Matt Hirschman Pockets Two Grand at Evergreen Raceway
St. Johns, PA (4/24/2016)- After finishing second in his last three Modified feature starts of the 2016 racing season, Matt Hirschman of Northampton, PA grabbed the race lead from Jason Hearn and never looked back to take the checkered flag in the 50-lap Modified main event Sunday at Evergreen Raceway. CJ Lehman of Shirley, NY has never won at Evergreen Raceway. That all changed when he wired the Pro Stock field for the win. Randy Schlenker of Whitehall, PA Scored his first Street Stock win of the season and Moe Hunsinger of Drums, PA scored his first career Factory Stock win. Sam Ryan of White Haven, PA remains undefeated in Four Cylinder action, as he notched his second consecutive win.
A total of nineteen cars lined the pit area for round number one of seven for the Tour-Type Modifieds. Following heat races and a redraw for the feature lineup, Jason Hearne started from the pole. He led the opening lap over Brian Sones, Jim Dolan, Matt Hirschman and Brian DeFebo. The yellow flag waved with only one lap complete when Brandon Oltra spun in turn four. Shortly after the restart, Hirschman climbed to third and then overtook Sones for second of lap three. A handful of yellows followed early on, one of which flew for Sones when his car lost power on lap four. Unfortunately, his day was done. With ten laps complete, Hearne led over Hirschman. Earl Paules made his presence known in a hurry and held third, followed by DeFebo, and Amber Fortin. With 17 laps in the books, DeFebo and Paules battled side by side for third. Fortin joined the mix for a terrific battle before the caution waved on lap 21 when DJ Wagner spun in turns three and four. Green flag racing resumed and Hirschman battled with Hearne for control of the how.
With 22 laps in the books, Hirschman made his move, dropping Hearne to second. Following the restart a three-wide situation developed in a hurry, which shot DeFebo up the track and into the wall in turns one and two. He was able to continue but had to restart from the rear on the lap 25 restart. At that point in time, Hirschman continued to lead the way over Hearne, Paules, Fortin and Anthony Sesely. The top five changed on lap 29 when Fortin shot to the infield in turn four. The next restart was unsuccessful, as Hearne got moved through the infield in turn one and then was clipped by Paules. Hearne’s day came to an end and Paules was able to continue. Meanwhile, Oltra, who spun twice in the early going, began to rebound and move forward. When it was all said and done, he sat third for the restart. Although the last 20 laps were dicey, no one appeared to have anything for Hirschman, who took the victory, the trophy and $2,000 prize. Sesely settled for second, followed by Oltra, DeFebo and Alan Creveling. Hirschman, DeFebo and Hearn earned heat race victories.
After winning the heat race, CJ Lehman started from the pole position in the 20-lap Pro Stock feature. He never looked back after the green flag waved and cruised to the checkers for his first Evergreen victory over Blaine Barry, Charlie Castiglione and Dan Pawlicki. After notching heat wins, Greg Long and Randy Schlenker shared the front row for the 25-lap Street Stock feature. Schlenker overtook Long for the lead before a lap was complete. Bernie Uphold held third in the early going, followed by Scott Adams and Pawlicki. With Schlenker sill showing the way, Adams and Uphold battled for third. However, that battle was short-lived when the pair had a tandem spin in turn one on the sixth lap. Green flag racing resumed with Schlenker showing the way over Long, Chip Wanamaker, Castiglione and Todd Ahner. Wanamaker made his move for second following the restart but fell short of reeling in Schlenker. Long settled for third, followed by Ahner and Castiglione. Moe Hunsinger has run many Factory Stock events at Evergreen. However, victory lane has eluded him. That all changed in the 20-lap feature when he took not only the heat race win, but also the feature over Tom Casagrande, Steph Moyer, Frank Katona and Justin Morgan. Just like he did last weekend, Sam Ryan notched a heat win and started from the pole in the 20-lap Four Cylinder show. However, this week wasn’t nearly as easy, as he was overtaken by Frank Hughes before a lap was complete. Ryan came back to regain the top spot on lap 13 and then following a lap 15 restart, Hughes moved back to the lead. Tom Cavagnino held third, with Sam Danaher and Jay Skupski in tow.Ron Heeter cracked the top five in the late going and climbed all the way to second by the end of the event, but he ran out of time if he did have anything for Ryan, who went on to take his second straight win. Hughes, Danaher, and Cavagnino completed the top five.
