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(South Boston, VA) Matt Hirschman passed Luke Baldwin with 38 laps to go and pulled away in the closing laps to win the ‘King of the Modifieds’ race at South Boston Speedway on Saturday. The win was the first of the season on the SMART Modified Tour for the Pennsylvania driver and third career win at the track.
Starting from the 2nd position Hirschman bided his time throughout the first half of the race behind early race leader Luke Baldwin.
Baldwin paced the field throughout the first stage of the race but was passed on lap 38 by two-time Whelen Modified Tour champion Ron Silk. Silk charged from 5th to 1st after the first caution of the race flew on lap 20 for a spinning Jeremy Gerstner that triggered a multi-car accident off turn 2.
Despite a strong car the race changed for Silk when he stayed out on a caution at lap 55 that brought most of the leaders to pit road. Electing to pit later Silk was trapped back in the pack and eventually eliminated from the race in a multi-car crash off turn 4.
Meanwhile Baldwin and Hirschman methodically worked their way back toward the front and were battling for the lead with less than 50 laps to go when a massive wreck occurred in turn one involving Jake Crum and Jack Baldwin.
The incident triggered a physical confrontation between the two drivers on track before calmer heads prevailed. FloRacing replays seem to suggest that Baldwin simply lost control of his car while battling Crum for position and not retaliation for an incident between the two drivers in the last SMART race at Anderson, SC.
After another red flag for track cleanup Hirschman was able to clear Baldwin cleanly for the lead on a double file restart and cruised to the finish. The win was ‘Big Money Matt’s’ 10th career win on the SMART Tour in just 19 starts.
“It was dominating only late,” Hirschman explained after the race. “We were a little off early in the race. The 16 car(Ron Silk) came on strong to take the lead. We made the right strategy call and right adjustments(on the pit stop) because the car was better after that.”
“I had to step up at the end and cut some good laps and try to get some distance. The 7 car (L Baldwin) kept making some runs and getting inside me. I was able to distance myself and drive on for the win.”
After numerous race wins and championships in his long career Hirschman didn’t view this win as just another race.
“I think it is going to rank right up near the top,” Hirschman added in victory lane. “It is a huge win with a good purse and very good payday.”
After the race one of the first drivers to offer congratulations in victory lane and praise his fellow competitor was defending race winner Luke Baldwin.
“If anyone deserves the crown it’s him.” Baldwin said. “I am glad he won it. If anyone is the modern day ‘King of The Modifieds’ it is probably him and a couple others.”
Charging from sixth over the last forty laps, Stephen Kopcik came home in second. He was followed to the line by Luke Baldwin, Brandon Ward and Carson Loftin.
The next event for the SMART Modified Tour will be on April 5th at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, NC.
In other action, Peyton Sellers and Trevor Ward picked up the wins in twin 50-lap Late Model Stock features to kick off the NASCAR regional season at South Boston. Both drivers plan to compete for the track title in 2025.
Jeff Melton captured the 50-lap Stars Super Stock race that ran from green to checkered.
