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By Ted Grow
Photo Bill Elkins
Mike Erney garnishes first Street Stock career win; Paul Hartwig III makes it two in a row and Joey Bailey wins in the TQ Midgets.
What’s the saying you win some you lose some? Well Evergreen Raceway finally snatched a win completing all racing events in three and a half hours across seven different divisions. Kuddos to all of the drivers and track crew and especially Jason who rolled the dice to race and prevailed.
A 75 lap held over modified main from May 1st proved to only delay the inevitable as Matt Hirschman win. It however did not come easy starting 15th Hirschman would have to work through some heavy hitters in front. Things got a little interesting on lap 11, as numerous cars headed pit side for an adjustment on an extremely slick race track including Hirschman who had climbed into the top 10.
Nick Baer, Kyle Strohl, Blake Barney and Austin Beers all took shots at the 41 machine of Baer. Each time Baer was able to fend them off and as Baer lead the field Hirschman mounted the charge moving to the outside. As Beers and Hirschman ran side by side Baer using every inch of race track thwarted the attempts of Beers but couldn’t hold of Hirschman.
Sixteen Evergreen Mods assembled on the 1/3rd paved oval for a 30 lap barn burner. Rookies Gordie Buchman, Steve Shultz, Paulie Hartwig III and Jaden Brown all had opportunities at one point in the event to race side by side with one of the greats, Earl Paules. Paules in true veteran fashion, took the young blood to school. Steve Shultz moving up from the late models moved passed Jaden Brown who led early, however Brown had a handful with a very loose race car. Shultz, Hartwig and Paules were all able to slip by Brown and it was on from there. Hartwig and Paules began to lean on each other as Shultz looked to begin to tighten up, opening the door for Paules to slip by and go on to win his first modified main in twelve years.
The street stocks provided a non-stop feature with Mike Erney leading wire to wire for his first ever win. Action was fierce behind with Cody Geist, Tommy Flanagan and defending champion Ken Erney. Mike Pollack charged from his 8th starting spot to throw his hat into the ring as well late in the event. Two first time Street Stock winners in two races…
The 4-cylinder main event was uneventful for now two-time winner Paul Hartwig III who launched to the lead early and never looked back. Hartwig started fourth and was to the lead by lap two and just as last week Kenzie Adams came home 2nd looks like it will be another Adams, Hartwig battle for the title.
In the Novice feature Makayla Kohler won her first ever feature in her first ever start she also added the heat win earlier in the day.
The ATAMRA visited the Speedway for the first time in ten years and it was a non-stop event as Joey Bailey went from 8th to the lead with laps turning two seconds faster than the Tour Mods.
Current dirt aces Tanner VonDoren and USAC star Briggs Danner also ran in the 25-lap feature
