Hirschman wins Tri-Track Series-Riverside Park Reunion 100 by Jim Snape
Monadnock Speedway, Winchester, NH.
Round two of the Tri-Track Series took place, Saturday 6/13 at the high banked quarter-mile Monadnock Speedway, and when the checkered flew Matt Hirschman of Northampton, PA parked his Dave's Automotive sponsored number 59 in victory lane collecting the $6000 that goes with the win.
It looked like Hirschman would have to settle for a third place finish until race leader Woody Pitkat of Stafford Springs, CT forced Chris Pasteryak of Jewett City, CT, high in turns one and two on a lap 95 restart. That was all Hirschman needed as he dove under the pair and held on to take the win.
Hirschman was obviously happy with the victory, but realizes the competition is getting better and tougher in each tri-track series he runs. Qualifying through the second conci got him into the feature, but he says his team has got work to do if they want to keep up their winning ways.
The Pitkat/Pasteryak incident was also advantageous to Steve Masse of Bellingham, MA, as he raced into the third spot and then applied pressure on second-place Mike Holdridge of Madison, CT. The 11th caution flag of the race came on lap 99, for a Pitkat spin that set up a green white checker finish.
As Hirschman drove away on the restart, Masse overpowered Holdridge crossing the finish line 0.346 seconds behind Hirschman.
Masse said "Man that was wild, we just got lucky there. I was riding in seventh and thought maybe I was going to get a top five, and they walked up the track fighting for the lead and the door opened up and luckily there was no cautions so I got to keep my spot, that was just crazy. I got in trouble early and lost several spots and had to drive the car harder to get by everybody, but I'll take a second-place all day". About the action in front of him he said, "you know, everybody's racing for a lot of money and you'll do whatever you can to win, and that's what happens."
The feel-good story of the race had to be that of the Dale/Mike Holdridge team. After a devastating crash at the Lee USA Speedway in the first tri-track series race, Mike seemed to struggle the first half of this day. Mike did not qualify in either his heat or conci, but finally put it all together to win the the 'B' feature. Instead of taking the $1000 payoff, he elected to race, and start 27th in the 100 lap main feature. That decision was a wise one, as he raced his way to a third place finish and a $2600 payday.
The feel-good story of the race had to be that of the Dale/Mike Holdridge team. After a devastating crash at the Lee USA Speedway in the first tri-track series race, Mike seemed to struggle the first half of this day. Mike did not qualify in either his heat or conci, but finally put it all together to win the the 'B' feature. Instead of taking the $1000 payoff, he elected to race, and start 27th in the 100 lap main feature. That decision was a wise one, as he raced his way to a third place finish and a $2600 payday.
Holdridge commented, "I was trying to be patient and Larry Barnett was spotting for me today and he helped me get through a lot of stuff. Plus when they pitted I stayed out and gained positions, I wished I had a right rear at the end. At least these guys gave me some room and showed some respect and I appreciate that. It's more fun running at the front."
Pasteryak was the winner of round one at the Lee USA Speedway. When asked about the incident on the lap 95 restart, Pasteryak said, "the last couple of the laps we started 16th and drove to second and didn't touch a car, restarted second beside Woody Pitkat and he just drove through me." Upon learning that Pitkat's spotter told him to take Pasteryak high on the restart Chris commented, "Then you know what? His spotter is a bigger idiot than he is (Pitkat) and he's dumb for listening to a spotter that would say that. You can run me up all you want, you can run me up half a lane, that's cool, but his spotter doesn't drive the race car. I think with instructions like that. I've got a bigger issue with his spotter then him(Pitkat). You shouldn't have to race like that and now they are going to have to fix that car because he ran me like that."
Summary.
Track – Monadnock Speedway 0.250 mile.
Length – 100 green flag laps.
Margin of victory – 0.346.
Lap leaders – 3 – # 85 (1/5) #42 (6/95) #59 (96/101).
Best time – 12.323.
Fastest lap. – # 99, R.Savary.
Cautions – 11 – lap 23, 60, 67, 72, 73, 74, 93, 93, 95, 99, 99.
Heat winners – 85,Szegedy – 31, Masse – 22, Pennink – 42 ,Pitkat – 79NC, Davis.
Conci winners – 7 MA,Vigeant – 59, Hirschman.
B feature winner – 0, Holdridge
Provisional – 79 NH, Grubisa.
Unofficial finish.
1 – 59, Hirschman $6000.
2 – 31, Masse $3600
3 –0, Holdridge $2600
4 – 76, Zeiner $2050
5 – 05, Patnode $1500
6 – 92, Nocella. $1400
7 – 27, Jankowiak $1600
8 – 6, Preece, $1200
9 – 20, Coby. $1100
10 – 12,Annarummo $1000
11 – 99, Savary. $975
12 –6ma, Perry $950
13 –5ct, Pasteryak $925
14 – 79 NC, Davis $2959.14
15 – 42, Pitkat $3075
16 – 04X, LeClerc jr. $850
17 – 70,Seuss $825
18 – 28, Jarvis $1400
19 – 85,Szegedy $860
20 – 53, Wrenn $800
21 – 22, Pennink $800
22 – 69, Dolan $800
23 – 7 MA, Vigeant $800
24 – 23, Douglas $1500
25 – 16, Berndt. $800
26 – 41, Murphy $800
27 – 79 NH,Grubisa $1000
28 – 88, Hersey $800
DNQ
04 – Brandon Dion
85 RI – Mike Benevides
44 – Brian Chapin
55 – Joe Doucette
25 – Matt Galko
4 – Rich Gallop.
50 – Carl Medeiros
7 – Rick Parker
43 – Kirk Alexander
All photos by Crystal Snape & a Great Track Report from Jim Snape
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