Matt Hirschman prevails at Sundance

By Gene Ostrowski

September 6, 2009

Trying to get geared up for the 10^th annual “King of the Mountain” and the $5000 to win prize, Matt Hirschman, of Northampton, scored his first victory of the season Sunday in the Modified main event at Sundance Vacations Speedway. Zane Zeiner, of Bath, bested the field in a wild Late Model feature and Mountaintop’s Paul Morgan, Jr. notched his first win of the season in the Factory Stock division. Ian Cummens held off his sister, Alison, en route to his first TQ Midget feature at the facility.

Barry Callavini sat on the pole and took the early race lead in the 40-lap Modified main event. Callavini was scored as the leader with one lap complete, with Dave Schneider, Alan Creveling, Todd Baer and Brian DeFebo in tow.

Drivers wasted no time and advanced positions. First, Baer got by Creveling and Schneider to move into second. Zane Zeiner advanced to third after starting in tenth and Kyle Ebersole followed through for fourth by the third circuit.

DeFebo worked his way back into the top five and help the third spot behind Callavini and Zeiner on lap five. Meanwhile, Matt Hirschman overtook Baer for the fourth spot.

Both Zeiner and DeFebo blasted underneath Callavini on lap six and Hirschman followed into third shortly after. With Zeiner in command, Hirschman overtook DeFebo for the runner up spot on lap 16 and set his sights on the leader. Three laps later Hirschman made the pass for the lead after running door to door in dramatic fashion with Zeiner.

Ebersole began to work the back bumper of DeFebo for third. The duo ran hot and heavy for a number of laps before DeFebo allowed Ebersole to slip underneath him in turn two on lap 28. However, DeFebo got a run on Ebersole in turn three and made contact with Ebersole. The end result was a spin by Ebersole and both drivers were sent to the rear of the field for the restart.

Green flag racing resumed Hirschman drove off to his first victory of the season at the speedway over Zeiner, Bobby Jones, Baer and Callavini.

Todd Baer and Barry Callavini won heat races.

Joe Burns Started from the pole position in the 30-lap Late Model feature and was quickly overtaken by Kyle Harvell for the race lead. Jerry Hildebrand moved into the second spot and Will Schneider and Mike Sweeney joined the top five.

A quick yellow waved on the second lap when Bill Catania got into Austin Kochenash in turn one. The tow drivers rejoined the back of the field.

Zane Zeiner grabbed the lead on the restart. Hildebrand grabbed second and Hoffman moved to third, followed by Harvell and Schneider.

A quick yellow flag flew on lap 21. Hildebrand attempted to get under Zeiner following the restart. Sideways, the pair rubbed fender and doors out of turn four. Hoffman had nowhere to go and tried going low. Unfortunately Hildebrand’s car finally spun and collected Hoffman. Both drivers involved retired from the event.

Zeiner was flawless on the restart and led the final circuits to notch his fourth win of the season. Harvell, Sweeney, Burns and Paul Monkoski completed the top five.

Heat race wins went to Jerry Hildebrand and Zane Zeiner.

Looking for his first win on the season, Paul Morgan, Jr. sat on the pole and took the early race lead in the 20-lap Factory Stock main. Jay Gould, Eric Wink, Bob Wink and Mike Moyer, Jr. followed.

The caution flag flew on lap six when Scott Adams spun on the backstretch. Green flag racing resumed and with Gould all over Morgan, drivers jockeyed for position among the top five, including Wayne Lowe, who had already cracked the top five.

Lowe overtook B. Wink and then half of the field stacked up in turn two on lap eight. Moyer received a flat tire and S. Adams, Kendal Faulk piled in and B. Wink bounced off of the backstretch wall.

Several drivers headed pit side for repairs and green flag racing resumed.

Morgan held off Lowe to score his first victory of the season. Gould, Moyer and Nick Adams completed the top five.

Jay Gould and Wayne Lowe took heat race wins.

Following the heat race wins earlier in the afternoon, Ian and Alison Cumens shared the front row for the start of the 25-lap TQ Midget feature.

Two lap three cautions slowed the event. The first involved a tangle with Robin Johnston and Matt Roselli. Matt Roselli spun in turns three and four following the restart and collected Austin Fehr.

I. Cumens held the race lead over A. Cumens when the green flag was displayed. Frank Fischer held the third spot with Matt Janisch and Paul Lotier in pursuit. Troubles struck Janisch when his engine expired on lap eleven.

Green flag racing resumed and I. Cumens drove off to his first ever win at the speedway over his sister, Alison. Tim Behmer.

Modifieds (40-laps) 1. MATT HIRSCHMAN 2. Zane Zeiner 3. Bobby Jones 4. Todd Baer 5. Barry Callavini 6. Kyle Ebersole 7. Nick Pecko 8. Brian DeFebo 9. Lenny Fischer 10. David Schneider 11. Brian Romig 12. Geary Rinehimer 13. Jim Bojohnny 14. Allan Creveling

Late Models (30-laps) 1. ZANE ZEINER 2. Kyle Harvell 3. Mike Sweeney 4. Joseph Burns 5. Paul Monkoski 6. Austin Kochenash 7. William Schneider 8. Bill Catania 9. Jerry Hildebrand 10. Joe Hoffman 11. Jennifer Kutz 12. Geno Steigerwalt

Factory Stocks (20-laps) 1. PAUL MORGAN, JR. 2. Wayne Lowe 3. Jason Gould 4. Mike Moyer Jr 5. Nick Adams 6. Eric Wink 7. Bob Wink 8. Kendal Foulk 9. Scott Adams 10. Kermit Jacoby DNS: Jeff Biegly

TQ Midgets (25-laps) 1. IAN CUMENS 2. Alison Cummens 3. Frank Fischer 4. Jeff Kot 5. Tim Behmer 6. Paul Lotier Jr 7. Tim Proctor 8. Kyle Gardner 9. Howard Boss 10. Matthew Roselli 11. Matt Janisch 12. Robin Johnston 13. Austin Fehr