Posted on July 28, 2022 by Dustin Albino

Just a few years ago, hemp sponsorships were frowned upon in any sport. That’s why when Richard Childress Racing announced in January that 3CHI would be the anchor partner of Tyler Reddick’s No. 8 Chevrolet in 2022, it caught many off guard.

The partnership is significant for multiple reasons, but the obvious being it marks the first category-specific team partnership in NASCAR and first hemp-based consumer brand sponsorship across all major professional sports. That brings a lot of new eyeballs to the product.

Torrey Galida, president of Richard Childress Racing, is heavily involved in bringing sponsorship to the race team. When Pocono Raceway announced Pocono Organics CBD would be the entitlement sponsor of the first race of the Pocono doubleheader in 2021, it got Galida’s head spinning.

“I said to the business development team, ‘Guys, we need to look in this category, it’s going to do nothing but continue to grow,’ ” Galida told NASCAR.com. “The laws and regulations are changing around the country and if we can get out in front of this, it would be a really good thing for us.”

RCR isn’t foreign to being the pioneer of new sponsorship avenues in NASCAR. Last year, it signed BetMGM, which was the first major U.S. sportsbooks to land a deal with a NASCAR team. It also had Jack Daniels as a previous sponsor, one of the only hard liquor companies to sponsor a car in the sport’s history.

After RCR created a list of potential CBD companies to reach out to, 3CHI responded to the inquiry. Last August for the inaugural race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, the team hosted Justin Journay, founder of 3CHI, as the company is local to Indianapolis.

“I knew of NASCAR, but I didn’t like NASCAR prior to that race,” Journay said. “It was amazing. I absolutely loved my time at that race. There’s this misconception that you go fast and turn left. That’s not what it is. There’s so much science behind it, and that’s what really got me. When they walked through the engineering and all of the analytics, being a science nerd myself, I fell in love with it on that aspect.”

Immediately, Journay, who launched 3CHI in July 2018 after learning heavily about hemp for a half year, wanted to be a focal point of sponsorship in the sport.

He also knew that being the first sponsor of his kind could pay dividends.

“We enjoy paving the way in our industry,” he said. “We look at ourselves as a leader and try to maintain that leadership position. The team, too, RCR in general, are great people. It’s like a family and something you want to be a part of.”

The process to get a hemp sponsor approved by the sanctioning body was fairly thorough. Galida presented NASCAR with the idea face-to-face last September in a meeting at the Charlotte, North Carolina, office. RCR was given guidelines it had to follow in order to receive the sponsor’s approval, as NASCAR wanted to make sure 3CHI would be in line with the television networks standards and practices.

In December, 3CHI was approved.

Since sponsoring Reddick in the Daytona 500, 3CHI has set up vendor booths at many race tracks. By the time the 2022 season concludes, it will have been set up at 15 different tracks, including Road America, where Reddick picked up his first Cup victory.

The company is even allowed to sell some of its products – pain creams, THC gummies and vape products to name a few – at the track in states that hemp is legal.

“We were nervous going into Daytona when we first did it,” Journay said. “But there hasn’t been any issues. It’s been eye-opening in the sense that it’s really something that should be allowed to be out there more if you can do it responsibility.”

Galida was surprised NASCAR, Speedway Motorsports Inc. and some of the independently owner tracks allowed 3CHI to set up a display booth on their premises.

“They’ve been really pleased with that; the results have been good and they’re doing really well on site,” Galida said. “They’re continuing to invest in their display and it’s getting better every week. So far for a new sponsor, they’re doing a really great job.”

This weekend, Journay will return to the site of his initial meeting with RCR. This time around, 3CHI will host approximately 450 people in a suite at Indianapolis, watching Reddick chase another checkered flag.

Posted on July 27, 2022 by Brandon White

The battle for the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup remains wide open as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour heads into its final race at Claremont Motorsports Park on Friday evening.

Following two competitive races at Lee USA Speedway and Monadnock Speedway, Tommy Baldwin Racing and Roy Hall find themselves tied atop the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup point standings, but they only hold a 15-point advantage over the rest of the top nine drivers.

Baldwin kicked off the Granite State Short Track Cup at Lee by having six-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Doug Coby take home the checkered flag. Coby got the victory over Hall’s driver Matt Hirschman, who had led the first 100 laps on the day before settling for third.

