If history is any indication, Thursday might be the start of a new streak for Matt Hirschman and PeeDee Motorsports in the Tour Type Modified World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna Speedway.
The man they call Big Money Matt entered this World Series of Asphalt on a seven-race winning streak but was shut out of the first two races of the week, and three if counting the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour opener on Saturday night.
More so, the No. 60 just didn’t look as stout, so the meticulous Hirschman went to work and figured it out.
On Thursday, Hirschman started the race from fourth but was running second behind Patrick Emerling by the backstretch on the first lap. It took just nine laps for Hirschman to take the lead, with Ronnie Williams following, and he wouldn’t give up the spot the rest of the way.
“It was a good long run car,” Hirschman said. “Probably still need to get better for tomorrow night. I think actually we were better last night. We’ll take a look at everything and see if we can make it better for tomorrow night.
“Williams I think improved, but I think we still need to get a little bit better. I know [Ryan] Preece is coming back tomorrow night and he was real good on Tuesday. We’ll go to work and see what we can do tomorrow night.”
Hirschman is seeking his fifth consecutive Richie Evans Memorial 100 on Friday. He has won the week-ending race six times in nine attempts. His 19 World Series wins are fourth on the all-time Tour Type Modified list behind Ted Christopher (43), Richie Evans (38) and Reggie Ruggiero (28).
A fifth championship tomorrow, and he currently has a 10 point lead, would inch him closer to Ted Christopher (nine) and Richie Evans (six) on that all-time list.
“It’s about getting your stuff right,” Hirschman said. “Depending on the weather, the track and just having everything right. There will be more than just me and Preece for the win tomorrow night, but I know there’s a good chance if we both have our stuff right it could come to down to the two of us.”
Tour Type World Series Race 4
New Smyrna Speedway
February 15 2024
- Matt Hirschman
- Ronnie Williams
- Eric Goodale
- Jimmy Blewett
- Craig Lutz
- Eddie McCarthy
- Tommy Catalano
- J.R. Bertuccio
- Patrick Emerling
- Joey Coulter
- Trevor Catalano
- Spencer Davis
- Tyler Rypkema
- Landon Huffman
- Tom Martino, Jr.
- Timothy Solomito
- Tim Connolly
- Norman Newman
- Anthony Bello
- Anthony Nocella
- Andrew Krause
