Matt Hirschman holds the trophy after winning the North-South Shootout. (Courtesy of Caraway Speedway)
SOPHIA – Matt Hirschman did it again.
The driver from Northampton, Pa, led all except a few laps to win the North-South Shootout on Saturday at Caraway Speedway.
Hirschman has won the last four editions of the fall event and claimed his 10th North-South Shootout victory overall.
Hirschman held the pole position and was in control for much of the 125-lap race, which was a start-and-stop event with more than 10 cautions with a field of 32 cars.
Burt Myers opted against a pitstop for new ties so he could hold the lead coming out of a competition fuel stop, but Hirschman was soon back in front.
Jimmy Blewett and Carson Loftin briefly held the top spot before Hirschman was back in charge.
The runner-up was Jake Crum, followed by Loftin, Tyler Catalano, Blewett, Gary Young, Jr., Gary Putnam, Josh Lowder, Johnny Kay and Jeremy Gerstner.
** In the Super Modifieds, Jonathan McKennedy of Chelmsford, Mass., won the ISMA / MSS 60-lapper.
McKennedy’s biggest challenge might have been maneuvering around lapped traffic.
The top five among the 22 cars included Josh Sokolic, DJ Shullick, Johnny Benson Jr. and Dave Danzer.
** Dyan Ward of Walkertown pulled off a double, winning the 602 Modifieds and Bowman Gray Stadium Sportsman features.
Ward prevailed in the 50-lap 602 Modifieds, taking the lead by passing fast qualifier Robbie Brewer with four laps to go.
Jaxson Casper, who was this year’s track champion at Caraway Speedway, claimed the runner-up spot, followed by Paulie Hartwig III, Dean Lowder and Mitchell Wright. Brewer crashed with two laps left and ended up 16th among the 21 entrants.
** For Southern Ground Pounders, Mack Tatum, Josh Weston, Christopher Werner and Josh Roberts notched victories in the major autumn stop in the series.