Hirschman appeared poised to bounce back in the second Granite State Short Track Cup event at Monadnock with another efficient performance, only to see his chances of a win fade in the closing laps following contact with the lapped car of J.B. Fortin. Despite this, Hirschman still finished second, putting him and Hall in a tie with Baldwin.

While Baldwin and Hall have set the pace so far in the Granite State Short Track Cup, a championship is far from assured for either operation, as they will have to fend off several other talented teams through 150 grueling laps at Claremont.

Below is a breakdown of the current Top 10 in the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup and how their championship hopes look going into the Clash at Claremont 150.

Several teams remain in contention for the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup, with Tommy Baldwin Racing and Roy Hall tied atop the standings with 86 points a piece. (Nick Grace/NASCAR)

7NY Tommy Baldwin Racing – 86 points

Despite using several different drivers on the 2022 Whelen Modified Tour season, Baldwin has utilized Coby for both Granite State Short Track Cup races. Coby has been efficient in those two starts but will have to separate himself from Hirschman on Friday to bring home the title.

60 Roy Hall – 86 points

Hall and Hirschman enter Friday’s Clash at Claremont 150 with something to prove after just narrowly missing out on a victory at Monadnock. The win would have given the duo a small lead in the Granite State Short Track Cup, but they will still have to engage in a heated battle with Coby for a shot at the championship.

16 Tyler Haydt – 83 points

Haydt’s driver Ron Silk currently leads the Whelen Modified Tour standings by just 10 points after nine races. Silk’s finishes of fourth and third at Lee and Monadnock respectively have put him Haydt well within striking distance of the Granite State Short Track Cup lead shared by Baldwin and Hall.

51 Ken Massa – 81 points

A feast-or-famine year for Massa and Justin Bonsignore currently has them five points behind Baldwin and Hall in the Granite State Short Track Cup. Bonsignore managed to pick up a crucial win at Monadnock following Hirschman’s run-in with Fortin and is hoping for good luck to fall his and Massa’s way on Friday.

3 Boehler Racing – 77 points

As with Baldwin’s operation, Boehler Racing has had multiple cars piloting Ole Blue in 2022, but Jake Johnson has driven the famous car in the two Granite State Short Track Cup races at Lee and Monadnock. Finishes of fifth and seventh in those races have given Johnson and Boehler an opportunity to take the title for themselves at Claremont.

64 KLM Motorsports – 73 points

A solid rookie campaign for Austin Beers with KLM Motorsports has him fifth in the Whelen Modified Tour standings and sixth in the Granite State Short Track Cup standings. Beers will have to improve upon a seventh-place finish he obtained at Lee in order for him and KLM to unseat Baldwin and Hall.

58 Edgar Goodale – 73 points

The Goodales are looking to rebound at Claremont after a last-lap crash at New Hampshire Motor Speedway took away their chance of a victory. Eric and Edgar are in a tie with KLM for sixth in the Granite State Short Track Cup after finishes of ninth and sixth at Lee and Monadnock respectively.

06 Randy Rameau – 72 points

The two Granite State Short Track Cup events at Lee and Monadnock are the only ones Sam and Randy Rameau have run with the Whelen Modified Tour this year. Sam rebounded from a tough outing at Lee to finish fourth at Monadnock, but he still has ground to cover in his and Randy’s quest to win the title on Friday.

22 Kyle Bonsignore – 71 points

Kyle Bonsignore is coming off a season-best performance of second at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. With finishes of sixth and 11^th at Lee and Monadnock, Kyle will try to build on the momentum from New Hampshire and pull off an upset victory for the Granite State Short Track Cup.

54 Amy Catalano – 68 points

Tommy and Amy Catalano face significant odds of winning the Granite State Short Track Cup following finishes of 11^th and ninth at Lee and Monadnock. Tommy is enjoying the best season of his Whelen Modified Tour career, but he will need another efficient performance and luck to have a shot at the championship.

79 Tim Lepine – 68 points

Currently tied for tenth with the Catalanos, the Granite State Short Track Cup has not gone according to plan for Lepine and his driver Jon McKennedy. After finishing second at Lee, a dismal 18^th place run at Monadnock put the duo in a deep hole heading into the final race at Claremont on Friday.

