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HAUNTED
HUNDRED TO HIRSCHMAN IN TTOMS COMPETITION AT SEEKONK
Lineman & Gluchacki Win in Support Divisions |
With
sparks flying, Matt Hirschman of Northampton, PA,
made a clean sweep of the 2017 season in Tri-Track
Open Modified Series (TTOMS) competition; winning
the Haunted Hundred at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday,
October 28, 2017. Hirschman took home $6,000 for the
win plus the ‘bounty bonus’ of $1,500. Having
already secured the championship for the series, the
win was the capper to a dominating season; where
Hirschman went 4-0.
While Hirschman dominated all season, he did not do
so during the Haunted Hundred. At the end, Hirschman
earned the victory over hard-charging Anthony
Nocella from Woburn, MA, and Rowan Pennink of
Huntingdon Valley, PA. Richard Savary and Les
Hinckley rounded out the top five.
A wild finish in the Late Model Haunted 50 found
Seekonk speedway’s 2017 Late Model champion Ryan
Lineman of Coventry, RI in victory lane. Tommy Adams
of E. Providence, RI, Dan Johnson, Rehoboth, MA,
Ryan Morgan, Ledyard Center, CT; and Jake Johnson of
Rehoboth, MA, completed the top five. Derek
Gluchacki of North Dartmouth, MA, took home top
honors in the Legends cars. Complete race reports
for the Late Model and Legends is available on
SeekonkSpeedway.com.
Under picture-perfect weather conditions, Ron Silk
led the field to green for the start of the Haunted
Hundred. Silk jumped out to the early lead with
Steve Masse in tow. The remainder of the field went
two-by-two in the opening laps. After heat race
qualifying, Matt Hirschman was mired mid-pack in the
14th position.
The lead duo drove away from a heated battle between
Tommy Barrett and Pennink. Derek Ramstrom and
Nocella went wheel-to-wheel followed by a tight pack
that also included Russ Hersey and Ryan Preece.
Barrett finally freed himself of Pennink but not
before Silk and Masse had amassed a half
straightaway lead over the rest of the pack. Pennink
and Nocella began to fade on the outside groove
losing positions to Ramstrom, Hersey and Pitkat.
Ramstrom began to work over Barrett for third.
The first caution of the event flew on lap 15 when
Pitkat spun with a flat right rear tire. The
top-five at the time of the caution was Silk, Masse,
Ramstrom, Hersey and Barrett. Hirschman was not
making much progress during the opening laps.
On the ensuing restart, Silk was able to retain his
lead. Looking racy after the restart, Masse made a
bid for the lead; diving low coming out of turn
four. The two made contact. Masse was unable to save
it; losing the handle and spinning in front of the
entire field to bring out the second caution on lap
17. A number of good cars were collected including
Vinnie Annarummo, Bobby Santos, Keith Rocco and
others. Annarummo and Santos were not able to rejoin
the competition. Preece, Nocella and Savary pitted
under caution.
Silk had to contend with Hersey on the restart on
lap 17. Hirschman now ran in eighth. A great launch
by Silk gave him the lead once again. Ramstrom
capitalized from the bottom groove to grab second
from Hersey. Hersey was able to duck in line into
third but was not content to settle. Jumping to the
inside of Ramstrom, he was able to take the spot
away once gain. Pennink ran in fourth ahead of
Barrett who was getting heavy pressure from Jonny
Kievman.
A lap late, Pennink got around Ramstrom to run in
third. Kievman stormed by Barrett taking Matt Galko
along for the ride.
Hersey looked low on Silk coming out of turn four,
making the pass stick to become the new leader on
lap 29. Barrett continued to backslide losing
positions to Galko and Hirschman. Pitkat, after
changing a tire, ran ninth.
A single car spin for Richard Savary had the caution
flying. A lap 29 restart attempt was called back
with a warning issued to Silk. On the second
attempt, the lead duo went wheel-to- wheel. Silk
stayed to the outside for a single lap before
settling into second behind Hersey.
Hersey was not getting any breathing room over Silk.
Pennink, in third, was dogged by Kievman. Hirschman
broke into the top five grabbing a position from
Ramstrom when back under green. With the top eight
running single-file, the best battle on the field
was for ninth between Pitkat holding off the charges
of Galko, Hinckley and Max Zachem.
Galko slid up the track moving Pitkat and opening up
the door for both Zachem and Hinckley. After
scuffling for positions, Hinckley ran ahead of
Zachem, now Nocella, Galko, and Pitkat. Chris
Pasteryak was joining the fray. Recovering nicely
from earlier incidents, Masse and Savary found
themselves knocking on the door of the top-ten.
Hersey had run out to a sizeable lead as the race
hit the halfway marker. Silk ran in second over
Pennink, Kievman and Hirschman inside the top-five.
Positions fifth through tenth at halfway were
Ramstrom, Pasteryak, Hinckley, Nocella and Zachem.
Just as Hirschman was putting the pressure on
Kievman, a spin by Preece brought out the fourth
caution at lap 55. Under the caution front runners
Ramstrom and Silk headed to pit road for service. On
the lap 55 restart, Hersey was able to maintain his
lead over Pennink.
