WALL TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Matt Hirschman did it again Saturday evening at Wall Stadium Speedway.
Hirschman put a lid on his late-season streak of tour-type modified victories by winning the 50th running of the Turkey Derby at the .333-mile asphalt track. Though it took a handful of events to transpire for Hirschman to secure the win.Â
Andy Jankowiak led the first half of the event before Andrew Krause and Hirschman moved to the front to battle for the lead. On lap 103 Hirschman, Krause and others ducked into the pit area for a tire change while Jankowiak moved to the lead after an earlier tire change. Jankowiak and Solomito then fought for the lead before Solomito’s effort was ruined in a turn four crash.
Jankowiak then paced the field while Krause and Hirschman advanced to second and third. Jankowiak and Krause then wrestled for the win in the closing laps before the duo tangled and spun in the first turn with a handful of laps remaining.
That handed the lead and eventual win to Hirschman while Stephen Kopcik, Patrick Emerling, Ronnie Williams and Dave Sapienza wrapped up the top five.
Hirschman earned $15,000 for winning the Turkey Derby for the eighth time and for the fifth time in the last six runnings.
Since mid-October, Hirschman has won the Fall Final at Stafford Motor Speedway, the North-South Shootout at Caraway Speedway, the Islip 300 at Riverhead Raceway and the Turkey Derby.
Hirschman emerged from a crash-marred 150-lap event on Saturday afternoon.
Stephen Kopcik finished second, with Patrick Emerling third.
Ryan Tidman won the TQ midget feature and Kevin Davison topped the sportsman modified main event.
Alex McCollum won the 23-car legend cars main event over Jacob Burns, Luke LaBrun, Chase Van Houten and Derek Gluchaki. C.J. Zukowski grabbed the win over a top five including T.J. Graves, Ryan Warren, Dylan Cabral and Joe Warren in the 23-car fast four feature race.
Second generation racer Gerard Giordano won his first ever Turkey Derby event in the limited late model 50-lap race.Â