BIG DIAMOND SET TO GO THIS WEEKEND - BRIDEPORT CHAMP HENDRICKSON JOINS STRONG 358 FIELD

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News from Big Diamond Speedway - 'Racing in God's Country'
Contacts:Speedway Operators: Fritz & Krista Roehrig - 570.544.5114
Speedway Website: www.bigdiamondspeedway.net 
Speedway Address: 50 Big Diamond Road, Box 524, Minersville, PA 17954
Media Contact: Brett Deyo, PR Director - mhtml:{E616BBF2-BCB7-4C31-AE7B-8124AAEE58B3}mid://00000009/!x-usc:mailto:bigdiamondpr@aol.com or 845.728.2781

For Immediate Release/April 6, 2011

Upcoming Events:April 9 (Noon) - Open Practice Session (Gates open at 10 a.m. - Pit admission $20)
April 10 (5 p.m.) - 39th Season Opener - 358-Modifieds (35 laps, $3,000 to win), Sportsman & Roadrunners
April 17 (5 p.m.) - 358-Modifieds, Sportsman & Roadrunners - Community Night: Minersville/Pottsville/Llewellyn/Branch Dale residents admitted for $10 with proof of address
April 22 & 24 - NO RACING (Good Friday & Easter)
April 29 (8:15 p.m.) - 358-Modifieds, Sportsman & Roadrunners

The Wait Is Over: Big Diamond Speedway Opens 39th Season This Weekend; Bridgeport Speedway Champion Wade Hendrickson To Be Part Of Strong 358-Modified Field

MINERSVILLE, PA - The wait is over.

This Sunday (April 10), Big Diamond Speedway officially opens its 39th season of racing with a three-division program headlined by The Station House 358-Modifieds in a 35-lap feature paying $3,000 to the winner following a series of qualifying events. The U.S.S. Achey Sportsman (qualifying and 20-lap feature) and Wooden Keg Tavern Roadrunners (qualifying and 20-lap feature) complete the program.  Season-long points battles for all three divisions commence on Sunday.

Gates will open at 2 p.m. (one hour earlier than previously announced), with hot laps at 4:35 p.m. and racing at 5 p.m.

Special event admission for the April 10 opener is $15 for Adults, $12 for Seniors and Military (with proof of ID), $5 for Kids (ages 6-12) and FREE for children six years of age and younger. Pit admission is $25 for members and $35 for non-members.

Fans will be treated to FREE giveaways including an Apple iPad, gift cards for the Wooden Keg Tavern and kids big wheels and bicycles.

On Saturday (April 9) an open practice session takes place with gates opening at 10 a.m. and on-track activity beginning at 12 noon. Pit admission is $20.

A strong field of 358-Modified competitors are expected to take part in the program, including the top two drivers on the speedway's all-time win list Craig Von Dohren of Boyertown, Pa. (69 victories) driving a self-owned No. 1c and Duane Howard of Oley, Pa. (68) driving for Chad Sinon in the BPG Racing No. 4. Von Dohren was the Opening Night winner over Howard one year ago.

Some of the anticipated contenders include:
*Multi-time track champion Jeff Strunk (Bechtelsville, Pa.) in the Norm Hansell No. 357
*Last year's third-place points finisher John Willman (Birdsboro, Pa.) driving the EZ Release No. 74w
*Former Coalcracker 100 winner Ryan Godown (Ringoes, N.J.) aboard the Johnny Rea No. R1
*Rick Laubach (Quakertown, Pa.) driving for the the newly formed Beer City/Gary and Lori Herrmann No. 7 team
*Veteran Meme DeSantis (Temple, Pa.) in the Harvey Bitler No. 88D
*2010 top-five points finisher Kevin Albert Jr. (Lebanon, Pa.) with new sponsorship from Ollie's Bargain Outlet on his No. 3A
*Billy Pauch Jr. of Frenchtown, N.J., driving the No. T102 small-block Modified
*Mike Gular of Green Lane, Pa., in the combined T&S Motorsports/Eastern Rigging No. 53

Wade Hendrickson, a three-time Bridgeport (N.J.) Speedway Modified champion from Lawrenceville, N.J., has announced plans to take part in the opener with the No. 99. Others expected to challenge include a returning Glenn Strunk (Bechtelsville, Pa.) in the Vince Gagliardo No. 41, Ray Swinehart (Bechtelsville, Pa.), 15-year-old racers Michael Weinert (Tamaqua, Pa.) and Sammy Piazza (Lawrenceville, N.J.), Gary Hager (Stewartsville, N.J.), Kyle Follweiler (Slatington, Pa.), Colt Harris (Pitman, Pa.) and many more. 

Thirteen drivers visited Victory Lane in 19 points-paying 358-Modified races last year at Big D.

The Sportsman field will feature a mix of veterans and rookies doing battle for the top prize, while the full-fender Roadrunner division provides its noted door-to-door racing that brings local fans to their feet.

For the season's first race, all divisions will draw for heat-race starting positions with the feature starting orders heads-up from the qualifiers.

The opening two events of the 2011 season will be held on Sunday evenings: April 10 and 17. For those two events ONLY, 358-Modified and Sportsman race teams may use American Racer tires with any track stamp, so long as the tread pattern and compounds match the Big Diamond rule book (found online at www.bigdiamondspeedway.net). Starting with the first Friday program of the season on April 29, all tires must have the Big Diamond/Grandview BGP stamp.

Big Diamond Speedway is a three-eighths-mile clay oval racing facility located just two miles outside of Minersville, Pa. For further information on the speedway, call 570.544.5114, e-mail mhtml:{E616BBF2-BCB7-4C31-AE7B-8124AAEE58B3}mid://00000009/!x-usc:mailto:bigdiamondpr@aol.com or visit www.bigdiamondspeedway.net. The speedway mailing address is 50 Big Diamond Road P.O. Box 524 Minersville, PA 17954.