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Matt Hirschman Wins 36th Tribute to Tommy Druar and Tony Jankowiak

LANCASTER, N.Y. (August 16, 2025) – Matt Hirschman from Northampton, PA won the 36th Tribute to Tommy Druar and Tony Jankowiak at Lancaster Motorplex on Saturday night. The victory for Hirschman was his 14th career Lancaster win, and 63rd career Race of Champions Modified victory. Mark Hoch from West Seneca, NY won the Street Stock main event. Russ Bulger Jr from Buffalo, NY won the Rusty Diamond Cores Pro 4. Mark Schulz from Akron, NY won the Mighty TQ Midget feature.

Paulie Hartwig and Jake Lutz were on the front row for the 36th Tribute to Tommy/Tony for Race of Champions Modified Series, with the caution immediately coming out as Lutz slowed in turn one. The restart would see Hartwig and Austin Beers on the front row, with Hartwig in the lead ahead of Beers, Jack Ely, Andy Jankowiak, and Sean Verwys. Matt Hirschman would move into the top five after passing Verwys, with Patrick Emerling passing Verwys for sixth place early on. Jankowiak would pass Ely on lap six to take over third place, with Hirschman battling with Ely for fourth. Jankowiak would continue his strong run as he passed Austin Beers for second on lap eight, with Hirschman, and Ely all passing Beers. Jankowiak would pass Hartwig on lap 13 to take over the lead, with Hirschman quickly taking over second place. Austin Beers and Jack Ely battled for fourth place and then Ely would move back to third place after passing Hartwig on lap 21. Patrick Emerling would pass Beers on lap 21 to enter the top five, as Mike Leaty, winner of the Ol’ Boy Cup back in June, raced in sixth place. “Mustache Jack” Ely would battle with “Big Money” Matt Hirschman for second and would move into the runner up position on lap 27. Ely would apply the pressure to Jankowiak for the lead on lap 45, as Hirschman, Emerling, Mike Leaty, and George Skora III raced in the top six. Jankowiak would continue to lead at the halfway mark, as Ely once again applied pressure to the race leader. While the lead duo hit lap traffic, third place running Matt Hirschman, Patrick Emerling, Mike Leaty, George Skora III, and Austin Beers all raced on in the top seven. Ely would look underneath Jankowiak in turn one and would take over the lead on lap 68. Austin Beers would pass Skora on lap 72 to take over sixth place. Beers would then chase and hound Mike Leaty for fifth place with less than 30 laps remaining. While in lap traffic, Hirschman and Emerling would close in on Jankowiak for second place. Hirschman would take over second on lap 91 to bring out the caution.

Sean Verwys would spin in turn three to bring out the race’s first caution on lap 92. When everyone came down pit road, Matt Hirschman and his crew won the race off pit road ahead of Ely, Beers, Hartwig, Jankowiak, and Emerling. The restart would see Hirschman in the lead, with Beers passing Ely to take over second, with Jankowiak, Ely, and Hartwig racing in the top five. Emerling would look to the outside of Hartwig in their battle for fifth place on lap 103, and Emerling would complete the pass on lap 104. Ely would pass Beers for third place on lap 108. Hirschman would lead the final 18 laps to score the win, his 14th career Lancaster victory, his first at the facility since the 2023 US Open.

Dan Dressel and Nik Welshans shared the front row for the Street Stock main event, with Dressel in the lead ahead of Welshans. Tim Garlock would take over third with Dustin Novoa racing in fourth place, The caution would come out on lap 13 as Nik Welshans’ strong run would end up in smoke in turn two. Dressel would take off in the lead as Tim Garlock raced in second. Dustin Novoa, Mark Hoch, and Nathan Bryant would all race their way into the top five. Novoa’s night would end as he slowed on the top of turn two with two laps remaining. Hoch would take the lead away from Dressel coming to the white flag and he would go on to score the feature win, his third of 2025 and 21st of his career, tying him with Jim Offhaus for second on the division's all-time wins list.

Mark Schulz and Ronnie Flaim led the Mighty TQ Midgets to the green flag for their 20-lap feature, with Schulz in the lead ahead of Flaim, Mason Hanel, Nick Groff, and Brian Schulz. Jeff Chapman spun in turn one to bring out the caution on lap three. On the restart, Hanel would take over second and would challenge Schulz for the lead. Brian Schulz would spin on the backstretch to bring out the caution for the second time on lap seven. Dave Wolalber would move into third following the lap seven restart and would go after Hanel and Schulz. Schulz would hold off all Hanel’s challenges to score the feature win, his first since June of 2007.

John Byrd and Mason Russo brought the Rusty Diamond Cores Pro 4’s to the green flag for their 15-lap feature event, with Russ Bulger Jr going three-wide to take the lead. With Bulger in the lead, Russo would race in second and was followed by Caiden Ingerick, Eric Black, and Byrd. The red flag would come out on lap eight as Colton Ingerick’s car would catch fire. Colton climbed out of his car under his own power. On the restart, Caiden Ingerick would take over second place. Bulger would lead all 15 laps to score the feature win, his second career win on the Lancaster 5/8th's oval.

Racing returns on Thursday, August 28th for Legends Night. The Mighty TQ Midgets will be honoring and remembering John Casey, Charlie DiRosa, Harry Macy, and Albert Baynard with a special race. The Street Stocks will be running their annual 50-lap event. The open-wheeled Sportsman and the 4 Cylinders will all be in action. Pit gates open at 4pm, grandstands open at 5:30pm, and racing will get underway at 7pm. For admission prices and more information, visit the official website of Lancaster Motorplex, at www.lancastermotorplexny.com

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RACE RESULTS – 36th TRIBUTE TO TOMMY/TONY
Race of Champions Modifieds: MATT HIRSCHMAN, Andy Jankowiak, Jack Ely, Austin Beers, Patrick Emerling, Paulie Hartwig III, Mike Leaty, Shawn Nye, George Skora III, Austin Kochenash, Jayden Harman, Jacob Christman, Sean Verwys, AJ Emms, Daren Scherer, Randal Richard, Eddie Hawkins, Jake Lutz
Qualifying Heats: Jack Ely, Matt Hirschman, Austin Beers
Fast Time: Patrick Emerling (17.802 seconds)

Street Stocks: MARK HOCH, Dan Dressel, Nathan Bryant, Tim Garlock, Dave Johnson, Tim Welshans, Marty Kling, Tucker Welshans, Donnie Aquino, Troyer Catalano, Kyle Schosek, Dustin Novoa, Chris Handley, David Brunka, Nik Welshans, Jerry Kosmowski, Evan Janik, Alex Bialkowski
Did Not Start: Chris Barber
Qualifying Heats: Tim Garlock, Dan Dressel, Mark Hoch

Rusty Diamond Core Pro 4’s: RUSS BULGER JR, Caiden Ingerick, Eric Black, Chris Deyoe Jr, Mason Russo, Ryan Hessler, Hunter McKay, Bob Bogner, Connor Kurdziel, Eric Szychowski, Jimmy Dunkleman III, Kyle Brown, Colton Ingerick, Bob Palmer
Qualifying Heat: Caiden Ingerick, Jimmy Dunkleman III

Mighty TQ Midgets: MARK SCHULZ, Dave Wollaber, Nick Groff, Vinnie Christiano Jr, Jacob Schulz, Ronnie Flaim, Tony Petrea, Mason Hanel, Kevin Wilson, Jeff Chapman, Brendan Wallace, Vinnie Christiano III, Brian Schulz, Josh Terwilliger
Did Not Start: Andy Jankowiak
Qualifying Heats: Mark Schulz, Ronnie Flaim

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