BUTLER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Matt Hirschman claimed his first Evergreen win of the season in the Tour Type Modifieds 50-lap feature Sunday afternoon at Evergreen Raceway.
The feature began with Brian Romig Sr., and Brian Sones on the front row and at the drop of Chris Walk’s race commencing green Sones darted to the opening lap lead.
Hirschman, who started seventh, quickly worked his way through the field as he picked off one after another until gaining second spot by lap 10. He then honed in on leader Sones and from there and bided his time until making what would be his race winning move with 19 laps to go.
“I was able to steadily maintain our pace and gain on him (Sones) and he was able to protect the bottom once I got to him,” noted Hirschman.
After taking the lead Hirschman then set a steady pace as the race was clicking off caution-free.
That was, however, until four laps to go when Paulie Hartwig III lost a power steering line and put liquid down the front straight. It also caused him to spin and bring out the only caution of the race.
Before the caution came out Sones was picking up some time on Hirschman. Also, Anthony Sesely was running third and there was thoughts on the restart that a challenge would ensue from either of them on Hirschman.
It was to no avail, though, as Hirschman never faltered and cruised to his 52nd Modified win and 55th overall at Evergreen.
Sones held on for second with Sesely third, Bobby Jones fourth and Hartwig, who battled back to round out the top five.
Two-time and defending Street Stock champion Mike Pollack has put up some very good numbers in the first few races, with a pair of seconds and a fourth, but although that may look respectable on paper, make no mistake Pollack worked hard for those results each time due to some hard fought outings that in some cases may have sideline another driver.
And, it looked like it was going to be another one of those days again for Pollack who got caught up in two skirmishes. But he was quite resilient in his effort to not lay down. Pollack passed a very impressive running Amber Knecht with nine laps to go and then cruised to his first win of the season and 13th with the class.
In the process he also padded his point lead and his quest for a third straight title.
Knecht had a career day at Evergreen, winning her heat and then leading the first 20 laps before yielding to Pollack. Nevertheless she then held on and edged out Tommy Flanagan for career high runner-up at this track.
Rebecca Barbush of Drums has shown plenty of speed over the first three races of the season each time running with the head of the pack and vying for the win.
Sunday afternoon, she was yet again among the leader group only this time it would be her that everyone was chasing.
Taking the lead from her outside front row starting spot, Barbush blasted into the lead at the drop of the initial green over Ralph Boger Jr., and from there never looked back.
She ran strong and steady all race long, leaving it a battle for second as she crossed under the checkers by two car lengths over runner-up Jared Frye. For Barbush it was her first win in nearly four years and a continuation of a legacy of victories by the Barbush family at Evergreen.
Frye had a career best Evergreen finish with second while Maggie Wambold, B.J. Wambold and Johnny Bennett rounded out the top five.