Matt Hirschman Batting 0.750 at Evergreen Raceway
St. Johns, PA (9/11/2016) – Perfect racing weather and conditions set the stage for the first regular event of Evergreen’s ‘September to Remember’ on Sunday. Following a short moment of silence to remember those who lost their lives in the September 11 attacks fifteen years ago, Matt Hirschman of Northampton started from the pole position and wired the 50-lap Tour Type Modified field to claim the $2,000 prize. In only his second career Street Stock start, Rich Paciotti of Kunkletown drove away with the victory and Steve Heckman of Gilbert bested the Factory Stock field en route to his second win of the season. Brayden Spencer of Shickshinny was nearly wrecked on the final lap of the Four Cylinder feature, but held on to take his third win and the $400 prize. Dylan Slepian of Long Island grabbed the INEX Legends victory and Sean Verwys took the INEX Bandolero win.
Following heat races, the top nine Tour Type Modified drivers redrew for staring positions, with hopes of getting a top five starting spot in the 50-lap main event. Following bad luck in and a third place finish in the heat race, Matt Hirschman drew the pole position.
Hirschman led the first circuit over Sal Accardi, Bobby Jones, Brandon Oltra and John Markovic. Eight quick laps clicked off until the yellow flag waved when Paul Hartwig, Jr. spun in turns three and four. Green flag racing resumed with Hirschman on the point, but Brian Sones had cracked the top five.
Jones got by Accardi for second following the restart and with Hirschman still in command on lap 24, Accardi spun from contention on lap 24.
Jones lined up aside Hirschman for the restart, followed by Sones, Roger Coss and Oltra. Jones tried everything that he could to overtake the leader on the restart, but like each time before, Hirschman denied the challenge.
Following a pair of quick yellows, Bran DeFebo cracked the top five on lap 27. He then grabbed the fourth spot a lap later. Shortly after, Zane Zeiner, who had started 17th on the grid, got by Oltra for the fifth spot.
With five laps remaining, DeFebo had moved to third, but Hirschman remained uncontested for his third Tour Type Modified victory in four starts this season. Jones settled for second, followed by DeFebo. Zeiner crossed the line in fourth but was disqualified in post-race tech inspection. Coss and Anthony Sesely completed the top five.
Sones, Sesely, and Markovic were heat race winners.
From the pole position, Rich Paciotti led the Street Stock field to the drop of the green flag in the 25-lap feature; He led the first circuit over Scott Adams, Todd Ahner, Charlie Castiglione and Randy Schlenker.
Ahner overtook Adams for second in the early going and Castiglione got by Adams for third on lap two. Just a lap later, Schlenker got by to take fourth.
In only his second career Street Stock start, Paciotti was unchallenged and earned the victory over Ahner, Castiglione, Schlenker and Adams.
Ahner and Adams notched heat wins.
Following his heat race win, Steve Heckman started on the pole in the 20-lap Factory Stock feature. He led the opening circuit over Justin Morgan, Stephanie Moyer, TJ Kapish and Moe Hunsinger.
With Heckman showing the way, Morgan tried the leader high and low but Heckman held his line. Meanwhile, Kapish worked on Moyer and grabbed third on lap five.
Morgan remained relentless and determined to take the top spot from Heckman in the latter stage of the event, yet Heckman continued to hold his line. With three laps to go, Morgan left the door open and Kapish slipped through to take second. However, Morgan balled beck and quickly regained the spot.
Despite the pressure, Heckman remained consistent and drove away with his second feature win of the year. Morgan settled for second, followed by Kapish and Moyer. Scott Sipe completed the top five.
In what was anticipated to be one of the most exciting races of the afternoon and with $400 on the line for the winner, plus a Hoosier Racing Tire for second through fifth (courtesy of BRE Racing Tire), the Four Cylinders took to the track for a 30-lap feature.
Jay Skupski started from the pole position and led the first circuit over Frank Hughes, Jr, Bob Azarowicz, Brayden Spencer and Tom Cavagnino.
With three laps complete, Hughes got by Skupski to take the lead. Spencer followed through to grab the second spot.
Hughes stayed out front early on and Spencer rode in second. Meanwhile, Azarowicz and Skupski battled for third. Eventually, Azarowicz came out with the spot on lap nine. Two laps later, Harry O’Neill joined the mix and then shot by Azarowicz for third.