Moe Hunsinger has run many Factory Stock events at Evergreen. However, victory lane has eluded him. That all changed in the 20-lap feature when he took not only the heat race win, but also the feature over Tom Casagrande, Steph Moyer, Frank Katona and Justin Morgan. Just like he did last weekend, Sam Ryan notched a heat win and started from the pole in the 20-lap Four Cylinder show. However, this week wasn’t nearly as easy, as he was overtaken by Frank Hughes before a lap was complete. Ryan came back to regain the top spot on lap 13 and then following a lap 15 restart, Hughes moved back to the lead. Tom Cavagnino held third, with Sam Danaher and Jay Skupski in tow.Ron Heeter cracked the top five in the late going and climbed all the way to second by the end of the event, but he ran out of time if he did have anything for Ryan, who went on to take his second straight win. Hughes, Danaher, and Cavagnino completed the top five.
After notching heat wins, Greg Long and Randy Schlenker shared the front row for the 25-lap Street Stock feature. Schlenker overtook Long for the lead before a lap was complete. Bernie Uphold held third in the early going, followed by Scott Adams and Pawlicki. With Schlenker sill showing the way, Adams and Uphold battled for third. However, that battle was short-lived when the pair had a tandem spin in turn one on the sixth lap. Green flag racing resumed with Schlenker showing the way over Long, Chip Wanamaker, Castiglione and Todd Ahner. Wanamaker made his move for second following the restart but fell short of reeling in Schlenker. Long settled for third, followed by Ahner and Castiglione. Moe Hunsinger has run many Factory Stock events at Evergreen. However, victory lane has eluded him. That all changed in the 20-lap feature when he took not only the heat race win, but also the feature over Tom Casagrande, Steph Moyer, Frank Katona and Justin Morgan.
Just like he did last weekend, Sam Ryan notched a heat win and started from the pole in the 20-lap Four Cylinder show. However, this week wasn’t nearly as easy, as he was overtaken by Frank Hughes before a lap was complete. Ryan came back to regain the top spot on lap 13 and then following a lap 15 restart, Hughes moved back to the lead. Tom Cavagnino held third, with Sam Danaher and Jay Skupski in tow.Ron Heeter cracked the top five in the late going and climbed all the way to second by the end of the event, but he ran out of time if he did have anything for Ryan, who went on to take his second straight win. Hughes, Danaher, and Cavagnino completed the top five.
The Evergreen Modifieds are back on the schedule for “Pack the Track” next Sunday at Evergreen. The Late Models, Street Stocks, Factory Stocks and Four Cylinders are also in action and grandstand admission is only $4! As always, children 10 years of age and younger will be admitted into the grandstand area for free with a paying adult.
Evergreen Raceway is located minutes from Hazleton, PA, in between routes 93 and 309. For more information regarding Evergreen Raceway, including the entire season schedule, directions, and divisional payouts, please visit www.evergreenracewaypark.com and don’t forget to like their Facebook page as well.
Modified (50-laps) 1. MATT HIRSCHMAN 2. Anthony Sessley 3. Brandon Oltra 4. Brian DeFebo 5. Alan Creveling 6. EarlPaules 7. Amber Fortin 8. DJ Wagner 9. Levi Arthur 10. Jim Dolan 11. Terry Markovic 12. Tommy Rought 13. Brandon Pressler 14. Brock Brown 15. Jason Hearne 16. Wayne Szerencsits 17.Chris Ridsdale 18. Harry Buchman 19. Brian Sones
Pro Stock (20-laps) 1. CJ LEHMAN 2. Blaine Barry 3. Charlie Castiglione 4. Dan Pawlicki
Street Stock (25-laps) 1. RANDY SCHLENKER 2. Chip Wannamaker 3. Greg Long 4. Todd Ahner 5. Charlie Castiglione 6. Dan Pawlicki 7. Bernie Uphold 8. Gordy Buchman, Jr 9. Scott Adams 10. Lyndsey Buss 11. Paul Morgan Jr.
Factory Stock (20-laps) 1. MOE HUNSINGER 2. Tom Casagrande 3. Steph Moyer 4. Frank Katona 5. Justin Morgan 6. Paul Frantz 7. Zach Biros
Four Cylinder (20-laps) 1. SAM RYAN 2. Ron Heeter 3. Frank Hughes 4. Sam Danaher 5. Tom Cavagnino 6. Jay Skupski 7. Bob Azarowicz 8. Jessie Strohl 9. Brayden Spencer 10. Phillip Sabatine 11. Kyle Williams
Sources: Gene Ostrowski/Evergreen Raceway PR