When it comes to the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway, Paulie Hartwig III is already a well known name for his successes in recent years in the 602 Modified division.
Monday at New Smyrna the 14-year old from Galloway, N.J. made some new history for himself.
In his Tour Type Modified division debut, Hartwig held off veteran Ron Silk over the final nine laps to win the division’s 60-lap feature Monday at New Smyrna Speedway.
“We’re just getting started here,” Hartwig said. “… Too young to have a beer, we’ll drink some apple juice instead.”
It was the first of five consecutive nights of Tour Type Modified features at New Smyrna.
Hartwig held a hefty lead over Silk when caution flew on lap 52 for the spinning car of Jeff Goodale. Hartwig got the jump on Silk on the ensuing restart and never gave Silk a chance to even challenge for the lead over the closing laps.
Silk, of Norwalk, held on to finish second.
“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.”
Said Silk: “When we had that long run there I thought it was going to green to the end so I tried to … I drove as hard as I could and tried to catch him and 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 him and I couldn’t. I was just spinning the tires on exit [from the corners]. Good effort. I wish I would have probably just waited for that yellow and not burned it up, but congratulations to Paulie. That’s pretty impressive for a 14-year old.”
Austin Beers of Northampton, Pa. was third, matching his finish from Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season opening event at New Smyrna.
“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.”
With Luke Baldwin leading Hartwig, the first caution of the event flew on lap four for the spinning car of Rich Parker in turn four.
On the lap four restart, Trevor Catalano didn’t go on the inside lane causing 12th place running James Blewett to get into his rear and spin to the inside.
On the sect attempt at a lap four restart, Hartwig was able to overtake Baldwin to take over the lead.
On lap 28 Ryan Preece overtook Baldwin for second place. By then Hartwig had opened up about a 1.5 second lead on the field. Silk moved by Baldwin on lap 30 to move to third place.
By lap 33 Hartwig had opened up his lead on Preece to 1.7 seconds. Silk made the move past Preece for second on lap 35. On lap 38 Hartwig held a 1.9 second lead over second place Silk.
Silk started to make progress in catching Hartwig and cut the lead down to just under a second by lap 47.
With 11 laps remaining Hartwig began to endure cars at the rear of the field. Hartwig made quick work of three cars. Hartwig’s lead disappeared when caution flew for the spinning car of Goodale on lap 52.
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Paulie is loaded with talent, I was talking to him at Hickory before he went out and Won the SMART Modified Tour Race last spring .. He has a bright Future in Racing… He has his head in the game at such an early age… It will be interesting how he does with the Nascar Modified Tour… It’s hard to believe he’s still 14 years old.. He will be 15 later this month and then he will be able to run the Tour… Good Luck and congratulations on your 2 Wins already and maybe # 3 later tonight in the 602 Mods… WOW….