Posted on July 27, 2022July 27, 2022 by Staff Report

After last weekend’s crash at Pocono Raceway, Kurt Busch will miss his second consecutive race this weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.

Busch’s crash in Saturday’s qualifying session at Pocono left him with concussion-like symptoms that prevented him from being medically cleared to compete. After being evaluated before Sunday’s Verizon 200 at the Brickyard (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC, NBC Sports App, IMS Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), Busch was not cleared to participate in this weekend’s events.

The team's official statement on the status of @KurtBusch. pic.twitter.com/YEHt7Pf7jJ

— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) July 27, 2022

pic.twitter.com/ua9gyHOQ7m

— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) July 27, 2022

Busch enters Sunday’s race 17th in the current points standings (was 14th before Pocono), but 12th in the playoff rankings after his win in May at Kansas Speedway.

Gibbs, currently a top contender for the Xfinity Series championship, finished 16th in his Cup Series debut at Pocono.

Competition officials announced that Busch will be granted a postseason waiver upon his return, if he meets all other criteria for Cup Series Playoffs eligibility.

Posted on July 27, 2022 by Zach Sturniolo

LONG POND, Pa. — It’s been a long seven years for Sage Karam.

Seven years of grief. Seven years of healing. Seven years of what-ifs.

But last Saturday, Karam finally wrote new memories at Pocono Raceway, making peace at his home track with a quiet, uneventful 20th-place finish in a NASCAR Xfinity Series race, his first at the 2.5-mile tri-oval since a 2015 IndyCar crash that resulted in the death of fellow competitor Justin Wilson.

“That was the goal for me today was to come in and just do all the laps I could do and keep the car clean and kind of let whatever was gonna happen in the race happen for us,” Karam told NASCAR.com. “And if that was P1, P10, P20, P30, then so be it.”

Karam wheeled the No. 45 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet through a clean Saturday just 30 miles northwest of Nazareth, the hometown he shares with the Andretti family. But to understand Karam’s journey is to start long before that fateful day in August 2015. That’s where Dr. Jarrod Spencer first comes into frame.

Zach Sturniolo | NASCAR Digital Media

Spencer, a sports psychologist, wrestled under the coaching of Karam’s father, Jody Karam, at Liberty (Pa.) High School in Bethlehem, and met the younger Karam six years prior, when Karam was just 14. Jody Karam saw his son’s potential in racing and knew Spencer’s guidance could prepare his son for the mental challenges ahead.

“I met him and was like, ‘I like this kid.’ And I saw it,” Spencer told NASCAR.com on Saturday. “And as soon as I saw him at 14, I said, ‘I’m in,’ and so I’ve been a friend and mentor since that time.”

Karam was a rising star in IndyCar, making 12 starts as a highly touted rookie during the 2015 season for Chip Ganassi Racing. But his shine sometimes left his competitors blinded by fury instead of admiration. Karam’s on-track aggression brought the ire of numerous drivers despite the speed he brought to the track.

That 12th start of 2015 will forever live with Karam. Leading with 21 laps to go, Karam’s car snapped loose in Turn 1 and spun hard into the outside SAFER barrier. Pieces of his car scattered. One was the nosecone of his No. 8 car. The cone bounced through the air and struck Wilson in the helmet, leaving Wilson with a traumatic head injury. Wilson succumbed to the injury the next day at a nearby hospital.

Karam spiraled into a deep depression, caused by his own grief and exasperated by numerous hate messages directed his way on social media.

The road out of that depression was bumpy at best and worsened in his first trip back to Long Pond.

That was three years later, returning as a spectator for another IndyCar race at Pocono in 2018. Among the people at his side that weekend was his girlfriend, now wife, Abby.

“I was like, OK, like, we’re going to do it, it’s going to be fine. It’s going to be a good day,” she recalled Saturday. “And he has this like crazy intuition. And we were riding in that day, and he’s like, ‘Something bad’s gonna happen.’ And I’m like, ‘No, I think you’re just jaded by what happened here, and it’s gonna be OK, we’re gonna be good.’ ”

Her optimism was short-lived. On the first lap at speed, Robert Wickens suffered a horrendous crash in the Tunnel Turn that sent his car into the catchfence. The car shredded apart and the crash left Wickens paralyzed from the waist down.

