Late race pass nets Hirschman Octoberfast win

To fans of eastern Pennsylvania short track asphalt racing, the names of Hirschman and Beers are synonymous with Modified competition.

For years the two iconic racing families, who both hail from Mud Lane in Northampton, have shared countless headlines, many of those coming in 1-2 finishes at Mahoning Valley, Dorney Park and Evergreen Speedways.

Tony Hirschman had gone up against numerous cars owned by the late Dale Beers. Eric Beers and Matt Hirschman took the battle to new heights over the past two decades and on Saturday night at Mahoning Valley, during the annual Octoberfast, the torch was passed on the next generation as 15-year old Austin Beers showed that he is ready to carry on the duel.

In the 150-lap contest, Matt Hirschman made his race winning move with four laps to go over Austin Beers and claimed the $5,000 first place prize. It would be Hirschman’s sixth consecutive victory, 14th of 2018 and 16th career win at Mahoning, three of them coming in the Octoberfast.

But make no mistake all eyes were on the younger Beers who clearly was in route to a monumental victory had it not been for the late caution that dramatically changed the outcome.

While most everyone pitted at some point Beers was one of only three who stayed out the entire race, gambling with the same set of tires, and it almost paid off. However, when Joey Jarowicz spun four laps from the end Hirschman would use that restart to make his race-winning pass with an inside pass off turn two.

“That last caution won me the race, otherwise Austin Beers was going to win this thing. It was an incredible run that he had. When he was leading and I was second and the race was going on I knew I was settling for runner-up — I wasn’t going to pass him,” said Hirschman.

“I kept thinking back to my first big win I had at Evergreen (Raceway) at the King of the Green and his dad finished second to me. It was at that moment I thought that how awesome this is and how this kid is going to win this big race just like myself and his dad did in 2001.”

Hirschman has been a dominant force everywhere he has run this year and when he brought that winning momentum to Mahoning Valley, his first time at the track in two seasons, the thought on everyone’s mind was whether his streak would continue of if one of the always tough-to-beat Mahoning regulars would bring it to a halt.

For quite some time it seemed as if that would be the case.

Heading into the waning circuits it was looking more and more as if Beers was on his way to victory until that ill-fated caution waved four laps from the end.

“I was definable going to be satisfied with second, no complaints,” said Hirschman. “My experience probably paid off and all I can say is what a future that kid has. Things didn’t quite work out the way I had anticipated early but you never give up.

“It’s always exciting to be here at Mahoning and it’s never over until the last lap and its fun. I’ll be back that’s for sure.”

Kyle Strohl was very fast at the end and settled for third with an impressive Josh Scherer taking fourth over Austin Kochenash who rounded out the top five.

“My dad wanted me to come in at lap 100 but I was second then and just decided to stay out,” noted Beers afterward. “The car was great tonight. To be leading one of these event was very humbling against such a stout field.

“I just ran my own race and if I got beat then so be it. Finishing second to a guy like Matt Hirschman — we’ll take that.”

There were 22 cars on hand with Hirschman, Beers and Kevin Rex Jr., annexing heat wins.