Story By: RACE OF CHAMPIONS – LEHIGHTON, PA – The Race of Champions Modified Series opened it’s 2024 campaign this past Saturday at Mahoning Valley Speedway in Lehighton, PA, with the running of the “Spring Meltdown” 75.
Matt Hirschman of Northampton, PA, took the lead with just two laps remaining in the race and went on to earn the 58th victory of his career in the Series 299th race.
“We had a good car and this race had many twists and turns,” offered Hirschman from victory lane. “It was a great start of the season for the track and for the Series with a good car count. There were a lot of good cars on the track tonight and there was no pass that was easy. I want to thank everyone on my crew, my family, my sponsors and everyone for coming out to watch us tonight.”
Hirschman started 12th and rode a roller-coaster throughout the event until being able to move forward and make an impressive pass using the outside groove on Roger Coss of Lafeyette, NJ, who was seeking his first Series victory.
“We were close tonight,” explained Coss. “It’s challenging when you are racing the best in the business, but it’s a great benchmark for us to start the year.”
Coss finished second with defending Series champion, Zane Zeiner of Bath, PA, finishing third. Zeiner led late in the race but was only able to finish third when the checkered flag waved.
Austin Kochenash of Daniesville, PA, finished fourth and Kyle Strohl of Palmerton, PA, rounded out the top-five.
Jake Lutz of Hamburg, NY, set fast time in “Green-White-Checker” group qualifying.
Lutz; Jack Ely of Wall, NJ, the defending event champion; John Bennett of Lehighton, PA, and Hirschman won the qualifying races.
The next Series race will be Saturday, May 11 at Chemung (NY) Speedrome, where the Series will celebrate it’s 300th race. Stay tuned for more information in regard to this.
Spring Meltdown 75 (75 Laps): 1. 60-Matt Hirschman[12]; 2. 17C-Roger Coss[8]; 3. 76Z-Zane Zeiner[1]; 4. 66-Austin Kochenash[9]; 5. 44-Kyle Strohl[7]; 6. 14-Jake Lutz[2]; 7. 11JR-Paulie Hartwig III[4]; 8. 81-Jack Ely[11]; 9. 1B-Austin Beers[10]; 10. 11H-Tony Hanbury[18]; 11. 8-Earl Paules[14]; 12. 22-Don Wagner[3]; 13. 95K-Jacob Kerstetter[23]; 14. 95M-Terry Markovic[19]; 15. 88-Lou Strohl[16]; 16. 3-Daren Scherer[20]; 17. 72W-John Bennett[6]; 18. 41-Todd Baer[13]; 19. 65-George Skora III[26]; 20. 87-Thomas Flanagan[21]; 21. 0-Randall Richard[25]; 22. 1S-Nick Schaeffer[15]; 23. 51-Jayden Harman[22]; 24. 76S-Rod Snyder Jr[5]; 25. 40-Tommy Rought[27]; 26. 29-Cody Kohler[17]; 27. 10-Daryl Lewis Jr[24]
Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 14-Jake Lutz[1]; 2. 17C-Roger Coss[2]; 3. 76S-Rod Snyder Jr[3]; 4. 41-Todd Baer[4]; 5. 29-Cody Kohler[5]; 6. 87-Thomas Flanagan[7]; 7. 0-Randall Richard[6]
Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 81-Jack Ely[1]; 2. 11JR-Paulie Hartwig III[2]; 3. 76Z-Zane Zeiner[5]; 4. 8-Earl Paules[3]; 5. 11H-Tony Hanbury[7]; 6. 51-Jayden Harman[4]; 7. 65-George Skora III[6]
Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 72W-John Bennett[1]; 2. 66-Austin Kochenash[4]; 3. 22-Don Wagner[2]; 4. 1S-Nick Schaeffer[3]; 5. 95M-Terry Markovic[5]; 6. 95K-Jacob Kerstetter[7]; 7. 40-Tommy Rought[6]
Heat 4 (10 Laps): 1. 60-Matt Hirschman[1]; 2. 44-Kyle Strohl[2]; 3. 1B-Austin Beers[3]; 4. 88-Lou Strohl[5]; 5. 3-Daren Scherer[4]; 6. 10-Daryl Lewis Jr[6]
GWC Qualifying (2 Laps): 1. 14-Jake Lutz, 00:10.034[19]; 2. 60-Matt Hirschman, 00:10.074[11]; 3. 81-Jack Ely, 00:10.186[6]; 4. 11JR-Paulie Hartwig III, 00:10.252[10]; 5. 44-Kyle Strohl, 00:10.260[4]; 6. 1B-Austin Beers, 00:10.263[18]; 7. 17C-Roger Coss, 00:10.264[12]; 8. 72W-John Bennett, 00:10.277[7]; 9. 76S-Rod Snyder Jr, 00:10.302[1]; 10. 8-Earl Paules, 00:10.309[20]; 11. 41-Todd Baer, 00:10.341[9]; 12. 3-Daren Scherer, 00:10.349[8]; 13. 51-Jayden Harman, 00:10.361[27]; 14. 88-Lou Strohl, 00:10.396[22]; 15. 29-Cody Kohler, 00:10.407[5]; 16. 1S-Nick Schaeffer, 00:10.427[25]; 17. 76Z-Zane Zeiner, 00:10.450[13]; 18. 22-Don Wagner, 00:10.455[3]; 19. 66-Austin Kochenash, 00:10.470[17]; 20. 65-George Skora III, 00:10.477[24]; 21. 11H-Tony Hanbury, 00:10.506[2]; 22. 0-Randall Richard, 00:10.536[16]; 23. 87-Thomas Flanagan, 00:10.690[23]; 24. 95M-Terry Markovic, 00:10.732[26]; 25. 40-Tommy Rought, 00:10.771[14]; 26. 95K-Jacob Kerstetter, 00:10.843[21]; 27. 10-Daryl Lewis Jr, 00:10.843[15]
