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By DINO OBERTO
(7-13-25) Matt Hirschman of Northampton completed what was a very fruitful weekend of racing as he scored a 50-lap win on Sunday at Evergreen Raceway. That followed a New York swing with a Race of Champions Modified Series victory on Friday in the 35th Annual Tribute to Tommy Druar and Tony Jankowiak 110 at Spencer Speedway and a third-place tally Saturday in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Nu-Way Auto Parts 150 at Lancaster Motorplex.
Hirschman started the race fourth and fell back one spot behind Austin Beers in the early going but by halfway he had begun making his charge. Within a 10-lap span he passed Beers, Brian DeFebo and Paulie Hartwig III, moving up to second place behind leader Roger Coss by lap 29.
Coss had led from the outset and was setting a solid pace, first over DeFebo and then Hartwig. When Hirschman moved to second Coss had good lead going but the fast-moving Hirschman was making haste and lap-by-lap continued to cut into his deficit.
With 10 laps to go Hirschman had finally caught Coss and once on his rear bumper, he was then able to propel underneath Coss after completing the 41st circuit and next time by he was in command and on his way to victory.
“I felt that was a really good race and Roger (Coss) had a good lead and a pretty good car but we were able to close up on him until about 10 (laps) to go and from where we started we worked for each spot and gained them all from good clean passes,” said Hirschman, who collected his 53rd Tour Type Modified win and 56th overall at Evergreen.
Hirschman’s run to the checkers came in an impressive caution-free race that was completed in a time of 12-minutes.
“Overall, it was a good day for us and I want to thank Harry’s U-Pull-It of West Hazleton. It’s always nice to run locally and this was our first time here this year and I want to thank them for their support. It was a busy weekend, we had a win on Friday, last night a third and today another win,” stated Hirschman.
“There’s no track I’ve ever been better at then right here and it’s always good to race close to home. This is where I started my career, and we always like to get back here a much as we can.”
On a day that started out questionably with the weather, the races went on despite the threat of rain later in the day and some that had fallen prior to the start. But by race time, although overcast, all was fine and in one sense kept the track from slicking off, which is typical on warm sunny days, and something that Hirschman actually likes better.
“It does get slick out there and these tires are only good for so many laps before they start getting a little slick and with this type of conditions, and even though the sun hasn’t been out, with the heat and the humidity it brings out the oil of the track but that’s the kind of track I like, challenging and slick and I feel that suits my style the best,” he said.
Coss put in a solid day, and his runner-up was the third straight time of doing so here.
“He’s (Hirschman) is the best here and there’s no question about that and pretty much everywhere. I like to say that this was one of the best times we’ve run here even though we finished second. He was better but obviously we were way better than the rest of the field and it was a solid day for us,” noted Coss.
“We ran our pace and once Matt got to second, I tried to pick that up but after he got by I really didn’t have much left and like a lot of races he always has the one or two tenths better than you at the end.”
Hartwig, Beers and DeFebo completed the top five.
Nick Ross of White Haven scored his second straight Late Model win and much like did the week prior after taking the lead he was able to hold a comfortable edge on the field en route to the finish.
Ross started sixth and had a bit of work to do in getting to the front. Pole sitter and early leader Brian Romig Sr. held the top spot over the first eight laps. During that span Ross had been busy picking his through.
One by one he went past Brett Peters, Brian Romig Jr., Brandon Cook and Evan Berretta. Upon gaining second, he was zoned in behind Romig Sr. and just as he did with the others, it was a quick pick and pass. Afterwards Ross presided in the lead and on to victory.
Marc Aigeldinger put in a notable last to second place run. Berretta, Peters and Romig Jr., rounded out the top five.
Gordie Buchman of Drums, cruised to his second Street Stock win of the season and in the process added to his current point lead. Buchman led all 25 laps but what was more impressive was the fact that the week before his car was heavily damaged following an opening lap accident with Bobby Hunsicker Jr. However, after a full week of thrashing, his No. 55B was not only back but in top form.
Eric Kocher chased Buchman through the event and would settle for second place. Meanwhile Paul Frantz held off Hunsicker for third. Like Buchman, Hunsicker also put in a week-long work effort to get his mount to the track. Dennis Buss finished fifth.
The Four Cylinder feature saw a good battle waged by the winners of the first three races, TJ Kapish and Michael Wambold, but they weren’t racing for the lead, rather second and third.
Out front and letting them two spar for runner-up was Rebecca Barbush of Drums. Barbush needed only three laps to take the lead from Tyler Skordensky and once she did there was no question as to her superior performance. Lap after lap she was able to keep safely ahead of Kapish and Wambold and had no problem negotiating traffic as well.
Gavin Higgins of Naticoke picked up his career first win in the Novice division, leading all laps and fending off Jeff Engler en route to the popular verdict.
The Legends cars were also part of the afternoon action and picking up a close verdict was Chris Sinatro of West Hempstead, NY was over Jeffery Farruggia.
Tour Type Modified feature finish (50 laps): 1. Matt Hirschman, 2. Roger Coss, 3. Paulie Hartwig III, 4. Austin Beers, 5. Brian DeFebo, 6. Ricky Ross Jr., 7. Jayden Harman, 8. Antony Sesely, 9. Jacob Kerstetter, 10. Jack Christman, 11. Earl Paules, 12. Jarret DiGiantomasso, 13. Ricky Collins, 14. Steve Shultz, 15.Donny Hartzell, 16. Steve Wojick, 17. Nick Baer
Late Model feature finish (30 laps): 1. Nick Ross, 2. Marc Aigeldinger, 3. Evan Berretta, 4. Brett Peters, 5. Brian Roming Jr., 6. Roger Maynor, 7. Seth VanFossen, 8. Micheal DeLong, 9. Brandon Cook, 10. Brian Romig Sr. DNS: Geno Steigerwalt
Street Stock feature finish (25 laps): 1. Gordie Buchman, 2. Eric Kocher, 3. Paul Frantz, 4. Bobby Hunsicker Jr., 5. Dennis Buss, 6. Mallory Kutz
Four Cylinder feature finish (25 laps): 1. Rebecca Barbush, 2. TJ Kapish, 3. Michael Wambold, 4. Robert McNulty, 5. Joe Barbush, 6. Micheal Klotz, 7. 7. Cody Boehm, 8. Tyler Skordensky, 9. Jacob Knittle, 10. Caitlyn Makarewicz, 11. Brookyln Peters, 12. Lauren Skupski, 13. Sam Ryan, 14. Mike Frable, 15. Jay Kanor 14. Sam Ryan, 15. Mike Frable
Novice feature finish (12 laps): 1. Gavin Higgins, 2. Jeff Engler, 3. Lexi Kutz
Legends feature finish (20 laps): 1. Chris Sinatro, 2. Jeffrey Farruggia, 3. Chevy Rommeney, 4. Chris Piasecki, 5. Brad Lowmaster, 6. Mike Kelley, 7. Cal Anderson, 8. Cliff Shaw Jr.
COMING EVENTS:
Sat./Sun. July 19 & 20 Drift Evergreen presented by Sinister Drift
Aug. 3 @2:00 pm 602 Crate Modifieds, Street Stocks, Four Cylinders, Rotten-and-Forgotten + Legends
Aug. 10 @2:00 pm Tour Type Modifieds, “Pap” 55B Memorial for Street Stocks, Four Cylinders, Novice + Legends