Karam’s depression came back in full force, shaken by watching a friend suffer such a terrifying accident. But Karam persevered, and at age 27, four more years after Wickens’ crash, he came back to Pocono — this time to finally get back behind the wheel of a race car.

“Ever since that moment (in 2018), I didn’t think this day would come,” Abby Karam said. “I really didn’t know if he would ever be ready to come back here.”

Spencer was by Karam’s side through the trauma. How it changed Karam, Spencer said, is a reflection of who Karam has always been.

“A moment like that will break a person beyond their mind and really, to their spirit,” Spencer said. “And you go deep inside of yourself when you experience a life moment like that. And so his resiliency, his adversity management there came from not just his mind, but really deep in his heart and spirit and soul. And so deepening his faith, growing in his emotional maturity, and then developing the resilience, those don’t come in life unless we sometimes really have to go through it.

“Well, he went through it. But to his credit, he’s come out on the other end of it, as we saw here today, like in an unbelievably impressive way.”

The result in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race was always going to be insignificant compared to his other races — so long as he finished the race and avoided adversity. He did, and for once, he was able to climb from a race car in Long Pond with a smile on his face.

“To be honest, that was one of the most fun times I’ve had driving a race car,” Karam said. “This place was really, really fun in these cars. I had a lot more fun in these cars than I did even with IndyCars, and IndyCars around here was really cool. But with these cars, you’re braking in every corner and through the Tunnel Turn, there’s a couple of bumps. So the car is like really reacting and you got to really be on top of it. And you’re just chasing it up towards the walls and everything. And it was really fun.”

It was a remarkable change of perspective at the track with which he’s always had a conflicted relationship.

Zach Sturniolo | NASCAR Digital Media

“This track means a lot and has a lot of emotional value to me, whether that’s negative or positive,” Karam said. “And for all those negative times I’ve had here, I will say that I’m glad it’s this track because this is my home track and anybody that can be here that’s in my support system, whether that’s friends, family, peers, I mean just anybody who’s helped me along the journey and seven years is here today. And there’s a lot of people that can’t go to all my races and can’t go to any other race, so for it to be this race, that makes it — I don’t want to say easier, but it does make it nicer for me because I can have that that full-on support system here for me.”

The race didn’t come without a scare, though. At Lap 46, Santino Ferrucci spun at the exit of Turn 3, triggering a blinding smokescreen that led to a multi-car pile-up. As Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spun to the left side of the track, Jeb Burton launched over his front end and tumbled onto his roof. Karam witnessed the entire incident and drove past the upended No. 27 Chevrolet.

“I saw a car go flying through the air and I was like, ‘you’ve got to be kidding me. Again?’ ” Karam said. “But as a driver, you kind of know when certain ones are worse than others and that it is happening right in front of me. And I saw it and it didn’t look as bad as far as like from like the intensity level of it to what it maybe looked like.”

The crash happened just in front of the No. 45 team’s pit box, where Karam’s wife and father were watching the race.

“I got on the radio right away and was just like, ‘hey, is everybody all good?’And they said he was out of the car pretty quickly,” Karam said. “So when I knew that, it was good. But yeah, that would have would have been pretty tricky if we would have left here with another bad experience with somebody getting hurt or something like that. But I’m glad that everybody had a safe day today and everybody had a good race and I had a lot of fun.”

Pocono had rarely conjured fun memories for Karam. This time, he left emotional for all the right reasons.

Mission accomplished. Really happy with how today went. Happy to give @TeamAlphaPrime a top 20👊🏼 thank you @CRCAuto for making this happen for me. Thanks to everyone who showed me support over the last few days. Was really cool to hear the cheers during driver intros today! pic.twitter.com/o2FSygeuEz

— Sage Karam (@SageKaram) July 24, 2022

That picture, taken by Abby Karam, shows the moment Karam and Spencer connected after Karam conquered his journey.

“I was tearful, and he was tearful,” Spencer said. “And it was just that moment of like, OK, seven years, like we did it. And that moment was everything to me because there’s so much that goes into that picture of like, wisdom is healed pain. And that pain was really just healed at that moment.”

