MATT HIRSCHMAN ADDS “ONE OF THE THUMB” WITH FIFTH WIN IN 67TH ANNUAL RACE OF CHAMPIONS 250 VICTORY TO CLOSE OUT PRESQUE ISLE DOWNS & CASINO RACE OF CHAMPIONS WEEKEND
-Patrick Emerling (Sportsman); Joe Mancuso (Super Stocks); Kenny Hejna (Four Cylinders); T.J. Cochrane (Street Stocks); Sam Fullone (Late Models) all Race of Champions Weekend Winners-
North East, Pennsylvania – (October 2, 2017) – Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pennsylvania, went on to win his third consecutive Race of Champions 250 this past Saturday at Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Pennsylvania to conclude the Presque Isle Downs & Casino Race of Champions Weekend. This was the first time the event was held at the venue. Hirschman’s victories came on three distinctly different type tracks in Chemung (N.Y.) Speedrome, Oswego (N.Y.) Speedway and now Lake Erie, which is a 3/8-mile progressively banked oval.
“We had a great car today but the pit stop strategy was challenging,” stated Hirschman following the race. “We dug ourselves a little bit of a hole, after the pit stops, but we were able to come out of it. This track provides two wide racing all over it and it must have been a great race to watch because there were so many battles. I know Andy (Jankowiak) was to our back bumper, but then had a flat late in the race. It takes everything to win this race and to do it five times now is humbling and very special. 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 $13,013.13 for the win in honor of Ted Christopher of Plainville, Connecticut, who was inducted into the Race of Champions Hall of Fame during pre-race ceremonies.
Hirschman started the 250-lap race from the pole position after earning the top spot during group qualifying. He was flanked to the green by his neighbor, Eric Beers of Northampton, Pennslyvania. That duo would dominate the early running of the race, until things began to heat up when pit stops began taking place with just over 100 laps to go in the event.
Hirschman, who was near the back of field, methodically worked his way forward to put himself back in contention before taking the lead for the final time with less than 50 laps remaining in the race. Hirschman held off Mike Leaty of Ontario, N.Y., for the victory. Leaty finished second, with Austin Kochenash of Danielsville, Pa., third. Beers finished fourth and Daren Scherer of Binghamton, N.Y., finished fifth.
Leaty claimed the 2017 Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Series fueled by Sunoco championship crown based on his second place finish.
Matt Hirschman turned in the fastest time during group qualifying with a time of 14.587 seconds (92.548 mph). Tyler Rypkema of Owego, N.Y.; Bryan Sherwood of Binghamton, N.Y.; Amy Catalano of Ontario, N.Y. and Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, N.Y., all won the qualifying races.
On Friday night Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, N.Y., scored the Race of Champions Sportsman Modified Series fueled by Sunoco over Chuck Hossfeld of Ransomville, N.Y. and Scott Wylie of Blasdell, N.Y.
Joe Mancuso of Buffalo, N.Y., won the Race of Champions Super Stock feature with a dramatic late race pass. Tim Gullo of Elmira, N.Y., earned the division championship.
Kenny “Hot Hands” Hejna of South Buffalo, N.Y., won the Pennsylvania State Troopers Four Cylinders Championship.
T.J. Cochrane of Cheektowaga, N.Y., scored the victory in a wild Street Stock race.
Sam Fullone of North Collins, N.Y., won the Race of Champions Late Model race over Dave Rigan of Williamsville, N.Y., and Tommy Catalano of Ontario, N.Y.
Catalano earned the Race of Champions Sportsman Modified and Race of Champions Late Model championship to become the first driver in Race of Champions history to earn two championships in one season.
Announcer Joe Marotta of Syracuse, N.Y.; Car Owner Ed McGuire of Rome, Pennsylvania and Ted Christoper of Plainville, Connecticut were inducted into the Race of Champions Hall of Fame Saturday.
