|
 Matt
Hirschman seeks a record fifth Colors Edge John
Blewett III North-South Shootout presented by PPG
title, and he's hoping plenty of other drivers will
step up and make the road to Victory Lane as tough
as ever.
A four-time winner in the Tour Modified division at
the North-South Shootout, the Northampton, Pa.,
native Hirschman will enter both the Tour Modified
and SK Modified races when the 10th annual version
of the event rolls into the historic Caraway
Speedway on November 8-10.
“I've always liked the open shows. When you get a
chance to compete against the best from all over the
place, you want to do that,” said Hirschman, who has
won the last two North-South Shootouts, including
last year's inaugural showing at Caraway. “There
aren't too many unsanctioned races left where
promoters will take a risk and pay money out of
their own pocket for a big event like this."
“There's so few of them left, I'd hate to see any of
them go. I hope everybody feels the same way.”
The Tour Modifieds will compete for 125 green-flag
laps in this year's North-South Shootout, while the
SK Modifieds will hold a 50 green-flag lap feature.
Practice and qualifying will be held on Friday,
November 9, with consolation rounds and feature
events slated for Saturday, November 10.
A total of seven feature races will be held as part
of the Colors Edge John Blewett III North-South
Shootout presented by PPG – in all, more than 600
laps of feature racing for the Tour Modifieds, SK
Modifieds, PASS Super Late Models, Legends, Lite
Modifieds, Sportsman and Super Trucks.
Hirschman will enter his own No. 60 DMC Auto
Exchange Tour Modified, the same car that won the
2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011 North-South Shootouts and
finished second in 2008. He also will pilot the No.
50 Long Island Mod Maniac SK Modified for car owner
Bob Horn out of Connecticut. Hirschman won the SK
Modified portion of the North-South Shootout in
2009.
“I would say my North-South Shootout wins are my
biggest career accomplishment,” said Hirschman, who
has also won open competitions in the northeast, at
Star Speedway and Seekonk Speedway. “Going back to
the first one I won in 2006, I had won some races
prior to that, but that was first big race I won.
“The notoriety I got from that, it was the most I
ever received for winning a race.”
Hirschman feels especially strongly about supporting
Caraway Speedway, which agreed to continue the
North-South Shootout for the first time in 2011. He
said that track operators Darren and Renee Hackett
should be commended for their efforts to keep the
tradition going.
“Some people didn't like idea of it going to Caraway
at first, because there were so many (NASCAR Whelen
Southern Modified Tour) races there every year, but
me going and winning should give any outside team
hope of going down there and being able to win,”
Hirschman said. “I proved that it's still it's own
race, and I think any outsider can go in and win
that race.”
For more information on the 10th annual Colors Edge
John Blewett III North-South Shootout presented by
PPG, including ticket prices and detailed schedule
information, visit
www.NorthSouthShootout.com or contact the
Caraway Speedway office at (336) 629-5803. |
