SEEKONK, Mass. — After a disappointing start to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season, Matt Hirschman needed something positive.
The pilot of the No. 60 PeeDee Motorsports Modified got the morale boost he was looking for with a victory in Wednesday’s Firecracker 150 at Seekonk Speedway.
“It’s been a minute here on this Whelen Modified Tour this year,” said Hirschman after his victory in the opening round of the three-race Whelen Midsummer Championship miniseries. “It’s a hot summer Wednesday night at Seekonk Speedway, and part of the nickname ‘Big Money’ Matt Hirschman came from winning this race on this Wednesday night here at Seekonk.
“(There is) no better place to get back in Whelen Modified Tour Victory Lane than here tonight.”
Seekonk Speedway has always been a place Hirschman could race and know he’d be competitive.
Entering the season, Hirschman had won the last three Modified Tour races at the track to go along with several victories in non-NASCAR events through the years.
Things didn’t go Hirschman’s way in the most recent event at Seekonk in May, when he struggled and finished a disappointing 20th. Entering Wednesday’s event, Hirschman was determined to flip the script.
Starting eighth after the redraw, Hirschman patiently worked his way through the field and found himself in second when the first caution flag of the evening waved with fewer than 50 laps left.
Restarting on the outside of leader Stephen Kopcik, Hirschman rocketed into Turn 1 and easily took the lead. He held the top spot for the remainder of the race to earn his fourth Modified Tour victory at Seekonk and the 11th Tour victory.
Dowling, making just his third Modified Tour start of the season, raced his way from the 12th starting position to finish second.
Patrick Emerling finished third ahead of Kopcik, who led the most laps, in fourth and defending NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Austin Beers in fifth.
Eric Goodale, Teddy Hodgdon, Andrew Molleur, Jon McKennedy and Paulie Hartwig III were sixth through 10th, respectively.