“Today was the making of a seven-year journey,” Karam said. “I’ve had opportunities to come back here and race and I wasn’t ready. And I took the time I needed to take and did the things that were necessary to make sure I was ready for the opportunity that, when I was going to come back here, I would make the most of it. And I felt that was this year, and I’m glad I waited. And I feel like we did make the most of it.

“I think the peace has been made here.”

Posted on July 27, 2022 by @nascarcasm

We couldn’t keep him hidden forever. We tried. But we couldn’t.

Our very own @nascarcasm (we say “our very own” because he won’t leave) thought it was time to meet face to face with the drivers he had poked fun at for so long, and reveal the face that had long been hidden behind pixels or blurs on social media.

MORE: Follow @nascarcasm | Full ‘casm archive

We’ve watched the video. We can honestly say this is a huge occasion, not only for @nascarcasm, but also for race fans who enjoy being extremely disappointed by things.

It was a thrill for him, but the drivers as well, who have wanted to not meet him for a long, long time.

And now, without further delay, the revelation that no one asked for … here’s @nascarcasm.

Posted on July 27, 2022 by Sponsored Content

Stephanie Moyer is driving change within NASCAR as an inaugural participant in the Busch Light Accelerate Her program and one of the few women drivers in the sport.

Growing up in a racing family in Pennsylvania, Moyer’s passion for motorsports began at a young age when she was mentored by both her father and her brother, who was a champion driver. While studying at the University of Northwestern Ohio, Moyer joined the race club and had the unique opportunity to intern as a mechanic for Mason Mitchell Motorsports in the ARCA Menards Series.

Through her internship, Moyer attended Daytona for the first time. It was this inspiring moment that defined her future in the industry, where she vowed to pursue racing at the professional level.

Now, through skill and fierce determination, Moyer’s career is flourishing. In 2021, she continued her success with a 10th-place finish by points in the ARCA Menards East Series. This past year, Moyer joined as an inaugural participant of the Busch Light Accelerate Her program, which aims to bring more access and brand support to women athletes in NASCAR.

“I’m excited to work with Busch Light on this program because it’s more than just getting a check from a company. Busch Light is invested in helping me and all women in NASCAR reach our goals and make it to the highest level of the sport,” Moyer said.

For the 2022 season, Moyer hopes to continue learning more about the intricacies of the sport and to show the world what she can really do.

ABOUT THE BUSCH LIGHT ACCELERATE HER PROGRAM

The Busch Light Accelerate Her Program is a three-year commitment that takes aim at the inequity of resources available to women drivers by investing directly in every 21+ woman driver in NASCAR, providing brand-building opportunities to increase fan visibility of drivers and the sport. The Busch Light Accelerate Her program is the next step in a proud, 40-year partnership between Busch Light and NASCAR that has propelled the sport forward, bringing fans closer to the action and expanding NASCAR throughout the U.S. Busch Light asks that fans show their support by heading to Busch.com/accelerateher where they can learn more about the inaugural drivers, including Natalie, that are receiving this opportunity.

Posted on July 27, 2022 by Brandon White

One of the most cherished events on Riverhead Raceway’s weekly calendar will take place on Saturday evening in Wall of Fame Night, which will include the running of the Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77.

Established in 1986 as a 61-lap race to honor NASCAR Hall of Famer Richie Evans, who was killed in a practice crash at Martinsville Speedway the year before, the memorial event now also pays tribute to Modified legends Charlie Jarzombek and Tom Baldwin Sr., both of whom similarly passed away while behind the wheel.

Outside of recognizing three prominent figures in Modified history, Riverhead will also induct two of its most successful drivers into the track’s Wall of Fame, former competitors Rusty Turbush and John Cozza.

Turbush ended his career fourth on the track’s all-time Modified wins list with 25 victories, while Cozza enjoyed plenty of success at Riverhead himself with championships in the Blunderbust, Grand Enduro and Truck Enduro titles.

A talented field of local Riverhead competitors will be on hand for the festivities Saturday evening as they look to obtain a marquee victory and build valuable momentum over the rest of the 2022 season.

Below is everything you need to know about the Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77 at Riverhead Raceway.

