Story By: RACE OF CHAMPIONS – NORTH EAST, PA – Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pennsylvania, became the most prolific winner in the history of the Race of Champions after capturing his 6th career and 4th consecutive in the 68th 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 really unreal for us, we had a great car today but the pit stop strategy was challenging,” stated Hirschman following the race. “Things went our way and we were able to manage the tires and use the race tracks multiple lanes to our advantage and put ourselves in a position to win. The track provides two wide racing all over it and it must have been a great race to watch because there were so many battles. It takes everything to win this race and to do it six 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 $12,500 for the win.
Hirschman started the 250-lap race from second and took the lead from Chuck Hossfeld of Ransomville, N.Y., and held the top spot for until lap 144 when pit cycling began.
Six different drivers took their turn at the top position during the event; Hossfeld, Austin Kochenash of Danielsville, Pa., Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, N.Y., Daren Scherer of Binghamton, N.Y., and Eric Beers of Northampton, Pa., before Hirschman took back the top spot for good on lap 203.
Hossfeld and Jankowiak were battling for the Race of Champions title before Jankowiak’s engine expired late in the race. Hossfeld went on to finish second and clinch his fourth series crown.
Kochenash finished third for the second straight season. Jimmy Zacharias of Candor, N.Y., finished fourth and Jack Ely of Wall, N.J., rounded out the top-five.
Hossfeld set fast time during green-white-checker qualifying while Kochenash, Danny Knoll, Jr., of North Tonawanda, N.Y., and Ely won the qualifying races.
During post-race inspection several items were specifically inspected including; compression, the ignition system, MSD Box, transmission and carburetors. All cars passed inspection.
Jimmy Pearce of Buffalo, N.Y., won the Race of Champions Four Cylinder “Dash” Series event over Greg Moldt of Chemung, N.Y., who finished second. Travis Montgomery of Ontario, N.Y., finished third and earned the first-ever Race of Champions Four Cylinder “Dash” Series championship.
Rich Sharpe of Buffalo, N.Y., claimed the Street Stock race over Nik Welshans of West Falls, N.Y., who came home second. Tim Welshans of West Falls, N.Y., finished third.
Sam Fullone of North Collins, N.Y., won the Race of Champions Late Model for the second consecutive year. Jerick Johnson who towed all the way from Mooresville, N.C., finished second. Terry Weldy of Clarence, N.Y., finished third. Eldon King, III of Delevan, N.Y., claimed the Race of Champions Late Model Series championship.
On Friday night Jeremie Haudricort of Bliss, N.Y., scored his first ever Race of Champions Sportsman Modified Series victory over George Skora of Eden, N.Y., and Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, N.Y.
Scott Wylie of Blasdell, N.Y., earned the Series championship with a 10th place finish.
Tommy Krawczyk of West Seneca, N.Y., won a wild Race of Champions Super Stock Series feature. Krawczyk out ran Joe Mancuso of Buffalo, N.Y., who finished second and earned his second Race of Champions Super Stock Series championship, third championship dating back to the previous name of the Series, the Big 10 Super Stock Series. Mike Nichols of Elmira, N.Y., finished third.
Full and detailed race results and point standings can be obtained at www.rocmodifiedseries.com
John Julicher, Sr., (former Late Model driver and two-time Race of Champions Late Model winner); David Kerper (former Race of Champions employee) and “The Fans” were all inducted into the Race of Champions Hall-of-Fame and will be recognized on the Al Gerber Race of Champions Memorial Trophy.
Feature Finish; Saturday, September 29, 2018
68th Annual Race of Champions 250
Presque Isle Downs & Casino Race of Champions Weekend
Lake Erie Speedway, North East, Pennsylvania
Finishing Position, Starting Position, Car Number, Driver, Laps Completed, Reason Out (If Any)
Pos Starting Position No. Name Laps
1 2 60 Matt Hirschman 250
2 1 22 Chuck Hossfeld
3 7 66 Austin Kochenash
4 6 71 Jimmy Zacharias
5 9 54 Jack Ely
6 4 07 Patrick Emerling
7 3 45 Eric Beers
8 12 88 Scott Wylie
9 13 25 Mike Leaty
10 15 3 Daren Scherer
11 8 17 Danny Knoll, Jr.
12 10 65 George Skora, III
13 18 26 J.R. Kent
14 11 19 Dave Schneider
15 23 0 Randall Richards
16 19 40 Alan Bookmiller
17 20 32 Tyler Rypkema
18 21 65l Daryl Lewis, Jr. 250
19 17 34 John Fortin 209
20 5 12x Andy Jankowiak 195 Engine
21 24 74 Sherri Hogan 134 Over Heating
22 16 59 Karl Hehr 105 Electrical
23 25 19b Austin Beers 81 Over Heating
24 26 00 Connor Sellars 66 Mechanical
25 14 95 Bryan Sherwood 60 Mechanical
26 22 1 Chris Risdale 3 Mechanical
Time of Race: 1 hour 42 minutes 52 seconds Average Speed 54.800 mph Margin of victory: .629 seconds
Lead Changes: 7 between 6 drivers [Chuck Hossfeld, 1-6], [Matt Hirschman, 7-144], [Hossfeld, 145-147], [Austin Kochenash, 148-180], [Andy Jankowiak, 181-182], [Daren Scherer,183-201], [Eric Beers, 202-203], [Matt Hirschman, 203-250]
Speed51.com “Top of the Board” Award; Chuck Hossfeld (14.812 seconds @ 91.142 mph)
Paved Track Qualifying Race Winners; Austin Kochenash (1); Danny Knoll, Jr. (1); Jack Ely (1)
Jerico Performance “Jammin’ Gears Awards”; Randall Richards (Advanced 8 positions in feature)
US Army Top Performer Award; Chuck Hossfeld (14.888 seconds @ 90.677 mph)
Jan “Pops” Leaty Award – Leader Lap 25 – Matt Hirschman
$100 Bicknell Racing Products Certificate Award (Third Place) – Austin Kochenash
MyRacePass “Free Pass” Award – John Fortin
Speed51 “Every Lap Matters” Fastest Practice Lap – Matt Hirschman
DNQ: Dan Majchrzak; Mark Hoch
Feature Finish; Saturday September 29, 2018
Race of Champions – Race of Champions Late Model Series
Lake Erie Speedway, North East, Pa.
