SEEKONK, Mass. – Across the back of Matt Hirschman’s No. 60 Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series car are the words Florida Connection Racing.
After taking the checkered flag in the USNEPower Haunted Hundred Saturday at Seekonk Speedway, Hirschman parked his car facing in the infield at the historic track, with the back panel of the car displayed to the fans at the track.
It Hirschman’s way of showing dedication and honor to a longtime supporter.
On Wednesday longtime Modified racing crew member, team owner and team supporter Greg Narducci passed away unexpectedly.
Narducci was a quiet supporter of numerous short track teams, named on those cars as “The Florida Connection”.
“Obviously, long time friend and sponsor Greg Narducci passed away this week,” an uncharacteristically emotional Hirschman said after the race, his voice cracking multiple times. “Him and his [late] wife Venetta were nothing but nice to me through my whole lifetime. I’m going to miss them both. Great to win not only the race but the season championship here, just after his passing this week. Tough to deal with stuff like that. We came out here today and I was going to do my best to try and honor him and just race, have a good race and try our best and give it our best effort and it turned out to be a winning one today.”
Hirschman, of Northampton, Pa., took the lead from Stephen Kopcik on a lap 71 restart and never trailed again.
“We didn’t pit so we didn’t get some of the guys involved that at times you do,” Hirschman said. “Today I’d like to think this one was Greg and I out there. So we got it done.”
Jon McKennedy of Chelmsford, Mass. was second and Kopcik, of Newtown, third.
“He had a really good car,” McKennedy said. “I could tell with about 25 or 30 [laps] to go that he had a tick more than I did. He just had a better car. He could roll the center [of the corner] a tick better than I could. The best car won tonight. He drove a good race. Him and I methodically drove through the field. … Overall it was a good race. We were a top-three car all day and ended up second. First time here with this car. We’ve got some notes go off of.”
Hirschman’s win in the season finale for the division was his third in eight series events this season . It was Hirschman’s 22nd career Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series victory over 56 starts in the division since 2014.
The win also clinched Hirschman’s ninth series championship. Hirschman won three of the final five events.
“We really came on strong the end of the season. We didn’t start out well at all. It wasn’t until probably August at Waterford that we kind of turned it around and we ran top-two here over the course of the second half of the season. A great effort by the team. … We’ve always enjoyed running with the series. I’m proud to be a champion for the ninth time.”
McKennedy (2014) and Ronnie Williams (2019) are the only other series champions in the 11-year history of the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series.
Austin Beers set the pace out front at the start with Kopcik settling into second place.
On lap six Kopcik found a lane under Beers. The pair went side-by-side to the start/finish line with Beers leading to complete the lap. The battle continued the same way on lap seven. On lap eight Kopcik led in the side-by-side battle to complete the lap. On lap nine Kopcik cleared Beers for the lead off of turn four.
By lap 25 Kopcik was already dealing with navigating lapped traffic.
The top three of Kopcik, Beers and Kyle Bonsignore – running bumper to bumper – had checked out from fourth place Anthony Bello by lap 30.
The first caution of the event flew on lap 34 for the spinning car of Les Hinckley III off of turn two.
On the lap 34 restart it was Kopcik and Beers going back to the side-by-side battle for the lead. Beers led lap 34 before Kopcik fought back to lead laps 35-39. Kopcik finally cleared Beers off of turn two on lap 40.
With Kopcik out front, Beers in second and Bonsignore third, the second caution flew on lap 47 when Avery Stoehr and Keith Rocco tangled off of turn two.
With Beers and Bonsignore pitting under caution it put Brett Meservey on the front row with Kopcik for the lap 47 restart. Kopcik was quick to take control of the race once again after the restart.
On lap 52 Hirschman moved past Meservey to take over second place. On lap 60 McKennedy went by Meservey for third place.
Caution returned on lap 71 for the spinning cars of Nick Halkowicz and Walter Sutcliffe. On the lap 71 restart Hirschman got the jump on Kopcik to take over the lead for the first time. On lap 73 McKennedy got under Kopcik to take over second.
With Hirschman checking out from McKennedy out front, caution flew on lap 88 for the turned car of Nate Wenzel in turn four. Hirschman easily got away from McKennedy at the front following the lap 88 restart.
The final caution flew just after Hirschman took the white flag. Hirschman once again easily got away from McKennedy on the green-white-checkered conclusion.
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Great day at cement palace.
And, for November, we lucked out with weather. And, what a great crowd for this late in the season. Thought Joey Pole would catch the lead, but, great effort!!
I wasn’t sure if bonsignore and beers could get back to front, when they pitted at the lap 47ish caution. They gambled, and while they made their way through the field, not nearly enough time. But, from this old guys eyes, had really good pieces.
So, im no race crew chief. But im yelling at my kid, why did kopcik pick outside lane at seekonk, on a later restart, so matt could pick inside? Its seekonk! I must have missed the technical memo. So matt did what matt does when given an opportunity. And never looked back.
Matt was very emotional in victory lane. I wasnt sure why, until Suitcase set me straight. (Thank you Suitcase ).
Mr Hirschman is a classy guy. In my eyes anyways. Congratulations Matt. Still wish Mckennedy could have got it done, but the best car won. Hands down, again.
I’m sure a very difficult week for the family, and racing family, of Greg Narducci who passed earlier in the week. Passionate supporter of modifieds for decades and see in many Victory Lane photos from New England to Florida. Kinda glad Matt brought it home for The Florida Connection and was able to park in for all to see the rear panel like that. Very emotional win, congrats to Matt and condolences to the friends and Narducci family
Congrats Matt. The whole Hirschman clan are great people. R.I.P. Greg Narducci. I am sure you had a hell of a ride tonight!
Bobf, agreed on both counts. I feel like seekonk owes joey pole one. He led all but 3 laps of an act race a few years back and lost the engine. I was rooting for mckennedy as well, wish I got to thompson for that win. Although if Hirschman had a reason to win, that was the day, condolences to the families.