Saturday’s race honors Modified legends Richie Evans, Charlie Jarzombek and Tom Baldwin Sr., who all passed away behind the wheel. (Kostas Lymperopoulos/NASCAR)

What TV channel is the Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77 at Riverhead Raceway on?

All the on-track action for the Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77 can be viewed live on FloRacing, the official streaming home for all NASCAR Roots properties.

The event will not be shown on a television network.

Below is the complete schedule for FloRacing’s coverage of the Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77.

Date	Start Time	How to Watch
July 30, 2022	5:30 p.m. ET	FloRacing

Complete schedule for the Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77

This year’s Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77 will take place on Saturday, July 30.

Seven different divisions will be on track for the event’s festivities, which include races for Riverhead’s Crate Modified, Blunderbust, Legend, All Star, Enduro Truck and Eight-Cylinder Enduro classes. Headlining the night will be the 77-lap Modified feature.

Below is the complete race-day schedule at Riverhead Raceway.

Time	Event
4 p.m. ET	Grandstands open
6 p.m. ET	Pre-race ceremonies
After 6 p.m. ET	Racing begins

The local Riverhead contingent will be out in full force as each driver looks to add a crucial win to their resume in the Baldwin, Evans, Jarzombek 77. (Mike Lawrence/NASCAR)

Who is racing in the Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77?

Leading the strong field of cars for Saturday night’s 77-lap feature is defending race-winner and three-time track champion Kyle Soper.

The most recent NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Riverhead saw Soper hold off past series champions in Justin Bonsignore and Ron Silk for his first career win while driving a car for Wayne Anderson, who is also a past winner of the Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77.

Soper, who currently holds the lead in Riverhead’s Modified standings, will have to fend off the rest of the local track contingent such as Dylan Slepian and Dave Brigati, the latter of whom trails Soper by just five points.

Also entered for the Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77 is Jimmy Blewett driving the famed No. 7NY for Tommy Baldwin Jr. In nine Whelen Modified Tour races this year, the 7NY has visited Victory Lane four times with Blewett, Mike Christopher Jr. and six-time champion Doug Coby behind the wheel.

Posted on July 27, 2022July 27, 2022 by Adam Fenwick

It was obvious early on that Matt Hirschman was going to be a race car driver.

“That’s what I always said I was going to do when they asked you in elementary school, ‘What are you going to be when you grow up?’ I always said I was going to be a race car driver,” Hirschman said.

The 39-year-old from Northampton, Pennsylvania, grew up in and around the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. His father Tony Hirschman Jr. is widely considered one of the best Modified drivers of his generation.

The elder Hirschman won five NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championships during a career that stretched from the mid-1980s through 2007. During that time, he won 35 races with a variety of race teams at tracks like Oswego Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park and Stafford Motor Speedway.

For the younger Hirschman, whose brother Tony Hirschman III works as a spotter in the NASCAR Cup Series for Kyle Busch, Modified racing is practically all he’s ever known.

Some of Matt Hirschman’s earliest memories are of his father racing and winning at many of the aforementioned race tracks.

“My dad could name the year and I was probably only 2 or 3 years,” Hirschman said. “Some of that was just when he was just starting to venture out and race some of the NASCAR races.

“I’d say Stafford, Thompson, Oswego, Martinsville, I remember going to places like that. That was before he was full time, because that didn’t come until the late 80s when he started running the Tour full-time. That was when he was just going to some of those places in the earlier part of his career for the first time.”

His father won his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race in 1989 and claimed his first of five championships in 1995. He added his second a year later, followed by a third title in 1999. He collected his final two championships in 2004 and 2005. His last race win came in 2006.

(From left) Matt Hirschman, mom Brenda Hirschman, dad Tony Hirschman Jr. and brother Tony Hirschman III pose following Tony Hirschman’s 2005 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship. (Photo: NASCAR)

It was during the later part of his father’s career that Hirschman began to find his own place in Modified racing. It started with the father-son pairing working together, with dad driving the car and son serving as crew chief.

The pairing was incredibly successful, with Hirschman guiding his father to his final two NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championships for the Kehley family.

“His two championships, again back-to-back in 2004 and 2005, I was actually playing the role of the crew chief,” Hirschman said. “I was setting up the cars for him and calling the races when I was there, because at that time I had already started racing, so I didn’t attend every race. The Kehley’s, they’re like family, that team that he finished his career with.

