FUTURE RACE DATES:
Sunday May 2 , 6:00PM - ASCoC 410 Sprint-cars, ARDC Midgets (2 features).
Friday May 7 , 7:45PM- Yetter Law Offices Night. 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Friday May 14, 7:45PM - 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Sunday May 16, 5:00PM - Dan Drobnick Welding Enduro Series. 6/8 Cylinder Enduro (100-laps), 4 Cylinder Enduro (100-laps), Ladies Race (40-laps).
Friday May 21, 7:45PM - 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
AFTER THREE WEEKS OF BAD LUCK, JEFF STRUNK RETURNS TO THE BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY WINNER'S CIRCLE...By Gary Lileck
Forestville, PA - April 30, 2010 - The season's first three weeks were a nightmare for Jeff Strunk. The six-time Big Diamond Raceway track champion was unable to finish in the prior trio of events, with results of 18th, 19th, and 22nd. This past Friday night, however, Strunk led 21 of 25 laps in the 358 Modified feature and scored his 40th career win at the Coal Region based racing facility.
Andy Fayash Jr. of Mary D. conquered the Sportsman 20-lap feature field for his first victory since 2004. Fayash's history at the track reflects back through several years. He was the 1984 Slide Stock track champion, and also won features in Street Stocks, and Pro Trucks. The second generation racer was suffering with motor problems throughout 2010, and turned it around with a victory on week four.
Nate Klinger of Mahanoy City PA is quickly turning heads in the Wooden Keg Tavern Roadrunner class. Klinger, in only his second season of competition, worked through the field from his ninth place starting spot and held on to take his first ever feature win.
After four points races held at the speedway this season, there have been no repeat winners. All racing was completed just past 10:35PM in front of a nice crowd and superb weather conditions.
Strunk of Mohnton started third in the 358 Modified feature. He chased down early race leader Mike Nicholas and passed him via the inside groove of lap five. Nicholas abruptly pushed high and fell back a few spots. Strunk continued to show the way and expeienced little or no trouble for a while. And, then suddenly, it almost came to an end.
On the fourteenth lap, Strunk powered into turns one and two behind the lapped car of Neil Huber. When Huber's machine got out of shape in the second corner, Strunk had to take evasive action on the high side. Strunk recovered, and although the field gained ground, he never lost possession of the race lead. The event's final nine laps were completed without a caution flag, and Strunk maintained a strangle hold over his competition.
The 41-year old racer powered Vince Gagliardo's #41 to his first win of the season. Making the win even more impressive was the fact that Strunk lost his power steering after the incident with the lapped car. Strunk's 40th career Big Diamond victory ranks third on the all-time 358 Modified winner's list.
After finishing last in the previous week's event, Rick Laubach (Hellertown) finished a season's best of second in the Johnny Rea owned #R1. New points leader Doug Manmiller raced from ninth to third and defending track champion Duane Howard (Oley) impressively worked through the pack from his fifteenth place starting position. Season opening winner Craig Von Dohren (Boyertown) has only finished outside of the top ten once thus far. He was fifth.
Qualifying heat winners in the 31 car field were Dale Hartz, Mike Nicholas, and Jeff Strunk. David Van Horn Jr. won the consi. The point standings changed dramatically, as Ryan Godown fell from first to fifth. Godown retired from the event after four laps were completed as a missing pin out of the rub rail sent him pitside.
The opening portion of the Sportsman main event resembled a classic 1990's Street Stock rivalry as Fayash and Tom Brennan battled for the top spot. Brennan actually took the lead on a lap seven restart attempt, however, the caution flag was waving before the lap could be completed. Fayash never relinquished the lead from this moment on.
Fayash's next opponent became second generation talent Justin Andrews. The Lehighton based racer closely followed Fayash during the event's closing moments and brought previous week's winner Jared Umbenhauer of Richland along with him in the end. On the white flag lap, Fayash put a little distance between himself and the Andrews/Umbenhauer battle. Fayash scored the victory with Andrews edging Umbenhauer at the stripe.
