No one will argue the fact that the Modified Poker Series concept at Mahoning Valley Speedway has been a huge success, especially Matt Hirschman, who scored his third 100 lap win in the last five races. In the process he has also raked in a nice amount of cash to the tune of $10,000, including $3000 for winning Saturday's race.
This was Hand 3 of the 7 Card Stud Modified Poker Series and Hirschman authored one of the most dominating race wins at the track in some time.
After shuffling the lead with Eric Beers after a lap 50 restart, Hirschman went ahead for good on lap 53 and then proceeded to head out into a zone all his own.
With no cautions over the final 50 tours, Hirschman easily had his way with the pack. Weaving inside and out and passing cars at will, he pulled away to a commanding 5 second win over Beers and early leader Lou Strohl. Rob Shultz and John Markovic completed the top five.
"I just had a perfect race car. We passed Eric Beers to win and lapped Earl Paules (last week's poker winner) here at Mahoning, unbelievable," said Hirschman, who drove the Bob Horn #50.
"We finally had won a race here at the end of last season and ended all that nonsense that we can't win here. Three (wins) out of the last five here, that's awesome. This was a good crowd that came out to support the races tonight and the management here does these 100 lappers that are wildly popular. The Poker Series is definitely been a good thing."
Late Model
Up until two weeks ago Dave Wallace of Lehighton hadn't seen Victory Lane since 2003. Now in the past two Late Model features that's all he's been accustomed to.
It was an all Wallace show all race long too as the event began with Rick Wallace setting the pace. Dave was on his tail right from the start.
Coming up on the halfway point Rick began drifting high and Dave quickly snatched the lead. He then handled his way at the front the rest of the way.
Street Stocks
In the Street Stocks it was another week and another different winner, the 13th to be exact. Lehighton's Justin Mooney drove to the win and like the Late Models where brothers battled for the lead, it was much of the same scenario.
Early leader Josh Mooney led from the pole and was doing fine until a lap nine caution. For the restart he had his brother next to him and when the action resumed Justin showed he was the better of the two.
Justin took the lead and then over the final five laps had the arduous task of fending off Steve Steigerwalt and Todd Ahner.
Dirt Modified
For Joe Stangle the night of August 14, 2010 will forever be etched in his memory. On this night the Potatcong, NJ driver raced to his career first feature win in a Dirt Modified.
Stangle did so in a dominant fashion