“I really learned a lot working with my dad and working with their car. That’s stuff that still applies to what I’m doing today.”

At the same time, Hirschman began his own driving career that would eventually make him one of the top Modified competitors in the United States.

While he’s rarely raced the full NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule during his career, Hirschman has still earned Tour victories at Oswego Speedway, New Smyrna Speedway, the Chemung Speedrome and Spencer Speedway.

Away from the Tour, Hirschman is known for showing up when a lot of money is on the line. He’s one of the best to ever race a Modified during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway, where he has claimed three championships and countless victories.

He’s also won big races like the Race of Champions, the Spring Sizzler and the North-South Shootout, just to name a few.

There’s a reason fans call him ‘Big Money Matt,’ a nickname from which Hirschman admits he initially shied away.

“I’ve always been confident in myself. To say that I knew I could achieve this or do this is hard to really answer or say yes to,” Hirschman said. “I’ve always had the confidence, but it’s a lot of hard work and a group effort to make it happen.

“In the beginning I think I shied away a little bit from the nickname, not trying to put added pressure to myself. But I believe I’ve lived up to it and kind of now I’ve more embraced it. I think I’ve earned it and I continue to prove that.”

Matt Hirschman, driver of the No. 60 PeeDee Motorsports Modified, during the Duel at the Dog 200 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Monadnock Speedway on June 19, 2022. (Photo: Nick Grace/NASCAR)

When you look around the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour garage at any given race, the odds are high that you’ll see crew members, team owners or drivers whose father, mother, or grandparents were also involved in Modified racing.

It takes a certain amount of dedication, according to Hirschman, to live and breathe Modified racing for nearly his entire life.

“Modified racing is deep roots. If you look at the generations of the same names and families and things and crew members in the pit areas, it’s something that once it’s in your blood, it’s like a disease,” Hirschman said. “It’s really hard to get away from it.

“From a very early age, this is all I’ve known and all we’ve ever done. I’ve spent my entire life, except for a very short time when my dad went racing in the Busch North Series, Modified racing has been our life. That same thing can be said for many families.”

So will there be a third generation of Hirschman’s racing Modifieds? It’s possible, but Hirschman says he won’t force any of his children to get involved in racing.

He wants it to be their choice.

“I do have two children of my own. I have a son who is 7, Matthew, and a nine-month-old daughter, Violet,” Hirschman said. “Being that I’ve lived it and realized it, I know how tough it is. I’m not going to put that pressure on or push for that to happen. I didn’t start myself until I was 17, but what I learned by going racing and being involved first as nothing more than just watching, and then being more involved as I got older, those lessons learned were very valuable.

“Right now, my son goes to a majority of my races, and we’re into racing big time. We watch racing all the time on TV and the streaming that is now available to us. That’ll be his choice. I won’t make that choice for him.”

Posted on July 26, 2022July 27, 2022 by Staff Report

NASCAR officials issued an L2-level penalty to the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports team on Tuesday, penalizing the team 100 driver points and 100 owner points following the NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway.

The penalty comes under Sections 14.1 C, D and Q as well as Sections 14.5 A and B in the NASCAR Rule Book. Those rules apply to the body and overall vehicle assembly rules surrounding modification of a single source supplied part.

Crew chief Blake Harris has additionally been fined $100,000 and suspended from the next four NASCAR Cup Series championship points events. If driver Michael McDowell and the team win one of the five remaining races in the regular season and/or qualifies for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, the team will also be docked 10 playoff points.

Front Row Motorsports announced on Twitter Wednesday that they have initiated the process to appeal the penalty ruling and declined to comment further.

McDowell was credited with a sixth-place finish at Pocono Raceway following the Sunday disqualifications of Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch, who initially took the checkered flag first and second, respectively, before failing post-race technical inspection. McDowell’s car and the No. 47 JTG Daugherty Chevrolet piloted by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. were randomly selected by the sanctioning body to be taken back to the NASCAR R&D Center for further inspection.

NASCAR officials released a more stringent penalty structure for the 2022 Cup Series season in January, introducing a list of deterrence options on a three-tiered system — from L1 to L3.

Following the March race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the No. 6 RFK Racing team was handed a near-identical L2 penalty for modifications made to the rear fascia of Brad Keselowski’s Ford.