Finishing Position, Car Number, Driver, Laps Completed, Reason Out (If Any)
Pos No. Name
1 48 Sammy Fulllone 40
2 76 Jerick Johnson
3 66 Terry Weldy
4 11 Bob Weber
5 93 Dave Russell
6 0 Eldon King, III
7 21 Joe Berretta
8 20n Scott Nurmi 39
9 11X Dan Dressel 39
10 20g Neil Gacom 37
11 31x Ron Richter 36
12 2 Dave Whittaker 27
13 24 Dave Rigan DNS
Qualifying Race Winners; Sam Fullone; Bob Weber
Feature Finish; Saturday September 29, 2018
Race of Champions – Race of Champions Four Cylinder “Dash” Series
Lake Erie Speedway, North East, Pa.
Finishing Position, Car Number, Driver, Laps Completed, Reason Out (If Any)
Pos No. Name
1 26 Jimmy Pearce
2 51M Greg Moldt
3 04 Travis Montgomery
4 89 Jody London
5 28 David Brunka
6 09 Dan Dressel
7 36 Michelle Russo
8 27 Joe Brunka
9 83 Jeff Szafreniec
10 25 David Milbrand
11 54 Briar Dils
12 88 Gene Perris
13 32 Robert Palmer
14 30 Bob Bogner
15 14 Allison Montgomery
16 10x Ryan Palmer
17 1 Ryan Pums
18 9 Braedon Suffoletta
19 17 Mike Ferris
20 51 Chris Eagan
21 73 Adam Killingbeck
22 2 Dave Harbst
23 40 Austin Montgomery
24 27k Greg Krause
25 33 Bobby Woch
26 37NY Josh Schosek
27 66 Jacob Gustafsson
28 71x Nicole Maltby
29 04B Alex Broward
Qualifying Race Winners: Greg Moldt; Jimmy Pearce; Dave Milbrand; Allison Montgomery
Feature Finish; Saturday, September 29, 2018
Race of Champions – Street Stock
Lake Erie Speedway, North East, Pa.
Finishing Position, Car Number, Driver, Laps Completed, Reason Out (If Any)
Pos No. Name
1 93 Rich Sharpe
2 41 Nik Welshans
3 32 Tim Welshans
4 36 Ken Maltby
5 55 Tommy Wentland
6 81 Jake Wylie
7 83 Jeff Szafraniec
8 94 Kory Rider
9 42 Scott Chaplin
10 2 Scott Gleed
11 53 Bob Blaszek
Qualifying Race Winners: Nik Welshans; Rich Sharpe
Feature Finish; Friday, September 28, 2018
Race of Champions Super Stock Series
Lake Erie Speedway, North East, Pa.
Finishing Position, Car Number, Driver, Laps Completed, Reason Out (If Any)
Pos No. Name
1 48 Tom Krawcyzk
2 64 Joe Mancuso
3 72 Mike Nichols
4 71 Tim Gullo
5 09 Andy Cryan
6 34 Charlie Sharpsteen
7 44 Jake Wylie
8 7 Josh Hunter
9 28 Tommy Barron
10 75W Zach Willis
11 75 Chuck Anderson
12 48B Eric Brown
13 99 Bob Ripely
14 23 Mark Shipman
15 84 Josh Schoonmaker
16 94x Paul Flye
17 83 Jeff Szafraniec
18 1 Vern Hedderick
19 06 T.J. Cochrane
Qualifying Race Winners; Joe Mancuso; T.J. Cochrane
Feature Finish; Friday, September 28, 2018
Race of Champions Asphalt Sportsman Modified Series
Lake Erie Speedway, North East, Pa.
Finishing Position, Car Number, Driver, Laps Completed, Reason Out (If Any)
Pos No. Name
1 39 Jeremy Haudricourt
2 65NY George Skora III
3 07 Patrick Emerling
4 51 Shawn Nye
5 10 Mike Fiebelkorn
6 1 Tony Hanbury
7 17 Kevin Timmerman
8 94 Zack Curren
9 32 Tyler Rypkema
10 44 Scott Wylie
11 65 Andy Lewis
12 41 Andy Jankowiak
13 00 Connor Sellars
14 8 Chris Finnochario
15 11K Ricky Knapp
16 1 Mike Leaty
17 74 Sherri Hogan
18 2 Owen Bednasz
19 36 David Koslowski
20 20 Nick Morich
21 98 Charlie Sharpsteen
22 11 Bob Weber
23 84 Neal Dietz
24 6 Tom Alloco
25 71 Jimmy Zacharias
26 27 Jake Vernon
27 09 Mike Ramos
28 87 Matt Druar
29 96 Don Pringle
30 19 Austin Beers
31 33 Eddie Hawkins
Qualifying Race Winners; Neil Dietz; George Skora, III; Kevin Timmerman; Mike Fiebelkorn