Points leader Brad Brightbill, son of the legendary Kenny Brightbill, ran within the front five throughout most of the race. The Sinking Spring based racer finished fourth. Impressive rookie competitor Sammy Piazza (Lawrenceville NJ) broke the Sportsman single lap track record on April 23. The 15-year old racer followed that accomplishment up with a fine fifth place finish in this week's event.
Second generation racer Elvin Brennan was the early dominant force in the 20-lap Roadrunner feature contest. Brennan passed Mike Radocha on lap five to become the new race leader and pulled away from his competition. Radocha's car went around at the event's half-way point, bringing out the caution flag.
Although Brennan continued to lead, his car was showing some smoke appearing out of the right front wheel. Klinger powered to the inside of Brennan on lap 13 and became the new race leader. Tom Hablett abruptly followed Klinger into the runner-up spot. Klinger led the remainder of the show, and became the 74th different driver to win a feature in the Roadrunner division's 21 year history.
Hablett (Schuylkill Haven) stayed close to the leader but settled into the second position. Hablett was the 2009 6/8 Cylinder Enduro champion. Brennan (Forestville) just held off Ryan Olenick (Forestville) and Ed Kuperavage (Port Carbon) at the finish.
Heat race winners were veteran racer Steve Gromis and former Four Cylinder standout driver Butch Helsel.
The All Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprint cars will test their strength against the PA Posse's finest this Sunday May 2. 410 Sprint racing makes a return to Big Diamond Raceway after nearly three seasons of inactivity at the track. The sprinters are competing in a 30-lap feature, which pays $5000 to win. The Wingless ARDC Midgets will hold a pair of 20-lap main events this Sunday.
Gates open at 3:00PM and fans will have an opportunity to take part in a meet and greet with the stars of ARDC prior to the races. The RAACE (Race Against Abuse of Children Everywhere) Foundation is presenting the autograph session.
Drivers will be called to the speedway for engine starts at 5:00PM. Warm-ups take place at 5:30PM and qualifying begins at 6:00PM. Adult general admission is $25. Adults who attended Friday's (April 30) show may bring their rain check on Sunday, and they will receive a $5 discount at the ticket window. Admission to the pit area is $30.
BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY - COMPLETE RESULTS - FRIDAY APRIL 30, 2010
358 MODIFIED FEATURE (25-LAPS): 1) 41-Jeff Strunk, 2) R1-Rick Laubach, 3) 14M-Doug Manmiller, 4) 4-Duane Howard, 5) 1c-Craig Von Dohren, 6) 1-Billy Pauch, 7) 74W-John Willman, 8) 118-Sean Merkel, 9) CR7-Colt Harris, 10) 71-David Van Horn Jr., 11) 88D-Meme DeSantis, 12) 3-Mike Nicholas, 13) 44-Gary Hager, 14) 33-Ray Swinehart, 15) 47-Gary Wagner Jr., 16) 3A-Kevin Albert Jr., 17) 37x-Tommy Scheetz III, 18) 14D-AJ DeSantis, 19) 42-Kyle Follweiler, 20) J3-Dale Hartz, 21) 5-Ricky Yetter, 22) 78-Neil Huber, 23) T102-Billy Pauch Jr., 24) 6-Troy Wink, 25) 357-Ryan Godown, 26) 15x-Dan Hineline. DNQ: 44B-Jim Bobbitt Jr., 17-Ryan Grim, 24-Scott Miller, 112-Eric Kocher, 39-Danny Nicholas.
SPORTSMAN FEATURE (20-LAPS): 1) 45x-Andy Fayash Jr., 2) 24H-Justin Andrews, 3) 19U-Jared Umbenhauer, 4) 19-Brad Brightbill, 5) 29-Sammy Piazza, 6) 17x-Kevin Beach, 7) Kevin Smith, 8) 17D-Mike Loney, 9) xx5-Kirby Sites, 10) 26-Tom Brennan, 11) 17-Billy Moyer Jr., 12) 18-Michael Weinert, 13) J3-Corey Renninger, 14) 5-Jordan Dreher, 15) T102-Tim Fitzpatrick, 16) 72-Ray Woodall Jr., 17) 99-Craig Whitmoyer, 18) M5-Greg Weiland, 19) 15-Mike Lisowski Jr., 20) 31-Harry Landis, 21) 00-John Kovatch IV, 22) 110-Bill Finneran, 23) 73-Jason James, 24) 8H-Doug Hendricks, 25) 04-Steven Hughes, 26) 8-Brad Force. DNQ: 88D-Nick DeSantis, 32-Kevin Reese, 83-Josh Hertzog, 343-Jeremy Hertzog, 8JR-Warren Floyd Jr., 4B-Clay Butler.
