Hirschman Dominates
Chemung 120
Matt Hirschman led start-to-finish Saturday in the Chemung
120 to capture his second NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win of the
season and gained on the championship points lead of Ted
Christopher with two races remaining.
Hirschman (No. 59 Ed Bennett Properties Chevrolet) was the
car to beat from the time they unloaded at the Chemung Speedrome
on Saturday morning. He was fastest in practice, earned his
first Coors Light Pole Award of the season, captured the first
of two 25-lap heat races, then led wire-to-wire in the 120-lap
main.
Hirschman entered the day 89 points behind Christopher in the
championship chase. With Christopher’s seventh place finish
Saturday, Hirschman narrowed the gap to just 55 points with only
the Stafford Fall Final and Thompson World Series weekends
remaining.
Todd Szegedy (No. 2 Wisk-Snuggle Ford) challenged Hirschman
many times but settled for a runner-up finish and held up his
spot in third in the season standings. Mike Stefanik (No. 16
Diversified Metals/Ace Moldings Pontiac) finished third.
Chuck Hossfeld, Ronnie Silk, Erick Rudolph, Christopher,
Bobby Grigas III, Rowan Pennink and Woody Pitkat rounded out the
top 10 finishers.
Hossfeld won the second of the two heat races prior to the
main.
With just two races remaining in the 2008 NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour season, the series will move to Stafford (Conn.)
Motor Speedway for the CARQUEST Fall Final on Sunday, Oct. 12.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-Chemung 120 Unofficial Results
Saturday
At Chemung Speedrome
Chemung, NY
Lap length: 0.375 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (1) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 122 laps,
55.925 mph, $4,300.
2. (6) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 122, $2,200.
3. (8) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Pontiac, 122, $2,400.
4. (2) Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville, N.Y., Dodge, 122, $1,700.
5. (7) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Pontiac, 122, $1,600.
6. (12) Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 122,
$1,600.
7. (22) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 122,
$2,150.
8. (10) Bobby Grigas, III, Marshfield, Mass., Chevrolet, 122,
$1,350.
9. (16) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 122,
$1,300.
10. (9) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 122, $1,050.
11. (5) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 122, $1,200.
12. (20) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 122, $1,075.
13. (14) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 122,
$975.
14. (21) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 122, $945.
15. (19) Joe Hartmann, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 122, $860.
16. (3) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 122, $800.
17. (18) Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays, N.Y., Chevrolet, 122, $775.
18. (24) Ryan Preece, Kensington, Conn., Chevrolet, 122, $750.
19. (15) Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown, N.J., Chevrolet, 121,
$525.
20. (17) Tom Abele, Jr., Norwich, Conn., Chevrolet, 121, $700.
21. (4) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 111, torque arm,
$650.
22. (25) Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 111, $600.
23. (11) Danny Sammons, Hamilton, N.J., Chevrolet, 110,
ignition, $600.
24. (13) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass., Chevrolet, 101, $600.
25. (23) Jake Marosz, Middletown, Conn., Chevrolet, 17,
handling, $400.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 0 hours 49 minutes 5 seconds
Margin of Victory: Race ended under caution
Fastest Qualifier: M. Hirschman (94.101 mph, 14.155 seconds)
Heat 1 Winner: M. Hirschman
Heat 2 Winner: C. Hossfeld
Caution Flags: 11 for 48 laps
Lead Changes: 0 among 1 drivers.
Lap Leaders: M. Hirschman 1-122.
Standings: 1. T. Christopher, 2111; 2. M. Hirschman, 2056; 3.
T. Szegedy, 1958; 4. C. Hossfeld, 1916; 5. R. Silk, 1875; 6. M.
Stefanik, 1831; 7. E. Beers, 1826; 8. R. Preece, 1748; 9. R.
Pennink, 1743; 10. J. Blewett, 1727.
Source:
Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR
Posted:
October 4, 2008