A few laps later Hirschman, who had made his way up
to third, was able to take second from Pennink. He
immediately took chase of leader Hersey. Kievman,
stuck on the outside groove, was shuffled back;
giving up positions to Pasteryak, Nocella, Savary,
and Hinckley.
Upfront Hersey was able to maintain a two car-length
advantage over Hirschman. Nocella and Savary were
able to get by Pasteryak before the fifth caution
flew on lap 67 for an incident with Preece and Blake
Barney. Pasteryak lost ground in the shuffle as
well. Pitkat was penalized for the contact with
Preece. On the lap 67 restart, Hersey had to contend
with Hirschman for the lead.
After a bit of contact, with the two bumping wheels,
Hersey was able to regain the lead. Hirschman hunted
Hersey for the lead - first looking high for an
advantage and then low - but to no avail. At lap 75,
Hersey was hanging on over Hirschman with Pennink,
Nocella and Barrett inside the top-five. Savary,
Hinckley, Rocco, Masse and Andrew Krause made up the
top-ten with 25 laps to go in the Haunted Hundred.
The battle for the lead ramped up once again on lap
78 with Hirschman diving low looking for running
room underneath the leader. Hersey was able to fend
off the advances once again. Hirschman continued to
dog Hersey for the lead. Nocella meanwhile was able
to slip by Pennink for third.
The sixth caution of the event flew on lap 90 when
Blake Barney slowed; setting up a 10-lap dash to the
checkers. Hersey had been retaining a single car
length before the caution flew. The yellow however
would prove to be the undoing for Hersey.
On the lap 90 restart, the lead duo went
side-by-side for the lead. Nocella looked to make it
three-wide for the lead as Hersey drifted up. With
the opening, Nocella dove low. The two made contact
that sent Hersey spinning into the infield. No other
cars were collected.
Hirschman was the new leader for the second attempt
at a lap 90 restart. Nocella was lined up to his
outside with Pennink and Savary in row two for the
restart. Hirschman easily took the top spot;
maintaining a single car length advantage over
Nocella. Hinckley, who had moved into fourth over
Savary, pursued Pennink.
With three laps to go, Nocella gave it his all in
pursuit of the victory and the $1,500 bounty to beat
Hirschman. The two made contact on lap 98 with
Hirschman keeping the lead. Sparks flew from contact
between the two coming out of turn four on lap 99.
Hirschman stood his ground, withstood the onslaught
and went on to win the Haunted Hundred. After a
valiant and exciting effort, Nocella had to settle
for second. Pennink hung on for a podium finish.
Hinckley and Savary completed the top-five at the
checkers.
Earlier in the month, officials of the Tri-Track
Open Modified Series had announced a bounty on
Hirschman. Any competitor who could dethrone
Hirschman in the Haunted Hundred would receive a
$1,500 bonus. If Hirschman out-dueled the
competition yet again, he would take home the $1,500
bonus.
The $1,500 bounty bonus was added to Hirschman’s
winners share; making his total take for the event
to $7,500.
The victory was the fourth in four starts of the
2017 TTOMS season for Hirschman. He won both events
at Seekonk and both events at Star Speedway.
October 28, 2017: TTOMS Official Finishing -
Haunted Hundred - Seekonk Speedway:
1. Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA; 2. Anthony
Nocella, Woburn, MA; 3. Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon
Valley, PA; 4. Richard Savary, Canton, MA; 5. Les
Hinckley, Windsor Locks, CT; 6. Steve Masse,
Bellingham, MA; 7. Andrew Krause, Holmdel, NJ; 8.
Keith Rocco, Wallingford, CT; 9. Ron Frees, Brick
Township, NJ; 10. Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon, CT; 11.
Colbey Fournier, Berkley, MA, 12. Max Zachem,
Preston, CT; 13. Derek Ramstrom, West Boylston, MA;
14. Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs, CT; 15. Jon
Kievman, Deerfield Beach, FL; 16. Matt Galko,
Meriden, CT; 17. Ron Silk, Norwalk, CT; 18. Russ
Hersey, Swanzey, NH, 19. Tommy Barrett, Millis, MA;
20. Kirk Alexander, W. Swanzey, NH, 21. Ryan Preece,
Berlin, CT; 22. Ryan Vanasse, Warwick, RI; 23. Blake
Barney, Lakewood, NJ; 24. Vinnie Annarummo, Swansea,
MA; 25. Bobby Santos, Franklin, Ma; 26. Kurt Vigeant,
Oxford, MA.
DNQ: Mike Holdridge, Madison, CT; Rich
Parker, Forked River, NJ; Nick Salva, Cheshire, CT;
Rob Richardi, Taunton, MA; Cam Sontag, Sterling, MA;
Karey Stular, Ardrossan, AB, Canada; Ryan Doucette,
Framingham, MA; Sal Accardi Jr., Deer Park, NY; Andy
Jankowiak, Tonawanda, NY; Walt Sutcliffe, Panacea,
FL; George Sherman Framingham, MA..
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Source:
Dale Wolbrink / Tri-Track Open Modified Series
Posted:
October 29, 2017 |
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