WOODEN KEG TAVERN ROADRUNNER FEATURE (20-LAPS): 1) 4-Nate Klinger, 2) 22-Tom Hablett, 3) 555-Elvin Brennan, 4) 45-Ryan Olenick, 5) 23-Ed Kuperavage, 6) 11x-Joey Hendricks, 7) 29B-Ricky Bender, 8) 22G-Steve Gromis, 9) 16D-Dave Miller, 10) 88-Toby Chase, 11) 98K-Chip Kennedy, 12) 8-Davey Nester, 13) 550-Joe Kavanaugh, 14) 61s-Christian Donati, 15) 126-Jim Kost, 16) 454-Mike Radocha, 17) 95K-Kody Sites, 18) 105-Joey Brennan, 19) 450-Kevin Olenick, 20) 6-Dylan Quinn, 21) 102-TJ Fitzpatrick, 22) 6D-Butch Helsel, 23) 66K-Marc Berzowski.
UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS (AFTER FOUR EVENTS)
358 MODIFIEDS
1) 14M-Doug Manmiller-Shoemakersville-423
2) 4-Duane Howard-Oley-397 *
3) 71-David Van Horn Jr.-Phillipsburg NJ-394
4) 1c-Craig Von Dohren-Boyertown-390 *
5) 357-Ryan Godown-Ringoes Nj-371
6) 74W-John Willman-Birdsboro-351
7) 88D-Meme DeSantis-Temple-342 *
8) 44-Gary Hager-Stewartsville NJ-312
9) 33-Ray Swinehart-Perkiomenville-308
10) R1-Rick Laubach-Hellertown-293
11) 3A-Kevin Albert Jr.-Lebanon-290
12) 41-Jeff Strunk-Mohnton-259 *
13) CR7-Colt Harris-Pitman-256
14) 5JP-Richie Pratt Jr.-Woodbury Heights NJ-252
15) T102-Billy Pauch Jr.-Frenchtown NJ-251
SPORTSMAN
1) 19-Brad Brightbill-Sinking Spring-421
2) 29-Sammy Piazza-Lawrenceville NJ-398
3) 24H-Justin Andrews-Lehighton-382
4) 18-Michael Weinert-Tamaqua-365
5) 17D-Mike Loney-Taylor-364
6) 7-Kevin Smith-Lehighton-347
7) 99-Craig Whitmoyer-Hamburg-322
8) 8H-Doug Hendricks-Orwigsburg-309
9) 17-Billy Moyer Jr.-Pine Grove-306
10) 19U-Jared Umbenhauer-Richland-300 *
10) 17x-Kevin Beach-Llewellyn-300
12) T102-Tim Fitzpatrick-Branchdale-299 *
13) 26-Tom Brennan-Pottsville-287
14) 15-Mike Lisowski Jr.-Minersville-278
15) 04-Steven Hughes-Rieglesville-268
WOODEN KEG TAVERN ROADRUNNERS
1) 11x-Joey Hendricks-Auburn-454 *
2) 29B-Ricky Bender-Joliett-384
3) 22-Tom Hablett-Schuylkill Haven-381
4) 66K-Marc Berzowski-Branchdale-358
5) 4-Nate Klinger-Mahanoy City-350 *
6) 555-Elvin Brennan-Forestville-344
7) 88-Toby Chase-Bernville-343
8) 22G-Steve Gromis-Robesonia-341
9) 23-Ed Kuperavage-Port Carbon-332
10) 126-Jim Kost-Pottsville-327
11) 450-Kevin Olenick-Forestville-316 *
12) 95K-Kody Sites-Hamburg-310 *
13) 45-Ryan Olenick-Forestville-309
14) K9-Kirby Schlappich-Temple-300
15) 98K-Chip Kennedy-Donaldson-288
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