Paulie Hartwig III continues to rewrite rule books and the standards for young Tour Type Modified racers after a victory in Race One of the World Series of Asphalt on Monday night at New Smyrna Speedway.
Let’s put this triumph into perspective.
Making his debut in the division, Hartwig passed Ryan Preece en route to the lead. Then came a caution and restart with eight laps to go where the 14-year-old successfully fended off the likes of Ron Silk, Austin Beers and Preece.
Again, it was a 14-year-old de facto rookie holding off four combined NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champions, not to mention a racer who just won the Cup Series Cookout Clash on Wednesday night. This is just what Hartwig does.
The son of Paul Hartwig Jr., who retired at 33-year-old last year so his mega talented son could take over the family Tour Modified, continued to justify the emphasis placed on him. He won a SMART Modified Tour race last year at Hickory after the series created an age limit in response to him.
He didn’t race in the NASCAR Modified Tour opener on Saturday because he will not turn 15-years-old next week, the age limit to compete in the most famed regional touring division under the umbrella of the Sanctioning Body.
This is just what the young Hartwig does early and often — win races.
“We’re just getting started here,” Hartwig said. “… Too young to have a beer, we’ll drink some apple juice instead.”
Silk, the two-time NASCAR series champion was closing in on Hartwig before the caution. It was a reset that Hartwig though was going to doom him.
“I got out to a pretty good lead there,” Hartwig said. “I thought I burned it out for a second. When that caution came out I was so upset. It was so frustrating. Coming in here leading with only 10 [laps] to go … it sucks getting the yellow with 10 to go. Lining up on the front row with Ron Silk. … This is dream come true. It’s really cool to win here.”
All Silk could do was the tip the cap.
“When we had that long run there, I thought it was going to go green to the end,” said Silk. “I drove as hard as I could to try to catch them. I was starting to get really loose right when that caution came out.
“I didn’t really think I’d be able to do anything with them, and I couldn’t. I was just spinning the tires on exit, but good effort. Wish I would have probably waited for that yellow and not burned it up, but congratulations to Paulie. That’s pretty impressive for a 14-year-old
“He races a lot, so it’s not like it’s his first time in the car. He does a great job. He runs good in everything he runs, and he was better than us tonight.”
Beers was able to pick off Preece after the final restart after finishing third in the NASCAR Modified Tour race.
“We’re consistent so far this week, two thirds,” Beers said. “We were just a little tight and I think I kind of used it up trying to maintain track position there.”
Beers also acknowledged the accomplishment.
“Congrats to Paulie. Pretty cool, 14-year-old winning a Tour Modified race down here,” Beers added. “He’s really impressive for how young he is. He’s getting a lot of reps in a Modified a lot earlier than a lot of people, but he’s doing a great job and he’s doing it the right way.
“Racing respectfully, and that’s what people like Ron and I like to see. We don’t want to see kids coming in here roughing up equipment. He’s doing a great job, and hopefully he keeps doing it.”
Hartwig got Preece on the initial start. He got Luke Baldwin for the lead on a lap four restart. Preece got by Baldwin on Lap 28. Silk moved into third by Lap 30.
Halfway.
They rode that way, Silk incrementally making gains in traffic, when a caution waved on Lap 11 for Jeffrey Goodale. Hartwig set sail on the restart and that was that.
This is now two Speedweeks wins for Hartwig, in a Tour Type and a 602 Modified.
“This is a dream come true, man,” said Hartwig. “It’s really cool to win here. To win yesterday with the 602 and now the Tour Mod, it was pretty damn cool.”
Tour Type World Series of Asphalt Race 1
New Smyrna Speedway
February 9 2026
- Paulie Hartwig III
- Ron Silk
- Austin Beers
- Ryan Preece
- Luke Baldwin
- J.R. Bertuccio
- Stephen Kopcik
- Ronnie Williams
- Cam McDermott
- Andrew Krause
- Timmy Solomito
- Burt Myers
- Tyler Rypkema
- Jeffrey Battle
- Mark Stewart
- Tommy Catalano
- Jon Puleo
- James Blewett
- Norman Newman
- Conner Jones
- Jeffrey Goodale
- Tyler Catalano
- Rich Parker
- Christopher Hatton, Jr.
- Steve Whitt
- Trevor Catalano
- Max Handley