With 19 laps complete, Spencer made his move to take the lead from Hughes. O’Neill followed through for second.
Following a quick yellow on lap 21, Spencer fended off O’Neill for the lead. O’Neill used the bumper several times in the closing laps, which helped give him the race lead on lap 27. However, Spencer fought back and took the top spot a lap later.
With one lap remaining and as a last ditch effort in turns one and two, O’Neill gave the leader one big and final shot. Both cars tangled temporarily, yet both drivers somehow held on for the exciting finish. Spencer held on to take the win, which was his third of the season. O’Neill crossed the strip in second but was later disqualified for actions following the checkered flag.
Azarowicz finished in second, followed by Hughes. Ron Heeter and Eric Banashefski completed the top five.
Heat race wins went to Hughes and Spencer.
After starting in the last spot for the 25-laps INEX Legends feature, Dylan Slepian moved by Kyle Kwasna to take the top spot. Slepian was unchallenged following the lap five pass and went on to take his first Evergreen win over Brandon Oltra, and Jonathan Parsons.
Sean Verwys notched his second Evergreen INEX Bandolero win and eighth overall the season in the 10-laps show. Gage Stull was the runner-up, followed by Katie Verwys.
Evergreen racers and fans will have a day off on Sunday, September 18. Racing action will resume at the speedway on Sunday, September 25. The Late Models, Street Stocks, Four Cylinder, INEX Legends and Bandoleros will be on the card.
Grandstand admission is just $8 and children 10 years of age and younger are admitted for free with a paying adult.
The pit gate will swing open at 10:30 AM and the pit entrance fee is $30 with a pit license or $40 without. Practice will kick off at 12:30 PM and heat races will begin at 2 PM. The grandstand gates will open at noon.
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.
Evergreen Raceway is proud to be associated with Harry’s U Pull It, Penn’s Peak Radio, Sour Apple Auto & Customs, CK Auto Service & Race Fab, Himmer Graphics, Valve Tech Sales, Penn’s Peak, Printers Edge, Electric Frog Designs, Cargill of Hazleton, Tito Juice & RockAuto.com.
Tour Type Modified (50-laps) 1. MATT HIRSCHMAN 2. Bobby Jones 3. Brian Defebo 4. Roger Coss 5. Anthony Sesely 6. Brandon Oltra 7. John Markovic 8. Amber Fortin 9. Brian Sones 10. Robby Walton 11. Alan Creveling 12. Wayne Szerencsits 13. Paul Hartwig Jr 14. Sal Accardi 15. Blake Barney 16. Randall Richard 17.Jason Hearne 18. Ken Darch 19. Russ Frantz DQ: Zane Zeiner
Street Stock (25-laps) 1. RICH PACIOTTI 2. Todd Ahner 3. Charlie Castiglione 4. Randy Schlenker 5. Scott Adams 6. Greg Long 7. Rich Reichenbach 8. Paul Hartwig, Jr 9. Mike Pollack 10. Brian Brown 11. TJ Kapish 12. Mike Piechota 13. Lyndsey Buss 14. Paul Morgan Jr.
Factory Stock (20-laps) 1. STEVE HECKMAN 2. Justin Morgan 3. TJ Kapish 4. Stephanie Moyer 5. Scott Sipe 6. Moe Hunsinger 7. Frank Katona 8. Tom Casagrande 9. Zach Biros
Four Cylinder (30-laps) 1. BRAYDEN SPENCER 2. Bob Azarowicz 3. Frank Hughes, Jr 4. Ron Heeter 5. Eric Banashfski 6. Pete Verwys 7. Tom Cavagnino 8. Travis Solomon 9. Rich Mutarelli 10. JP Harbst 11. Fred Gimbi 12. Jay Skupki 13. Hunter Latalese 14. Nick Brajuka 15. Steve Tito 16. Kyle Willaims DQ: Harry O’Neill
INEX Legends (25-laps) 1. DYLIAN SLEPIAN 2. Brandon Oltra 3. Jonathon Parsons 4. Kyle Kwasna
INEX Bandoleros (10-laps) 1. SEAN VERWYS 2. Gage Stull 3. Katie Verwys
Upcoming Shows:
Sunday, September 18- NO RACING
Sunday, September 25- Late Models, Street Stocks, Four Cylinder, & INEX Legends and Bandoleros
Sources: Gene Ostrowski/Evergreen Raceway PR