RaceDayCT coverage of the Sunoco World Series is sponsored by the North-South Shootout
THOMPSON – It was the coming together of a legendary short track and a legendary short track racing event Saturday at Thompson Speedway.
The 75th Race of Champions 150 marked the first appearance for the event at Thompson Speedway.
But it was nothing new standing in victory lane for the event for the eventual winner.
Matt Hirschman dominated the second half of the race, driving away from Jon McKennedy to win the Race of Champions 150 Saturday at the Sunoco World Series at Thompson.
“It was really smooth actually,” Hirschman said. “Early in the race [Jon McKennedy] was real strong. [Ron Silk] came on after going to the back. Knowing those guys are going to be really tough to beat here today. I give them credit, I think they’re better at Thompson than I am. I’ve been gaining ground on it. I had a second place with the [Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series] in October last year, second in August with the Whelen [Modified] Tour. So after being away for a long time, I’m getting the knack of it, figuring it out a little bit.”
It was the 10th time that Hirschman, of Northampton, Pa., has won the prestigious event.
“It’s pretty crazy,” Hirschman said. “I don’t think we were the favorite here at Thompson today, but we pulled it off. This race has just been incredible for my career. Ten wins and they came at four different race tracks along the way. I’m not done yet, but certainly having one for the other thumb is a good thing. I know I’m kind of getting to the back nine of my career so I don’t know how many more I can win but I’ll certainly try. This one is extra special because I think it was a bigger challenge than some of the other one’s were at tracks I was little bit more familiar with and a little bit better at.”
McKennedy, of Chelmsford, Mass., was second and Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, N.Y. third.
“It was a pretty unique race,” McKennedy said. “A lot of strategy came into it. A lot of coming and going, pit stops. A near little format. A lot of fun. The guys did great, the guys in the pits were awesome again. All year they’ve been great. Big thanks to them. Just overall a great weekend. We won the [Thompson Outlaw Modified] race last night, we won the [New England SuperModified Series] race today and a second here with the ROC … Pretty awesome weekend. Matt was really good. He’s one of the best.”
McKennedy controlled at the front for the opening laps leaving Hirschman and Emerling to battle for second. Emerling got by Hirschman for second on lap five.
The first caution flew on lap seven for the spinning car of Max Zachem. McKennedy controlled on the restart with Ronnie Williams jumping from fourth to second. With McKennedy leading, Williams in second and Emerling in third, caution flew on lap 20 for the slowed car of Jack Ely on the backstretch.
McKennedy continued to set the pace at the front after the restart with Hirschman making the jump back to second ahead of Williams.
By lap 60 the top three of McKennedy, Hirschman Ron Silk had checked out from fourth place Emerling. Caution flew on lap 65 for a spinner of of turn two. The entire field headed to pit road under caution on lap 67. Silk won the race off of pit road followed by Hirschman, McKennedy, Emerling and Austin Beers
On the lap 71 restart Silk held off Hirschman’s bid for the lead in turn one, but Hirschman fought back to grab the lead off of turn four with Emerling following to second.
On lap 73 McKennedy got under Silk off of turn two to move into third.
With Hirschman and Emerling checked out from third place McKennedy, the competition caution flew on lap 80. The caution sent the field to pit road for fueling.
Hirschman got the jump on Emerlng on the restart. Behind them Beers moved by McKennedy for third. Action was short lived though. Caution was back out on lap 81 for a frontstretch wreck that included Justin Bonsignore and Eric Goodale.
Under caution the field went back down pit road for tire changes. Hirschman won the race off pit road followed by Emerling, McKennedy, Kyle Bonsignore and Beers.
Hirschman bested Emerling to turn one on the lap 89 restart with Kyle Bonsignore moving to third. McKennedy fell to fifth behind Silk. On lap 90 Silk got by Kyle Bonsignore for third.
With Hirschman, Emerling and Silk checked out from fourth place McKennedy, caution flew for Randall Richard in the wall in turn two. Under caution on lap 118 the field hit pit road again.
Emerling won the race off pit road followed by Hirschman, Silk, McKennedy and Beers.
Emerling got sideways coming to the green for the lap 122 restart allowing Hirschman to go back to the front. Through turns one and two Silk got under Emerling, who got washed up. It allowed McKennedy to take advantage and get by Silk to move to second.
“Real good pits stops,” Hirschman said. “… Maybe the only mistake I made all day was I overshot my pit it a little on the last stop and we did come out second. I’ll own that one. But we were able to get a good restart and get back out front.”
Caution returned on lap 123 for an Austin Kochenash crash in turn one.
On the lap 126 restart Silk was slow getting up to speed, moving Jacob Christian to third, Emerling to fourth and Kyle Bonsignore to fifth. At the front Hirschman was able to keep McKennedy at bay for the lead.
Emerling got by Christian for third on lap 133. By lap 134 Hirschman had opened up more than a second lead over McKennedy. Emerling was three seconds off the lead in third.
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Jon McKennedy finished 1st, 1st, and 2nd, yet might have ended up with the most expensive weekend of anyone. It sure liked his engine was letting go at the end of both the supermodified and ROC races. At least they made it the distance?
It was surprising to see a “bull ring specialist” like Matt H. win at high speed TSMP!
It certainly was !!!!!