HIRSCHMAN POCKETS $5105 IN WOODY’S 105 AT WALL SATURDAY

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HIRSCHMAN POCKETS $5105 IN WOODY’S 105 AT WALL SATURDAY

Story By: Jeff Gravatt/Wall Stadium – Photos By: John John Lane/RacersGuide.com

WALL TOWNSHIP, N.J. ~ Stock car driver Matt Hirschman likes to travel to different speedway to focus on the races that pay the big money. On Saturday night this search for fortune led the Northampton, Pa. resident to Wall Stadium Speedway for the annual “Woody’s High Banks 105” for Downs Ford Modified stock cars. He was rewarded handsomely by pocketing $5,105 for his traveling and racing efforts.

Freehold’s Chas Okerson was the first leader while Anthony Sesely of Matawan and Holmdel’s Andrew Krause battled for second for most of the early going. Sesely finally took command on lap 40 as Krause followed him through for second. Meanwhile, Hirschman clawed his way into the top three by the time 50 laps were recorded.

A lap 59 cautions forced by a pair of competitors with flat tires saw Krause head to the pits for fresh rubber. The restart found Sesely, still on his original tires, on the pole while Hirschman, who had already pitted for two new tires, started on the outside of the front row.

What became the winning move of the race occurred on the restart as Sesely’s worn tires apparently spun on acceleration while Hirschman gained the needed traction to race into the lead. Sesely soon headed to the pits for new rubber while Hirschman, Danny Bohn of Mooresville, N.C. and Krause made up the top three.

Bohn and Krause then wrestled for the second spot while Hirschman stayed out front. Soon Sesely charged through the field to move back into contention after his tire change.

By lap 89 Sesely had advanced into second spot while Krause’s night ended on lap 95 with ignition failure. Sesely then hounded Hirschman to the finish for second while, Bohn, Jackson’s Steven Reed and Jason Hearne of New Egypt wrapped up the top five.

“I wasn’t happy to see all the cautions late in the race, but I wasn’t really worried either,” Hirschman said after the win. “This car was just super tonight. The car was not going to let up. My guys did an excellent job.

“This win is pretty special because of the big payday and because it is here at Wall. We’ve had some tough luck here but we have also gotten big wins. The Jersey Shore fans are great so I like racing here. I’ll be back for Turkey Derby so I’ll see you all again in November.”

The Elite Maintenance Limited Late Models were also on the card in a pair of 25-lap main events. In the first, rain postponed from July 30, Howie Conk of Freehold grabbed the win over Wall’s Cole Ormsbee, Mike Tillett of Bayville, Brian Doyle of Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y. and Bill Vanderveen of Beachwood.

In the nightcap Limited Late Model 25-lapper former champ Vanderveen won his first feature race since 2011. Conk, Ormsbee, Jackson’s Greg Gastelu and Michelle Moorman of Beachwood were second through fifth.

Joey Helberg of Union won his first main event of the year in the 25-lapper for the O’Shea’s Auto Repair Factory Stocks. Howell’s Richie Byrne, Scott Riggleman of Manchester, Eatontown’s Ron Booth and Brick’s Joe Mongeau completed the top five in an event that saw plenty of side-by-side racing. Dave Green of Howell won a special $50 cash bonus from division sponsor O’Shea’s Auto Repair for leading at halfway. Green finished 11th.

Matt Janisch of Nazareth, Pa. continued his hot streak by winning the 25-lapper for the touring Three Quarter Midgets.

Stock car racing continues this Saturday night (Sept. 3) with the Modifieds competing in twin 40-lap main events. The first, rain postponed from July 30, will be run at the opening of the card at 5:30 p.m. The second will be run later in the evening. Also on the card will be the Snap-on Sportsman cars in a 30-lapper, the Factory Stocks, Green Flag Driving Experience Legend Cars and Surf Side Collision 4 Cylinder Stocks all in 25-lappers. A special mechanic’s race will also be contested. Grandstand seating opens at 5:00 p.m., the first Modified feature and then qualifying starts at 5:30 p.m. and regularly scheduled feature racing begins at 7:00 p.m.

The complete updated regular season schedule, which runs on Saturday nights through October 1, is available at wallspeedwayracing.com as are the rules and regulations for all divisions. Post-season events, the “Spooky Spectacular” on October 1 and the Thanksgiving weekend “Turkey Derby,” are also being planned.

Wall Stadium is located on Route 34 in Wall Township, N.J., just one mile north of Garden State Parkway exit 98 and Interstate 195 exit 35B. The speedway hotline number is 732-681-6400, the website is wallspeedwayracing.com and email address is CKMotorsports@aol.com.

MODIFIED FEATURE – 105 Laps – 1. MATT HIRSCHMAN, NORTHAMPTON, PA., 2. Anthony Sesely, 3. Danny Bohn, 4. Steven Reed, 5. Jason Hearne, 6. Ron Frees, 7. Zane Zeiner, 8. Kevin Davison, 9. Kenny Van Wickle, 10. Shawna Ingraham, 11. Zack Alspach, 12. Chas Okerson, 13. Derek Hopkinson, 14. Andrew Krause, 15. Jonathan Mandato, 16. Shaun Carrig, 17. Chris Lane, 18. Eric Mauriello, 19. Trevor Alspach, 20. Chris Reynolds

1ST LIMITED LATE MODEL FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. HOWIE CONK, FREEHOLD, 2. Cole Ormsbee, 3. Mike Tillett, 4. Brian Doyle, 5. Bill Vanderveen, 6. Glen Conk, 7. Michelle Moorman, 8. Greg Gastelu

2ND LIMITED LATE MODEL FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. BILL VANDERVEEN, BEACHWOOD, 2. Howie Conk, 3. Ormsbee, 4. Gastelu, 5. Moorman, 6. Glen Conk, 7. Ricky Collins, 8. Tillett, 9. Doyle

FACTORY STOCK FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. JOEY HELBERG, UNION, 2. Richie Byrne, 3. Scott Riggleman, 4. Ron Booth, 5. Joe Mongeau, 6. Gerry Koenig, 7. Scott Maher, 8. John Bowers, 9. John Carpenter, 10. Tony Bartone, 11. Dave Green, 12. Jerry Stanzione, 13. Matt Badessa, 14. Tom Rajkowski, 15. Chris Felber, DQ Neil Rutt

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