Hirschman Tops NWMT Final Practice Charts at New Smyrna

Matt Hirschman set fast time in the final practice session for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at New Smyrna Speedway ahead of their 200-lap contest Saturday night.

Hirschman clocked in at 17.611 seconds around the Florida half-mile, as he'll look to repeat his victory in this event one year ago.

“I think the car is what I feel I need right now. I just don’t know where everybody else will be," said Hirschman. "It’s what I think we’ll need right now, but someone else may end up with something better.”

With 200 laps to determine the winner, Hirschman believes it will take more than a fast car to claim the checkered flag in the tour's second-ever visit to New Smyrna Speedway.

“There’s a lot of strategy involved with the cautions and the amount of change tires. There’s no one set strategy for pit window that I think everyone’s going to follow. I think there will be quite a variety and that always makes it interesting.

“It’s not always the fastest or best car ends up winning in a race like that. We’ll just have to try and hopefully put ourselves in a good position and see what we’ve got.”

Austin Beers was second in the final round of practice, followed by Tommy Catalano. Catalano set quick time in the first of the two Saturday practice sessions.

The green flag is scheduled to drop at 7:30 p.m. ET at New Smyrna Speedway. Saturday's racing card also includes Pro Late Models, Sportsmen, Bomber A and Florida Modifieds.

NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR FINAL PRACTICE RESULTS
NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY - FEBRUARY 11, 2023

1. Matt Hirschman – 17.611
2. Austin Beers – 17.723
3. Tommy Catalano – 17.756
4. Tyler Rypkema – 17.789
5. Justin Bonsignore – 17.801
6. Eric Goodale – 17.808
7. Doug Coby – 17.812
8. Jimmy Blewett – 17.820
9. Patrick Emerling – 17.859
10. Dave Sapienza – 17.888
11. Craig Lutz – 17.900
12. Jake Johnson – 17.903
13. J.R. Bertuccio, Jr. – 17.905
14. J.B. Fortin – 17.911
15. Anthony Nocella – 17.914
16. Spencer Davis – 17.961
17. Kyle Ebersole – 17.961
18. Kyle Bonsignore – 17.979
19. Andrew Krause – 17.991
20. Jon McKennedy – 17.997
21. Matthew Kimball – 17.997
22. Edward McCarthy, Jr. – 18.026
23. Ron Silk – 18.034
24. Joey Coulter IV – 18.039
25. James Pritchard, Jr. – 18.064
26. Ronnie Williams – 18.130
27. Brian Robie – 18.133
28. Ken Heagy – 18.209
29. Gary McDonald – 18.211
30. Justin Brown – 18.225
31. Anthony Bello – 18.273
32. Melissa Fifield – 18.774
33. Jeremy Gerstner – 18.891
34. Chris Hatton, Jr. – 21.342