BIG DIAMOND SPEEDWAY COALCRACKER WEEKEND NEWS

Contacts - For Immediate Release

Speedway Promoters - Fritz & Krista Roehrig

Speedway website www.bigdiamondspeedway.net

Address - 50 Big Diamond Road

Box 524

Minersville, PA 17954

Media Contact - Deb Smith (610) 972-6176

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Next Events at the Big Diamond Speedway

Please note correction to Schedule

Friday, August 31 - Sportsman Coalcracker 50, Final Points Night for Roadrunners plus Modified Feature heldover from June 22 (final points race) & Coke Challenge for Station House 358 Modifieds PLUS Legend Cars

Sunday, September 2 - Coalcracker '72 for Modifieds plus Roadrunner Coalcracker 25 (raindate - Monday, September 3)

Big Weekend of Racing to Close Out 2012 Season

at the Big Diamond Speedway

Historically, the Labor Day weekend has marked the end of the racing season at the Big Diamond Speedway but there is plenty of racing to take place before the 3/8 mile clay is sealed for the off season.

On Friday night, August 31, the USS Achey Sportsman cars will compete in their Coalcracker 50 event while the Wooden Keg Tavern Roadrunners and Station House 358 Modifieds put the lid on their 2012 point races. In addition to a held-over 25 lap feature event that will mark the end of the season long point competition, the 358 Modifieds will also compete in one-on-one competition in the Coke Challenge. The Legend cars will make their second appearnance at Big Diamond to cap off a full night of racing.

The Sportsman Coalcracker 50 is likely to see a first time winner since 2011 winner, Sammy Piazza has moved up to the Modified ranks. Certainly 2012 Sportsman Track Champion, Doug Hendricks is among the favorites to win this event but will have plenty of competition from the likes of Tim & Shawn Fitzpatrick, Charles Webber, Kevin Beach, Jr., Ray Woodall, Jr., Billy Moyer, Jr., Mike Lisowski, Mike Glass and Corey Renninger in addition to the inviaders like Brad Brightbill and Jared Umbenhauer who are expected to compete.

On Sunday, September 1, the Big Diamond Speedway concludes their 40th season of competition with the running of the Coalcracker '72 - a 72 lap event to commemorate the start of this event in 1972. Bob Emerich was the winner of the first Coalcracker but it was Charlie Eckert who became the first repeat winner with three wins from 1980-1984. Duane Howard has dominated this event since his first win in 1998, winning a total of six Coalcrackers in thirteen attempts. In addition to Eckert, Doug Hoffman and Jeff Strunk each have three Coalcracker wins to their credit while Kenny Brightbill, Billy Pauch, Craig VonDohren and most recently, Ryan Godown each have a pair of wins in this event. Godown won this event in both 2009 and 2011.

But there will be plenty of competition from drivers looking for their first Coalcracker victory like Meme DeSantis, Rick Laubach, Doug Manmiller, Keith Hoffman and drivers who collected their fitst Big Diamond victories in 2012 - Neal Williams, Dan Hineline and Colt Harris.

Racing is scheduled to begin at 8:15 on both days with gates opening at 5pm. Labor Day Monday, September 3, has been set aside as a rain date if needed.