|
|
|
04/18/2014 |
|
MATT
HIRSCHMAN LOOKING TO BE A CONTENDER IN 43rd ANNUAL
NAPA AUTO PARTS SPRING SIZZLER AT STAFFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY |
|
 When
the green flag falls on the 43rd Annual NAPA Auto
Parts Spring Sizzler, one of the favorites for the
checkered flag will be the combination of Matt
Hirschman and the #52 Furnace and Duct Supply team
owned by Wayne Darling. The Darling team has won 4
of the last 8 races at Stafford with Doug Coby
behind the wheel and Hirschman has 4 top-5 and 13
top-10 finishes at Stafford in 19 career starts.
While the combination of the two is new for the 2014
season, they are rekindling a connection that was in
existence on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour from
2006-2009.
"It's good to know I'm going to be in a car that has
a good setup for Stafford," said Hirschman. "It's
obvious that they've been the car to beat the last
couple years at Stafford so that gives me a lot of
confidence going into the race. We've raced together
before and I believe we have a great group of people
from top to bottom, from the ownership and
leadership right on down through the crew and our
supporting staff. Our results at Thompson didn't
show what type of performance we were capable of. We
were a top-5 car and things just didn't work out at
the end and before you know it the race was over and
we finished 11th. We were as high as second and we
were still in fifth with 12 laps to go so we're
looking forward to putting that mediocre start
behind us and have a strong run at Stafford."
Although Hirschman is winless in 19 career starts at
Stafford, he has been close to victory lane on
several occasions. Hirschman's father Tony was the
Sizzler winner in 2005 and Matt would like nothing
more than to make his first victory at Stafford a
Sizzler victory.
"I've always gotten around Stafford well and I've
had good finishes there," said Hirschman. "I've been
as high as second, but I haven't won a race there
yet on the Tour. I've been close both on the Tour
and the MRS so it would be nice to get a win at
Stafford this year. I've had a couple of tough
losses and Stafford is a place with a lot of history
and I always seem to get good finishes, just not a
win. I'd especially like to win the Sizzler. I've
been fortunate with the run of success I've had the
last couple years and I've been able to win a lot of
races that have a lot of history and significance to
them. The Sizzler at Stafford is a race that I
haven't been a part of in quite a few years but it
would mean a lot to me to add the Sizzler to the
list of races that I've won in my career."
While Hirschman may still be in search of his first
career victory at Stafford, he is confident
regarding his chances at winning the race based on
the Darling team's record at the Connecticut
half-mile. Hirschman says the key to victory will be
making the right decisions during the 200-lap race
and the longer distance will also play into his
hands.
"I like the longer races because there is some
strategy involved," said Hirschman. "200 laps is a
long race and the longer races probably suit me
better than the shorter races. This is the biggest
race of the season at Stafford so it'll be important
to have a good run. I think it's just a matter of us
getting the right package and communicating. I know
they've had a good package at Stafford before but
every driver is different and the weather can change
things. We just have to be on the same page and make
the right decisions and I have to do a good job
behind the wheel and we have to have a good pit
stop. There's a lot of things that factor into
having a good run and hopefully we can all be on top
of our game. If we can all be on top of our games,
then I think the sky is the limit for us."
In addition to the four NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
races at Stafford, the possibility of Hirschman
taking part in the Inaugural SK 5k Presented by NAPA
is something that he is looking into.
"I have a SK ride for a few special races every year
but we haven't really determined our schedule yet,"
said Hirschman. "That race at Stafford is a race
that could be on our radar."
The 43rd Annual NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler gets
underway Friday, April 25 with a practice session
for Stafford's weekly divisions. The practice
session will be open to the public at no charge. The
run for the Coors Light Pole position gets underway
on Saturday, April 26 with time trials for the
Whelen Modified Tour cars, along with heat and
consolation races for Stafford's weekly divisions.
Saturday's action wraps up with feature events for
the SK Light, Limited Late Model, and DARE Stock
divisions as well as a feature event for the
Northeast Mini Stocks. The Sizzler continues on
Sunday, April 27 with the NAPA Auto Parts Pit Party
followed by Stafford's SK Modifieds® and Late Models
joining the Whelen Modified Tour in feature action.
Tickets for the "Greatest Race in the History of
Spring" are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office.
Tickets are priced at $38.50 for adult general
admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and
children ages 5 and under are admitted free of
charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved
seating is priced at $42.00 for all ages. As always,
Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with
overnight parking available. All tickets are good
for both Saturday and Sunday admission. All ticket
prices include 10% CT Admission Tax.
For more information on the 43rd annual NAPA Auto
Parts Spring Sizzler, or to order tickets, contact
the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at
860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at
www.staffordspeedway.com. |
|
Source: Scott Running / Stafford Motor Speedway
Posted:
April 18, 2014 |
|
|
