutz of Miller Place, New York started from the pole after an eight-car invert following qualifying.  He jumped out to the early lead over Patrick Emerling and led the first 14 laps before a red flag for a multi-car accident on the backstretch.  The incident, which started with contact between Ryan Preece and Jon McKennedy, claimed a handful of competitors including Anthony Nocella, Eric Goodale, Tyler Rypkema and Tommy Catalano.

Race of Champions Modified Series champion Patrick Emerling jumped out to the lead for one lap on the ensuing restart before Lutz battled back on the outside to reclaim the lead on Lap 16.  Lutz controlled the majority of the race from that point forward until defending champion Matt Hirschman lined up to his inside for a restart with four laps to go.

Hirschman briefly took over the lead on the restart before receiving directive from race control to give back the spot for jumping the restart.  From there, Lutz reclaimed the spot and survived a trio of restarts with Hirschman to his inside.

“I was told that I beat him to the line.  It’s one of those things that I need to watch a video to form an opinion,” Hirschman said of the restart that he initially took the lead on.  “I can have an opinion, but I may watch a video and think it’s different.  We’ll take a look and analyze the whole race and see what we can do to be better.

“The part about that official call doesn’t concern me at all; it’s more the straight line speed that they out-pull you,” he continued.  “It almost forces you to try to jump a little because he’s still coming with a head of steam.  It’s a difference in engine packages.  It’s pretty tough; they definitely out pull you.  It’s like drag cars and they’re going to win the drag race every day.”

Ron Silk remained inside the top-five throughout the race before finishing third behind Lutz and Hirschman.  Six-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Doug Coby charged from his 21st qualifying position to finish fourth, while 10-time Bowman Gray Stadium champion Burt Myers made a late charge into the top five.

Fans can follow Speed51’s on-location coverage presented by BMR Drivers Academy throughout the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.  Live updates are available on Race Day Now by clicking here.  Fans can also enjoy all of Speed51.TV’s on-demand video content from the World Series with a free seven-day trial by clicking here.

-Story by: Brandon Paul, Speed51 Director of Content – Twitter: @Brandon_Paul51

-Photo credit: Speed51 / Will Bellamy

Tour-type Modified 50 Unofficial Results

Pos    #    Driver    Start
1    46    Craig Lutz    1
2    60    Matt Hirschman    8
3    16    Ron Silk    4
4    10    Doug Coby    21
5    4    Burt Myers    20
6    92    Anthony Nocella    14
7    6    Ryan Preece    7
8    25    Brian Robie    18
9    8    Chris Finocchario    25
10    36    David Sapienza    19
11    2X    JR Bertuccio    23
12    17K    Danny Knoll, Jr.    30
13    28    Buddy Charette    17
14    07    Patrick Emerling    2
15    58    Eric Goodale    15
16    59    Matthew Galko    33
17    48    Marcello Rufrano    3
18    2    Chuck Hossfeld    5
19    1    Chris Ridsdale    26
20    55    Jeremy Gerstner    24
21    51    Jimmy Blewett    11
22    50    Ronnie Williams    12
23    21    Jim Gavek    35
24    1S    Bobby Jones    27
25    9    Tom Martino, Jr.    28
26    0    Zane Zeiner    10
27    45    Timmy Catalano    29
28    56    Amy Catalano    32
29    54C    Tyler Catalano    31
30    7NY    Jon McKennedy    6
31    32    Tyler Rypkema    9
32    20    Eddie McCarthy    13
33    179    Stephen Kopcik    16
34    17TC    Tommy Catalano    22
35    99    Tyler Truex    34


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