The Race of Champions is a sanctioning body presenting Modified and Stock Car racing on asphalt and dirt surfaces throughout the Northeast, with events in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The 67th annual Race of Champions weekend will take place in 2017 at Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Pennsylvania as part of Presque Isle Downs & Casino Race of Champions Weekend and is the second longest consecutive auto-racing event in North America, second only to the Indianapolis 500. For more information, contact;
Race of Champions Media at media@rocmodifiedseries.com
Follow us on Twitter; Instagram and Facebook; @RoCModSeries or visit our website:
www.rocmodifiedseries.com67th Annual Race of Champions 250
Presque Isle Downs & Casino Race of Champions WeekendLake Erie Speedway, North East, Pennsylvania
Finishing Position, Car Number, Driver, Laps Completed, Reason Out (If Any)
Pos No. Name Laps
1 60 Matt Hirschman 250
2 25 Mike Leaty 250
3 2t Austin Kochenash 250
4 45 Eric Beers 250
5 3 Daren Scherer 250
6 76 Zane Zeiner 250
7 48 John Kevman 250
8 15ct Chris Pasteryak 250
9 54 Tommy Catalano 250
10 71 Jimmy Zacharias 250
11 7ny Bobby Holmes 250
12 22 Chuck Hossfled 250
13 95s Bryan Sherwood 250
14 34 John Fortin 250
15 59 Karl Hehr 250
16 07 Patrick Emerling 250
17 10L Daryl Lewis Jr. 250
18 12x Andy Jankowiak 250
19 13 Scott Wylie 246
20 14 Daniel Maichrzak 197
21 13h Tony Hanbury 175
22 32 Tyler Rypkema 148
23 1 Chris Ridsdale 136
24 65 George Skora III 102
25 64 Amy Catalano 100
26 0 Randal Richard 72
27 17r Ben Reynolds 3
Time of Race: 1 hour 36 minutes 39 seconds Average Speed 58.503 mph
Margin of victory: .535 seconds Fast Qualifying Lap: Matt Hirschman / 17.042 seconds @ 105.621 mph
Lead Changes: 6 among 5 drivers (Matt Hirschman, Eric Beers, Chris Pasteryak, Daren Scherer, Austin Kochenash)
Qualifying Race 1 Pos No. Name
1 32 Tyler Rypkema
2 3 Daren Scherer
3 76 Zane Zeiner
4 0 Randal Richard
5 1 Chris Ridsdale
6 14 Dan Maichrzak
7 17r Ben Reynolds
Qualifying Race 2 Pos No. Name
1 95s Bryan Sherwood
2 2t Austin Kochenash
3 7ny Bobby Holmes
4 65 George Skora III
Qualifying Race 3 Pos No. Name
1 64 Amy Catalano
2 13 Scott Wylie
3 10 Daryl Lewis Jr.
4 48 John Kevman
5 34 John Fortin
6 54 Tommy Catalano
Qualifying Race 4 Pos No. Name
1 12x Andy Jankowiak
2 13h Tony Hanbury
3 22 Chuck Hossfled
4 15ct Chris Pasteryak
5 59 Karl Hehr
Point Standings following
Lake Erie Speedway
09/30/2017:
Pos No. Name Total
1 25 Mike Leaty 1231
2 07 Patrick Emerling 1165
3 12x Andy Jankowiak 1119
4 54 Tommy Catalano 1100
5 65 George Skora 969
6 60 Matt Hirschman 965
7 32 Tyler Rypkema 959
8 22 Chuck Hossfeld 860
9 66 Austin Kochenash 838
10 3 Daren Scherer 837
11 95 Bryan Sherwood 831
12 64 Amy Catalano 767
13 10 Daryl Lewis 746
14 59 Karl Hehr 619
15 22jr Scott Wylie 504
16 40 Tommy Rought 465
17 01 Cam Barber 374
18 51 TJ Potrzebowski 313
19 71 Jimmy Zacharias 301
20 17 Danny Knoll Jr. 285
21 76 Zane Zeiner 279
22 7ny Bobby Holmes 257
23 40 Alan Bookmiller 240
24 1 Chris Ridsdale 232
25 99 Bill Mislan 209
26 45 Eric Beers 203
27 19 Brandon Oltra 169
28 11 Kirk Totten 160
29 24 David Rigan 148
30 76 Randall Richards 145
31 27 Matt Galko 137
32 14 Dan Majchrzak 127
33 01x John Barber 124
34 48 John Kevman 116
35 15 Chris Pasteryak 112
36 7ny Kevin Miller 107
37 17 Roger Coss 107
38 45 Timmy Catalano 101
39 54 Jack Ely 88
40 34 John Fortin 88
41 5 Kyle Ebersole 72
42 21 Tony Hanbury 68
43 40 Jake Rought 65
44 12x Tom McGrath 58
45 1 Mike Barnes 56
46 59 Steve Hoddick 56
47 7 T.J. Zacharias 54
48 72 Jesse Kent 52
49 4 Kreig Heroth 48
50 72 David French Jr. 48
51 10f Mike Fiebelkorn 47
52 95m John Markovic 46
53 45 Joe Brainard 43
54 65 Andy Lewis 42
55 8s Lee Sharpsteen 40
56 25r John Ramsay 20
57 17r Ben Reynolds 20
