8/6/2018
Race of Champions
MATT HIRSCHMAN SCORES ROD SPALDING CLASSIC 75 AT CHEMUNG SPEEDROME WHILE JOE MANCUSO CAPTURES THE TRIBUTE TO ED MCGUIRE 51 FOR SECOND WIN OF SEASON
Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa., showed why he is a contender whenever he shows up with the Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Series on Saturday at the Chemung (N.Y.) Speedrome. Hirschman captured his second win of the 2018 season, which is the 42nd of his Race of Champions career.
Hirschman came from 12th and took the lead from his neighbor Eric Beers of Northampton, Pa., on the 45th circuit around the challenging speedway.
“We had a good night, but drawing 12th made it challenging,” stated Hirschman in victory lane. “We had a good car and things worked out our way tonight. Andy (Jankowiak) was coming and we’ve had a couple of good races. I’m just happy to honor some great racing history and my good friend Ed McGuire here tonight. Rod Spalding and the Spalding Foundation has been such a big of our sport. This is a great way for us to end a great night.”
Jack Ely of Wall Township, N.J., drew the pole and was flanked by Beers on the start. Ely led the opening lap before Beers took the top spot for the next 44 circuits.
Hirschman patiently worked his way through traffic and moved past Beers on lap 45. Hirschman was able to keep Andy Jankowiak of Buffalo, N.Y., at bay as the duo charged to the checkered, reversing their roles of July 21 at Hillside Buffalo where Jankowiak won and Hirschman finished second.
Daryl Lewis of Ontario, N.Y., continued his impressive season with another third place finish. In the seven races so far, Lewis has yet to finish outside of the top-ten and has recorded four top-five finishes.
Chuck Hossfeld of Ransomville, N.Y., finished 4th with Beers rounding out the top-five.
Hirschman scored the Speed 51 “Top of the Board” Award in group qualifying with a lap of 14.581 seconds (92.586 mph).
Hossfeld, Roger Coss of Lafayette, N.J. and Skora won the three qualifying races.
Joe Mancuso of Buffalo, N.Y., scored his second Race of Champions Super Stock Series victory of the season in the Tribute to Ed McGuire 51 as he took the lead from Tim Gullo of Elmira, N.Y., as Gullo went into the pit area with a flat right front tire. Mancuso, who started 8th held off Charlie Sharpsteen of Waverly, N.Y., finished second. Sharpsteen started 10th. Jason Duke of Newark Valley, N.Y., started 16th and finished 3rd. Gullo finished 4th and Tommy Barron of Ontario, N.Y., rounded out the top-fve.
Gullo and Barron won the qualifying races.
The Race of Champions is a sanctioning body presenting Modified and Stock Car racing on asphalt and dirt surfaces throughout the Northeast, with events in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey with primary marketing partners Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, US Army, Upstate Automotive Group, Waddell Communications, Pilat Graphic Design, Jerico Performance, TDH Refrigeration, Sherwood Racing Wheels, PavedTrackDigest.com and Speed51.com. The 68th annual Race of Champions weekend will take place in 2018 at Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Pennsylvania and is the second longest consecutive auto-racing event in North America, second only to the Indianapolis 500.
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Feature Finish
Rod Spalding Classic (75-laps)
Chemung Speedrome, Chemung, N.Y.
Finishing Position, Car Number, Driver, Laps Completed, Reason Out (If Any)
Finish Starting Position No. Name Laps
1 12 60 Matt Hirschman 75
2 8 12x Andy Jankowiak
3 4 10 Daryl Lewis, Jr.
4 5 22 Chuck Hossfeld
5 2 45 Eric Beers
6 21 26 JR Kent
7 6 25 Mike Leaty
8 9 65 George Skora, III
9 7 17c Roger Coss
10 1 54e Jack Ely
11 18 95 Bryan Sherwood
12 25 4 Zack Knowlden
13 15 53 Brian Defebo
14 14 07 Patrick Emerling
15 24 40 Alan Bookmiller 74
16 16 3 Daren Scherer 74
17 10 66 Austin Kochenash 70
18 22 59 Karl Hehr 64
19 20 17 Danny Knoll 52
20 16 54c Tommy Catalano 23 Accident
21 17 72 TJ Potrzebowski 23 Accident
22 13 32 Tyler Rypkema 23 Accident
23 19 45c Timmy Catalano 23 Accident
24 11 5 Kyle Ebersole 23 Accident
25 26 64 Amy Catalano 1 Clutch
26 23 40 Tommy Rought 0
Time of Race: 40 minutes and 35 seconds Average Speed: 42.053 mph Margin of Victory: 1.084 seconds
Lead Changes: 2 among 3 drivers. (Jack Ely 1, Eric Beers 2-45, Matt Hirschman 46-75 )
Speed51.com “Top of the Board” Award; Matt Hirschman (14.581 seconds @ 92.586 mph)
Paved Track Qualifying Race Winners; Chuck Hossfeld (5); Roger Coss (1); Daryl Lewis, Jr. (2); Matt Hirschman (2)
Jerico Performance “Jammin’ Gears Awards”; JR Kent (Advanced 15 positions in feature)
US Army Top Performer Award; Jack Ely (14.906 seconds @ 90.568 mph lap 7)
Jan “Pops” Leaty Award – Leader Lap 25 – Mike Leaty
$100 Bicknell Racing Products Certificate Award (Third Place) – Daryl Lewis, Jr.
MyRacePass “Free Pass” Award – (No Eligible Driver, No “Free Pass” Given during race”)
Feature Finish
Tribute to Ed McGuire 51 (51-laps)
Chemung Speedrome, Chemung, N.Y.
Finishing Position, Car Number, Driver, Laps Completed, Reason Out (If Any)
Finish Starting Position No. Name Laps
1 8 64 Joe Mancuso 51
2 10 34 Charlie Sharpsteen
3 16 13 Jason Duke
4 1 71 Tim Gullo
5 2 28 Tommy Barron
6 3 7 Terry Potrzebowski
7 4 89 Frank Chapman, Jr.
8 14 14 Broc Brown
9 5 96 Dana Novoa
10 11 04 JP Herbst
11 7 48 Tommy Krawczyk
12 6 71 RJ Zacharias 50
13 13 18 Jason Duke, Jr. 50
14 15 1 Vern Hedderick 49
15 9 42 Derrick Tarbox 37
16 12 75a Chuck Anderson Accident
Qualifying Race 1; Tim Gullo – Qualifying Race 2; Tommy Barron
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