Matt Hirschman Wins Third SBM V 125
Epping, NH- Matt Hirschman went on to win his third SBM V 125 this past Saturday night at the Star Speedway in Epping, NH in round two of the Northeast Race Cars And Parts Tri Track Open Modified Series. Hirschman passed pole sitter Jon McKennedy with 24 to go.
“ You knew you had Jon (McKennedy) out there without pitting. You know with each lap your chances probably improved. I wasn’t certain we would get him. I was confident as the laps kept going and I was closing in on him and Les (Hinckley) was pressuring and he was coming. I started to get a better feeling that it was going to be me or Les (Hinckley) by 125 laps. It took what it took. We played everything right. Had the car what we needed there. Just all worked out.” Hirschman Said
Hirschman feels that Star is a great track for him. He would be surprised and disappointed if he was not a threat to win or at least a top 3 or top 5 car on Saturday night just based on his past success here at the track. “ I just know how to get around this place. I approved it again tonight.” Hirschman Said
On the final restart with the green white checkered, Hirschman was unsure of what Hinckley would have. “ We had quite a lead without that last caution it was certainly over but you never know. He (Hinckley) got a good start there but by the time we got to one. I had at least a half car better. I think I maintained my lane as best I could for both of us on the worn tires and we got out front. We had enough and it worked out.” Hirschman Said
Les Hinckley would finished second in the event. “ Matt (Hirschman) drove away from us when Jon (McKennedy) backing up and he held help me up. We had a shot on him on the restart. If we had 10 laps after that maybe we would’ve of had a shot at racing him for the win. With 2 laps, it’s just hard. He got me up out of the groove a little but which is what he had to do as the leader. Good Race.” Hinckley Said
Hinckley heard fans screaming at Hirschman in victory lane for the move. Hinckley felt that Hirschman moved him up the track and not off the track. If Hirschman had moved Hinckley off the track, he would’ve been upset. “ He moved me up. He got me out of the groove a little bit. Matt (Hirschman) knows it would’ve been the same thing I would of done to him or probably everybody else would’ve of done to him or done to me in the same situation. That’s just green white checkered racing. He didn’t ruin me. He just protected the lead and moved me up and I’d do the same to him.” Hinckley Said
The fourth annual Chuck Montville Award was given out over the weekend. Montville who owned the 06 driven by Les Hinckley passed away in April 2013. Chuck’s daughters Stephanie and Kristen were on hand to hand out the award. This year’s winners were Steve and Bobbi Suess. Chuck’s youngest daughter Kristen and her boyfriend Steve will become parents for the first time in January.
Hinckley’s next race will be round three of the Tri-Track Open Modified Series on Thursday August 25th at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl in Wayne Darling’s car.
Josh Cantera would finish third in the SBM V 125 on Saturday night. Cantera driving for car owner Goodwin and Anne Hannaford as it was their first race of the year. Cantera unloaded off the truck as they tweaked the car a little bit and stayed out of trouble to come home in third place.
Two time winner of the SBM 125 Jon McKennedy started on the pole and led the first 100 laps of the event. McKennedy felt the car was really good and they elected to stay out during the event. At lap 54, a bunch of drivers in the field made a pit stop. McKennedy knew it would be tough to hold them off. In the closing laps of the SBM 125 Richard Savary made contact with McKennedy that saw McKennedy spin. Race officials sent Richard Savary to the rear of the field. “ Typical (Richard) Savary. He’s racing for 20 years and won a handful of races. It is what is. Basically just drove on the side of me and wrecked us. We had a third place run there and spun. Oh well what are going you going to do ??” McKennedy Said
Richard Savary saved his car until the end. He pitted and thought the team had a great strategy during. He was running fourth going for third in the battle with Jon McKennedy. “ I thought we we’re going to be on the podium. Jon (McKennedy) didn’t pit. He was completely out of tires. He was trying to hang on which is what you gotta do when you don’t have any tires left. But with no tires there was a big hole. I filled the hole and never touched him on entry. Never touched him going down the backstretch away or on entry. He I guess he said he lost it. He touched my sidebar behind the 99 on the car and he went around. I never expected anything to come of it. He just lost it and when they said (race officials) I had to go to the back for that. I had no idea why. I clearly had a much better car. My car was good enough to run for the win with the 2 cars in front “ The 06 (Hinckley) passed me. I had passed him. Now we were going to have a restart with him on the outside. Me on the inside behind with Matty (Hirschman). I thought it was going to be a great finish for the crowd on a green white checkered and Jon (McKennedy) was done. He had burned them out. He had nothing left. He did his best to block the 06 and he did his best to block me . He was used up. So I was trying to clear him clean. Not make any contact and go after the 06 with a couple to go.” Savary Said
The first Annual New England Legends Summer Nationals happened this weekend as part of a 4 race series between Beech Ridge Star and Oxford. Trevor Sanborn would win at Beech Ridge on Thursday and at Star on Saturday.. Austin Teras would win at Star on Friday and at Oxford on Sunday.
The next event for the Tri-Track Open Modified Racing Series will be on Thursday August 25th at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. Star Speedway will be back in action this Saturday night.
Story And Photos By: Matthew Wiernasz/Yankeeracer.com