Penalty options for an L2 infraction include:

Points deductions: 75-120points
Playoff points deductions: 10-25 points
Suspension of one or two crew members for 4-6 races
Fines: $100,000-$250,000

“To make sure that all of those things stay above board, there’s going to have to be a culture shift from the way that the teams and NASCAR, for that matter, have done business,” NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition Scott Miller said in January when announcing the new penalty structure. “So this deterrence model has more meat in it, more meaningful penalties, but I think we all thought that it was time for this with the introduction of the new car.”

Posted on July 26, 2022July 26, 2022 by Adam Fenwick

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is heading to the Granite State for the fourth time this year for Friday’s running of the Clash at Claremont 150 at Claremont Motorsports Park.

The 10th race of the season also serves as the conclusion of the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup. The three-race miniseries featuring tracks in New Hampshire began at Lee USA Speedway on May 21 and continued at Monadnock Speedway on June 18.

Friday’s race will be the third visit for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour to Claremont Motorsports Park. The series first visited the third-mile oval in 1985, with NASCAR Hall of Famer Richie Evans emerging as the race winner.

The Tour didn’t return to Claremont again until 2007, when James Civali put together a dominant performance to earn one of his four career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour triumphs.

Below is everything you need to know about Friday’s Clash at Claremont 150 at Claremont Motorsports Park.

Clash at Claremont 150 at Claremont Motorsports Park

What to watch for:

A good year for Tommy Baldwin Racing can get even better Friday evening at Claremont.

The team sits tied atop the the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup standings entering Clash at Claremont 150, which serves as the finale for the three-race miniseries. Doug Coby will once again pilot the No. 7NY for the team as he looks for his third win of the season and the fifth victory overall for Tommy Baldwin Jr.’s operation.

On the line is a $5,000 bonus for the champion car owner of the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup, a prize Matt Hirschman would rather go to his car owner, Roy Hall. Baldwin and Hall enter Saturday’s race with 86 points each in the hunt for the bonus cash.

Several other teams and drivers are in the hunt for the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup championship, including NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship leader Ron Silk’s car owners, Tyler Haydt and Joe Yannone. They are three points out of the lead, with Justin Bonsignore’s car owner Ken Massa five points back in fourth.

All four teams will be on hand for the Clash at Claremont 150, as will several other drivers and teams that will be looking to take home the trophy and checkered flag themselves.

Fresh off his first Tour victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Anthony Nocella will be back in his family No. 92 for Friday’s race. Jake Johnson returns in Boehler Racing Enterprises Ole Blue No. 3 after claiming his first victory in a Modified last weekend at another New Hampshire facility, Star Speedway.

The Clash at Claremont 150 is the final race of the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup, which featured three races at three New Hampshire speedways. (Photo: Nick Grace/NASCAR)

Jon McKennedy, who sits within 10 points of Silk in the battle for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship, will try to get even closer with a solid finish at Claremont. Eric Goodale, who is 11 points behind Silk in third, will also look to close the gap with a strong run Friday night.

Other notable entries for Friday’s race include Tommy Catalano, Sam Rameau, Craig Lutz, Austin Beers and Kyle Bonsignore, among others.

The complete entry list for the Clash at Claremont 150 is available here.

RACE FACTS

Race	Clash at Claremont 150
Date	Friday, July 29, 2022
Track	Claremont Motorsports Park
Layout	Third-mile paved oval
Location	Claremont, New Hampshire
Start time	8:45 p.m. ET
Laps	150
Posted awards	$83,763
TV channel	USA (Delayed: Friday, Aug. 5, 1 p.m. ET)
Live stream	FloRacing (Live)

Schedule: Friday, July 29: Garage opens at 2:15 p.m. ET … Final practice from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. … Single-car qualifying (two laps) at 6:45 p.m. ET … Race at 8:45 p.m. ET

Qualifying: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Fastest lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time. Vehicles will be impounded after qualifying. Vehicle must qualify on race set up.

Tire allotment: The maximum tire allotment available for this event is eight (8) tires per team. All tires used for qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by Hoosier, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. All qualifying tires must remain in impound until released by NASCAR Officials. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. The tire change rule is zero (0) tires, any position.