LAUBACH, MAMMANA & BENDER OPEN 39TH BIG D SEASON WITH VICTORIES

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://00000019/!x-usc:mailto:bigdiamondpr@aol.com or 845.728.2781

For Immediate Release/April 17, 2011

Upcoming Events:April 22 & 24 - NO RACING (Good Friday & Easter)
April 29 (8:15 p.m.) - 358-Modifieds, Sportsman & Roadrunners - Community Night: Minersville/Pottsville/Llewellyn/Branch Dale residents admitted for $10 with proof of address
May 6 (8:15 p.m.) - 358-Modifieds, Sportsman & Roadrunners – Community Night: Valley View/Hegins/Fountain/Klingerstown residents admitted for $10 with proof of address

Rick Laubach Wins In Big Diamond 358-Modified Debut With Herrmann/Jones No. 7 Team & Earns $3,000; Mike Mammana (Sportsman) and Ricky Bender (Roadrunner) Also Visit Victory Lane During 39th Season Opener

MINERSVILLE, PA - Fast out of the box.

Driving for a newly formed race team fielded by Gary and Lori Herrmann and Bert Jones, Rick Laubach charged out of the gate to win the 35-lap 39th Season Opener for The Station House 358-Modifieds Sunday evening at Big Diamond Speedway. The Quakertown, Pa., driver earned $3,000 for his ninth career Big Diamond victory.

Mike Mammana (U.S.S. Achey Sportsman) and Ricky Bender (Wooden Keg Tavern Roadrunner) also earned Opening Day victories. The program kicked off a new era of racing at the Schuylkill County oval under the leadership of Fritz and Krista Roehrig.

"I brought the best of both worlds together with this team," Laubach said. "Gary and Lori (Herrmann) have been with me already and we've had success (in big-block racing). Bert (Jones, owner of Beer City) came on board over the winter. It is so much fun racing with these guys.

"It feels good to show we can win here with the right equipment."

After topping the night's first heat race, Wade Hendrickson started from the pole and put his Leach-Hewlett No. 99 into the lead at the outset. The invader from Lawrenceville, N.J., kept third-starter Laubach at bay for the opening 13 circuits in search of his first Diamond victory. Hendrickson was shuffled wide on the 14th lap between turns three and four in lapped traffic, allowing Laubach to take command moments before the race's first yellow on lap 15.

Through a series of restarts, sixth-starter Craig Von Dohren advanced into second, while Hendrickson's stellar run ended with drive shaft issues with 15 laps remaining. Following a caution on lap 21, contact bounced Von Dohren's No. 1c out of the top-five. Through a determined march forward, 17th-starter Jeff Strunk put Norm Hansell's No. 357 into the runner-up spot.

Laubach never faltered, negotiating slower traffic flawlessly for the victory in the Beer City No. 7 over six-time champion Strunk of Bechtelsville, Pa. Ray Swinehart of Perkiomenville, Pa., guided his No. 33 to third, followed by 13th-starting Keith Hoffman of Whitehall, Pa., and Von Dohren of Boyertown, Pa., who re-entered the top-five on lap 30 and finished fifth.

Laubach earned the Shiley Fabrications Fast Lap, circling the oval in 17.140 seconds.

Heat winners were Hendrickson, Dale Hartz and Laubach. Colt Harris captured the consolation.

Nazareth, Pa.'s Mammana - a championship contender in 2010 - visited Victory Lane for the fourth time in his career following the 20-lap Sportsman headliner. Starting eighth, Mammana moved up to challenge visiting New Jersey racer Mike Lyons following a red flag for a flip by second-running Brad Brightbill on lap five. Brightbill (Sinking Spring, Pa.) was uninjured.

Mamanna raced past Lyons' No. 21L on lap seven and survived four restarts in the race's second half for the win over Lyons (Hopewell, N.J.), Steven Hughes of Riegelsville, Pa., who started 13th, 10th-starter Jared Umbenhauer of Richland, Pa., and former champion Kevin Beach of Llewellyn, Pa., up from 18th.

