Matt Hirschman Adds Number 7 as the Most Prolific Winner in the History of the Race Of Champions at the 69th Annual Presque Isle Downs & Casino Race of Champions Weekend to Close Out the 2019 Season
Andy Jankowiak (Sportsman); Andy Cryan (Super Stocks); Briar Dils (Four Cylinders); Rich Sharpe (Street Stocks); Jerick Johnson (Late Models); Shawn Nye (TQ Midget) all Race of Champions Weekend Winners
North East, Pennsylvania – (October 1, 2019) – Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pennsylvania, earned his 7th career and 5h consecutive in the 69th edition of the event at Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Penn., to close out Presque Isle Downs & Casino Race of Champions weekend. Hirschman’s victories came on three distinctly different type tracks in Chemung (N.Y.) Speedrome, Oswego (N.Y.) Speedway and Lake Erie, which is a 3/8-mile progressively banked oval.
“This is the biggest race of our season and when it rained, I thought, this just isn’t my year,” stated Hirschman following the race. “Then when I knew we would finish I was pumped up to get going again. Things worked out our way. This track is great. There are multiple grooves and it really is exciting racing. It takes everything to win this race and to do it is extremely humbling to win. This race means a great deal to my family. My Dad (Tony Hirschman) has won it four times. It is an incredible feeling and this truly means a great deal to all of us.”
Hirschman took home $12,500 for the win.
Hirschman captured the pole during group qualifying. After a rain delay when George Skora, III of Eden, N.Y., was leading, Hirschman worked his way back to the front and ultimately held off his neighbor, Eric Beers of Northampton, Pa., to score the victory. Skora worked his way back to finish third. Scott Wylie of Blasdell, N.Y., and young Austin Beers of Northampton, Pa., rounded out the top-five.
During post-race inspection several items were specifically inspected including; compression, the ignition system, MSD Box, transmission and carburetors. All cars passed inspection.
Briar Dils of Derby, N.Y., won the Race of Champions Four Cylinder “Dash” Series event while Jacob Gustafson of Webster, N.Y., earned the Race of Champions Four Cylinder “Dash” Series championship.
Shawn Nye of Lancaster, N.Y., won the “Harry Macy Classic 29” in exciting fashion, passing eventually TQ Midget Series champion Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, N.Y., late in the race to earn the victory.
Jerick Johnson of Mooresville, N.C., captured the Race of Champions Late Model Series 40-lap feature. Johnson had to hold off defending race winner Sam Fullone of North Collins, N.Y., to take home the top-prize. Terry Weldy of Corfu, N.Y., scored his first Race of Champions Late Model Series championship.
On Friday night Jankowiak scored an exciting and emotional Race of Champions Sportsman Modified Series victory over Nye and Hirschman. Chuck Hossfeld of Ransomville, N.Y., earned the Series title after earning the Modified Series crown in 2018.
Andy Cryan of Hamburg, N.Y., raced to his first ever Race of Champions Super Stock Series victory. Tom Barron of Ontario, N.Y., raced to his first-ever Race of Champions Series Championship.
Rich Sharpe of Buffalo, N.Y., claimed the Street Stock race over Ken Maltby of West Seneca, N.Y., who came home second. Brian Hoffman of South Wales, N.Y., finished third.
Full and detailed race results and point standings can be obtained at www.rocmodifiedseries.com
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Race of Champions Media at media@rocmodifiedseries.com
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Sources: ROC
Photo Credit: Alex and Helen Bruce Photos. Matt Hirschman in victory lane with his son, Matthew and holding the Al Gerber Memorial Trophy.