07/30/06

Tony Hirschman Wins
First Of The Season At Holland

    Defending NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Champion Tony Hirschman of Northampton, Pa., scored his first victory of the season in the Paul Graff Trucking 100 at Holland International Speedway. Hirschman, driving the Kamco Supply Chevrolet, passed Todd Szegedy of Ridgefield, Conn. on lap 34 and led the rest of the race holding off challenges from Ted Christopher of Plainville, Conn. and Mike Stefanik of Coventry, R.I.
    Hirschman started the race in the sixth position. He was in the Top-3 by lap 15, and was second by lap 24. He raced wheel to wheel with Szegedy for a couple laps before pulling ahead for good. It was the 35th career win for Hirschman and his second at Holland. He now trails Stefanik by 21 points in the race fore the series championship.
    Christopher, in the AL-Lee Installations Chevrolet, held off a late race challenge by Mike Stefanik and finished second. Stefanik, who led the first 10 laps before giving way to Szegedy, was third in the Diversified Metals Chevrolet. Eddie Flemke, winner of the series last race at Holland, finished fourth in the Red Line Oil/Ron Bouchard Chevrolet. Jerry Marquis rounded out the Top-5 in the Reynolds Auto Wrecking Dodge.
    The race distance was increased to 117 laps as 27 laps of caution were run but only 10 counted toward the scheduled race distance of 100 laps.
    Matt Hirschman set fast time in qualifying to record his first Bud Pole Award. Jimmy Blewett was the Featherlite Most Improved Driver. Marquis collected the Powerade Power Move of the Race Award. Danny Sammons was the Rookie of the Race.
    The next race for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is at Riverhead, N.Y. on August 5.

Unofficial finish of Saturday’s $75,953.00 Paul Graff Trucking 100 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Holland International Speedway with driver's starting position in parentheses, hometown, make and model of car, laps completed,
Winner’s average speed, reason out (if any) and prize money.
1.  (6) Tony Hirschman, Northampton Pa., Chevrolet, 117, 65.648 mph, $7,400
2. (14) Ted Christopher, Plainville Conn., Chevrolet, 117, $3,600
3.  (1) Mike Stefanik, Coventry R.I., Chevrolet, 117, $3,000
4. (10) Eddie Flemke, Southington Conn., Chevrolet, 117, $2,700
5. (22) Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook Conn., Dodge, 117, $2,700
6.  (5) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield Conn., Ford, 117, $2,200
7.  (7) Danny Sammons, Trenton N.J., Chevrolet, 117, $1,950
8.  (4) Dick Houlihan, Bridgewater Mass., Chevrolet, 117, $2,000
9.  (16) Jimmy Blewett, Howell N.J., Chevrolet, 117, $2,200
10. (11) James Civali, Meriden Conn., Chevrolet, 117, $1,900
11. (21) Ken Barry, Griswold Conn., Chevrolet, 117, $1,700
12. (19) Chuck Hossfeld, Buffalo N.Y., Pontiac, 117, $1,675
13. (15) Rob Summers, Manchester Conn., Pontiac, 117, $1,650
14. (3) Jon McKennedy, Chelsford Mass., Chevrolet, 117, $1,300
15. (24) Steve Whitt, Farmingdale N.J., Dodge, 117, $1,550
16. (8) Matt Hirschman, Northampton Pa., Dodge, 117, $1,975
17. (23) Jamie Tomaino, Howell N.J., Ford, 117, $1,121
18. (2) Eric Beers, Northampton Pa., Chevrolet, 117, $1,575
19. (18) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon Conn., Chevrolet, 115, $1,450
20. (29) Jake Marosz, Middletown Conn., Chevrolet, 114, $725
21. (13) Donny Lia, Jericho N.Y., Chevrolet, 112, $1,525
22. (26) Wade Cole, Riverton Conn., Chevrolet, 109, $1,125
23. (25) Anthony Sesely, Matawan N.J., Chevrolet, 107, $1,125
24. (12) Doug Coby, Milford Conn., Pontiac, 99, $1,525
25. (27) Glen Tyler, Hampton Bays N.Y., Chevrolet, 93, Handling, $725
26. (9) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk Conn., Chevrolet, 78, Engine, $1,125
27. (20) Jimmy Storace, Kingston N.H., Chevrolet, 34, Accident, $1,125
28. (28) Joseph Hartmann, Calverton N.Y., Chevrolet, 15, Accident, $725
29. (17) Ron Yuhas, Groton Conn., Chevrolet, 15, Accident, $700

Failed to Qualify: (1) Alex Hoag (#87).
Time of Race: 0 hrs., 40 mins, 6 secs
Average Speed: 65.648 mph Margin of Victory:.92 Seconds

BUD POLE AWARD: Matt Hirschman *, 59 Furnace and Duct Dodge
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Jimmy Blewett, 12 T.S. Haulers/ United Crane Chevrolet
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE: Jerry Marquis, 4 Reynolds Auto Wrecking Dodge
SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Danny Sammons *, 0 Area Auto Racing News/Cliff Nelson Chevrolet

Caution Flags: Laps 2-7; 16-19; 35-42; 81-89. 4 for 27 laps.
Lap Leaders: Mike Stefanik 1-10, Todd Szegedy 11-33, Tony Hirschman 34-117.
Total Laps Led: Tony Hirschman 84, Todd Szegedy 23, Mike Stefanik 10. 2 changes involving 3 drivers.

Unofficial Top 20 Driver Points: Mike Stefanik 1095, Tony Hirschman 1074, Ted Christopher 1032, James Civali * 983, Eddie Flemke 961, Todd Szegedy 955, Eric Beers 948, Donny Lia 884, Dick Houlihan 858, Chuck Hossfeld 849, Jerry Marquis 842, Reggie Ruggiero 821, Doug Coby 800, Jamie Tomaino 790, Jimmy Blewett 757, Matt Hirschman * 729, Steve Whitt 715, Rob Summers 707, Zach Sylvester 703, Ron Yuhas * 693
Next Race: Riverhead, N.Y.
* Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender

Source:  NASCARTouring.com/WMT PR
Posted:  July 30, 2006