FROST BITE MODIFIED WINTERNATIONALS IN THE RECORD BOOKMATT HIRSCHMAN NABS JOSH JENKINS MEMORIAL 125(Rougemont, NC): Mother Nature blessed the Modified racing community with a beautiful weekend and fans and racers alike made the best of a chance to remember one of the strongest supporters of the division with the running of the Josh Jenkins Memorial 125, the feature race of the 1st Annual Frost Bite Modified Winter Nationals at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, NC. Jenkins passed away in 2007.Northampton, PAs Matt Hirschman was the big winner besting Norwalk, CTs Ronnie Silk to take the win in the Modified feature but not before fans enjoyed some very good racing.Friday qualifying saw Silk earn the DMC Auto Exchange with a lap at 13.190 seconds on the fast 3/8 mile OCS asphalt. Hirschman earned the number two spot ahead of Charlie Pasteryak, George Brunnhoelzl, III and Burt Myers. Jimmy Zacharias, Josh Nichols, Jason Myers, Danny Bohn and Tony Hanbury rounded out the top ten. Twenty-one cars were on hand to take time but the cars of Dean Ward and Gary Young, Jr. had engine problems on Friday afternoon and Darryl Lacks Chevy expired on Saturday morning. The Bear made his ASA/SMRT debut on Saturday Morning with Centerville, NY pilot J.R. Bertuccio at the wheel of the familiar #14 Dodge powered Modified.After Pedal car races for the kids decided the starting order the top eight starters were, Silk, Hirschman, Pasteryak, Jason Myers, Burt Myers, Zacharias, Brunnhoelzl, III and Nichols.On the break, Silk jumped to the front of the pack with Hirschman and Pasteryak close behind and the rest of the field settling in behind the Myers brothers who in the early stages seemed to be in the tire control mode. After a few laps the car on the move was Brunnhoelzl, III as he made his way to fourth bringing Nichols, Zacharias and Foley along for the ride. A one-car spin on lap 29 brought out the first caution flag that saw Bertuccio hit pit road for adjustments. All cars were required to make a mandatory stop between lap 30 and 110 and Bertuccio and Rickey Knapp, Jr. were the only early takers on pit road.As the field settled in on the restart, Silk remained at the point with the regulars close behind and Brunnhoelzl, III on the move. George moved up to the second spot before contact between Silk and Darrell Krentz brought out caution flag number two on lap 60. That incident caught up the cars of Brunnhoelzl, III and Tony Hanbury who was fighting to remain on the lead lap. Both were able to make repairs under the caution period that opened pit road for the mandatory pit stop and tire changes for most of the leaders.That left Jimmy Zacharias, Burt Myers, who was playing his North-South Shootout winning strategy of late-pitting, and Scott Rigney at the point for the restart. Zacharias led several laps and after a few tense laps, Silk, Hirschman and Pasteryak made their way past Myers who was fighting a loose race car and hoping for that late race caution that didnt fall until he went a lap down on lap 83. The car on the move again was the #28 of Brunnhoelzl, III who was making his way from the rear of the pack following his lap 60 misfortune. Only one more caution period would slow the pace but that set the stage for a exciting finish as Hirschman who managed his tires an little better than Silk, began to pressure the Hillbilly Racing / Coors Light Modified finally making the pass for the lead with only nine laps remaining. Hirschman held off Silk who gave it one more try with five to go, for the win. Pasteryak finished third ahead of Brunnhoelzl, III who charged past Bertuccio for fourth at the finish. Jay Foley finished sixth ahead of Danny Bohn, Zacharias, Rigney and Nichols. Burt Myers, Hanbury, Jason Myers, Rob Schultz, Greg Butcher, Krentz, Knapp and Barry Dalton completed the rundown.Bertuccio earned the Pro Fabrication bonus for his fifth place finish. Pro Fabrication, located in Concord, NC, builds custom headers and exhaust systems.The next event on the American Speed Association (ASA) sanctioned Southern Modified Race Tour is set for May 9th at Franklin County Speedway in Callaway, VA.