Hirschman Looks To Add Another NSS Title
SOPHIA, N.C. – Matt Hirschman seeks a record fifth Colors Edge John Blewett III North-South Shootout presented by PPG title, and he's hoping plenty of other drivers will step up and make the road to Victory Lane as tough as ever.
A four-time winner in the Tour Modified division at the North-South Shootout, the Northampton, Pa., native Hirschman will enter both the Tour Modified and SK Modified races when the 10th annual version of the event rolls into the historic Caraway Speedway on November 8-10.
“I've always liked the open shows. When you get a chance to compete against the best from all over the place, you want to do that,” said Hirschman, who has won the last two North-South Shootouts, including last year's inaugural showing at Caraway. “There aren't too many unsanctioned races left where promoters will take a risk and pay money out of their own pocket for a big event like this.
“There's so few of them left, I'd hate to see any of them go. I hope everybody feels the same way.”
The Tour Modifieds will compete for 125 green-flag laps in this year's North-South Shootout, while the SK Modifieds will hold a 50 green-flag lap feature. Practice and qualifying will be held on Friday, November 9, with consolation rounds and feature events slated for Saturday, November 10.
A total of seven feature races will be held as part of the Colors Edge John Blewett III North-South Shootout presented by PPG – in all, more than 600 laps of feature racing for the Tour Modifieds, SK Modifieds, PASS Super Late Models, Legends, Lite Modifieds, Sportsman and Super Trucks.
Hirschman will enter his own No. 60 DMC Auto Exchange Tour Modified, the same car that won the 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011 North-South Shootouts and finished second in 2008. He also will pilot the No. 50 Long Island Mod Maniac SK Modified for car owner Bob Horn out of Connecticut. Hirschman won the SK Modified portion of the North-South Shootout in 2009.
“I would say my North-South Shootout wins are my biggest career accomplishment,” said Hirschman, who has also won open competitions in the northeast, at Star Speedway and Seekonk Speedway. “Going back to the first one I won in 2006, I had won some races prior to that, but that was first big race I won.
“The notoriety I got from that, it was the most I ever received for winning a race.”
Hirschman feels especially strongly about supporting Caraway Speedway, which agreed to continue the North-South Shootout for the first time in 2011. He said that track operators Darren and Renee Hackett should be commended for their efforts to keep the tradition going.
“Some people didn't like idea of it going to Caraway at first, because there were so many (NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour) races there every year, but me going and winning should give any outside team hope of going down there and being able to win,” Hirschman said. “I proved that it's still it's own race, and I think any outsider can go in and win that race.”
For more information on the 10th annual Colors Edge John Blewett III North-South Shootout presented by PPG, including ticket prices and detailed schedule information, visit www.NorthSouthShootout.com or contact the Caraway Speedway office at (336) 629-5803.
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Sources: North-South Shootout PR