Brightbill, Shawn Fitzpatrick and Lyons were heat winners. Mike Lisowski topped the consolation.

Mammana was the Shiley Fabrications Fast Lap award winner with a 17.870-second lap.

Bender of Joliett, Pa., was a surprised Roadrunner victor driving a brand-new No. 29B car assembled by his team over the winter months. Pole starter Ryan Olenick led the first nine laps of the main before Ed Kuperavage (Port Carbon, Pa.) capitalized on slower traffic to put his No. 23 out front. Bender moved into second at halfway and appeared destined for a runner-up finish until disaster struck for Kuperavage. Four laps from the finish, Kuperavage spun in turn three.

Bender assumed the lead and won for the second time in his career over Marc Berzowski of Branchdale, Pa., Ryan Olenick of Forestville, Pa., Joey Brennan of Minersville, Pa., and Jim Kost of Blackheath, Pa. Apparent third-place finisher Kirby Schlappich was disqualified for an engine rule violation.

Despite heavy rain on Saturday, Big Diamond management pressed on with Sunday's program. Drivers gave positive reviews on track conditions - particularly taking the weather into consideration. Fans took home a number of giveaway items including a $600 iPad which was drawn from general admission ticket stubs.

There is no racing scheduled for next weekend (April 22-24) due to Good Friday and Easter. The first Friday program of the year is set for April 29 at 8:15 p.m. with The Station House 358-Modifieds, U.S.S. Achey Sportsman and Wooden Keg Tavern Roadrunners in action. Minersville/Pottsville/Llewellyn/Branch Dale residents will be admitted for $10 with proof of address.
 
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://00000019/!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.

39TH SEASON OPENER RACE SUMMARY - APRIL 17, 2011

The Station House 358-Modified Feature Finish (35 laps): RICK LAUBACH, Jeff Strunk, Ray Swinehart, Keith Hoffman, Craig Von Dohren, Ryan Godown, Dale Hartz, Mike Gular, Duane Howard, Larry Solomon, Richie Pratt, Andy Burkhart, John Willman, Sammy Piazza, Gary Wagner Jr., Dan Hineline, Colt Harris, Billy Pauch Jr., Michael Weinert, Kevin Albert Jr., Wade Hendrickson, Glenn Strunk, Addison Meitzler, Ron Haring Jr., Kyle Follweiler.

Did Not Start: Tommy Scheetz

Did Not Qualify: A.J. DeSantis, Jordan Umbenhauer.

U.S.S. Achey Sportsman Feature Finish (20 laps): MIKE MAMMANA, Mike Lyons, Stephen Hughes, Jared Umbenhauer, Kevin Beach Jr., Ray Woodall, Mike Lisowski, Randy Yaple, Craig Whitmoyer, Billy Moyer Jr., Frank Yankowski, Corey Renninger, Tim Fitzpatrick, Doug Hendricks, Shawn Fitzpatrick, Kenny Eckert Jr., Wayne Witmer, Brad Brightbill, Paul Kline, Kyle Borror, Mike Loney, Jordan Dreher, Daryl Dissinger, John Kovatch IV.

Did Not Qualify: Kyle Gardner, Shawn Horning, Steve Searock IV, Charlie Weber, Warren Floyd Jr.

Wooden Keg Tavern Roadrunner Feature Finish (20 laps): RICKY BENDER, Marc Berzowski, Ryan Olenick, Joey Brennan, Jim Kost, Elvin Brennan III, Ed Kuperavage, Rob Pyle, Mike Radocha, Shon Elk, Joe Kavanaugh, Kevin Olenick, Eric Ochenreider, Chip Kennedy, Jared Seigried, Glenn Rowan, T.J. Fitzpatrick, Jon Schlauch.

Disqualified: Kirby Schlappich

Did Not Start: Toby Chase