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PREECE WINS
TOYOTA MOD CLASSIC 150 RACE AT OSWEGO SPEEDWAY
Just Win and Everything Will Take care of Itself
by Denise DuPont |
 The
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) returned to
Oswego Speedway for the Toyota Mod Classic 150
presented by McDonald’s. The race program was moved
up as heavy rain moved across the state of New York.
Teams completed their practice with Doug Coby of
Milford, CT. scoring the fastest time. There was a
break while ISMA Super Modifieds were on the track
and then NWMT drivers had their chance to earn the
pole in group qualifying. In the last group session,
Matt Hirschman or Northampton, PA brought the #60
Pee Dee Motorsports Chevrolet to the top of the
charts with a time of 17.640 seconds to capture the
Coor’s Light Pole Award.
Moving things along, cars were lined up in the pits
ready for racing. Cars, drivers and teams soon moved
to the front stretch for pre-race ceremonies. Once
completed, drivers strapped in and the pace laps
began. Hirschman took the green flag and jumped
immediately into position one with Patrick Emerling
of Orchard Park, NY. falling in line right behind
him.
 It
was Hirschman’s race to win or lose as he maintained
the lead position lap after lap. As the race
unfolded, the #6 TS Hauler Chevrolet with Ryan
Preece of Berlin, CT. dialed in. Preece was clocked
as the fastest car on the track. He passed Timmy
Solomito from Islip, NY. on lap 10 and made his
presence know as he ran on Hirschman’s rear bumper
waiting for a passing opportunity.
Drivers pitted mid-race for the mandatory session,
lined up where they left off and resumed racing.
Hirschman continued his lead with Preece bearing
down on him in his rear view mirror.
On lap 118, Hirschman came up slightly high on the
backstretch and provided the exact opportunity that
Preece was looking for. Preece got under Hirschman
enough to pass him in turn three. Preece then went
forward to take the checkers with a 2.849 Margin of
victory over Hirschman.
 “I
have been here a few times but I have never been in
victory lane so that is pretty cool.” Exclaimed
Preece during celebration time. “This is very
special to me but there is one more thing that would
be more special – to win ‘The Race of Champions’.
Hopefully one day I can come back for that race.”
Preece has had five wins in his last ten starts with
the NWMT tour so he is definitely a strong
contender. “I am just trying to win and that is all
that really matters. My motto is – ‘If you win
races, it will take care of it’”. That is a great
motto to have and hopefully Preece continues living
the ‘Dream’.
Hirschman probably has more laps on Oswego than any
other NWMT driver. He does not run the NWMT tour
full time but when he does he has a strong car and
gives the regulars a run for their money. “The last
two races we were on the pole and we finished second
this week with the tour.” Stated Hirschman. “We had
the car to beat the first half and stay ahead of him
(Ryan Preece). He definitely has that late race pit
stop with the change of tires figured out. And he is
pretty good with that other tire if he has it on
there. We just missed it a little bit on that. Our
cars were pretty equal the first half and he
(Preece) was better on the second half.”
 “Last
week we showed some speed and we were turn around
and had to come back through. We have been a top two
car definitely in the two tour races that we do.”
Hirschman stated reflecting on the last two weeks.
“We did the beach race back in March but other than
that we are only part time on the tour and we have
had good results. Obviously at Oswego we are used to
being upfront in races. It was a good ride, it was
on spot and I was able to get the car better.”
Solomito stepped up his program a little coming into
Oswego and brought home a third place finish for his
efforts. “After the last two races it is nice to get
it (the car) on the trailer and not have to fix it
this week,” confessed Solomito. “It was a solid run.
We will regroup now, move on and see what we can do
at the next four races. I am sure that we can do it.
I am just happy that we had a strong run tonight and
we got everything back underneath us. We were
alright here. The last two races were tough ones for
us so it feels good to come out of here with a
finish. “Solomito said after his podium finish. “We
are just going to go forward from here and keep our
eye on the competition.”
Doug Coby completed the race fourth, followed by
Eric Goodale for fifth, Justin Bonsignore, Craig
Lutz, Max Zachem, Dave Sapienza and Rowan Pennink
rounded up the top ten.
NWMT racing will continue in two weeks with the
‘Riverhead 200’ at Riverhead Raceway.
Notes from
Oswego Speedway:
What are your thoughts on this year’s NWMT
point’s chase?
Ryan Preece
“I feel pretty good for my car owner Eddie
Partridge. He has a good lead there. As long as we
can keep on doing this and winning races that is all
that really matters.” “I am going to do the best
that I can. If I can finish second I finish second
and if I can win a race that is even better. It is
tough to miss a race (NHMS September race). But
sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture.
Right now I am trying to take that next step. So
that Gibbs race in Kentucky means a lot to me”
Preece is attempting to advance his racing career to
the NASCAR Xfinity series full time. He is scheduled
to race in the ‘Visit MyrtleBeach 300.com’ at
Kentucky Speedway the same weekend that the
modifieds return to NHMS. “Hopefully I can win there
and get the modifieds back on the limelight which
will be pretty good.”
What is the difference
between the ROC and Tour car at Oswego Speedway?
Matt Hirschman
“There is not a lot of difference between the two.
The major difference here would be the tires. And
everybody here is running the spec engine which
changes the balance of the car. But overall they run
the same or very similar speeds. It is just figuring
things out for these cars. I did not quite figure it
out here to finish the race with a win. With my
experience and the speed in the car if we got it
right, we would have been a pretty tough car to
beat. We just missed a little bit at the end and
that is where it really counts.”
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Source:
Denise DuPont /
TheChromeHorn.com
Posted:
September 3, 2017 |
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