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By Gary Lileck
Forestville, PA-July 13, 2007- Although it was ‘Friday the 13th’ no bad luck was in sight for Craig Von Dohren. The Oley PA based 358 Modified racer cruised to his second win of the season in dominant fashion. His victory in the 25-lap main event was the fifty-ninth of his career, which leads the all-time winner’s list.
Kauffman’s BBQ Chicken presented a four-division card of racing in front of a good crowd. Other winners included: Chris James Jr. (Sportsman), Kevin Olenick (Roadrunners), and Mike Keppler (Xcel 600 Modifieds).
358 Modified rookie competitor, Gary Wagner Jr., led the opening moments of the main event. Meme DeSantis, driving the Craig Hiester #11, started from sixth and moved into the runner-up spot by the event’s second circuit. A lap four restart placed DeSantis on the outside of Wagner. DeSantis passed Wagner in turn three and became the new race leader.
While DeSantis showed the way, John Willman pressured Wagner for the second position. On a lap nine restart, Willman (driving the Saracino Racing-91) blazed ahead of Wagner. Von Dohren had originally started from the twelfth spot. He followed Willman into the third position on the lap nine green start. Von Dohren nailed the accelerator on the Mike Harvey owned #1c and passed Willman for the runner-up position on the eleventh lap.
While working on the twelfth circuit, Von Dohren immediately caught DeSantis and waged war for the race lead. The pair of veteran wheel twisters battled side-by-side as they raced through turns three and four. Von Dohren edged in front while crossing the start/finish line to score lap twelve. The event’s duration found Von Dohren in complete control, while the second through fourth positions remained rather close.
At the five-to-go signal, Von Dohren stretched his advantage to a full straightaway. He sliced through lapped traffic as the contest’s final moments drew to a conclusion. Von Dohren’s Teo Pro Car completed a dominant performance as he raced to the winner’s circle.
Von Dohren set the event’s Shiley Fabrication fast time with a lap of 18.034.
DeSantis (Temple) held off Willman (Birdsboro) to claim a runner-up finish. Current points leader Jeff Strunk (Mohnton) powered from fifteenth to a final effort of fourth. Strunk claimed the position on lap 22. Doug Manmiller (Shoemakersville) qualified via the consolation and started from nineteenth. He passed Wagner on the race’s final lap to finish fifth.
Wagner, the 2006 Sportsman track champion, settled for sixth ahead of Keith Hoffman, Ryan Watt, Terry Meitzler, and Ray Swinehart (who pitted earlier with a flat tire and rallied for a tenth place finish).
Thirty mighty modifieds were present with heat wins going to Ray Swinehart, Gary Wagner Jr., and Terry Meitzler. The B-main winner was Manmiller.
Chris James Jr. jumped out into the early lead of the 20-lap Sportsman main event. James, a second year racer from Mohrsville, led for three laps just before the red flag was unfurled. Andy Fayash Jr. nailed the wall in turns three and four, and rolled his machine over. Fayash was uninjured in the incident. On the restart, James got out of shape and several cars made contact on the frontstretch. James was able to continue on, thus keeping his inside pole starting position.
Several restart attempts took place during the course of the feature contest. James denied the pressures from second place Kevin Nolf on each green flag start. The race’s final yellow flag was thrown with just four laps remaining. Under green conditions, the top five cars raced in close formation. On the last lap, James drew to about a two car length lead while racing down the backstretch.
James, driving a 2000 Troyer Chassis formerly steered by current-day Late Model racer Chuck Schutz, scored his very first career victory. Nolf (Nazareth), who returned to BDR a couple of weeks ago, notched his season high finish of second. Mike Taylor (Milford NJ) ran within the top five during the entire feature event and finished third ahead of Brad Brightbill (Sinking Springs) and Mike Mammana (Nazareth).
Heat winners for the 29 Sportsman on hand were Ray Woodall Jr., Taylor, and Nolf. Josh Biever won the B-main.
Elvin Brennan led the opening tour of the 15-lap Roadrunner feature. During a caution flag period after one lap had been completed, Brennan headed pitside. Eric Pinkerton, who originally started fourth, took command of the field on lap two. Previous week’s winner Kevin Olenick started seventh and moved into the runner-up spot on the fourth lap.
An unusual but important circumstance took place after seven laps had been completed. Olenick’s machine spun heading out of turn two. Andy Zvorsky also spun. Olenick was able to continue racing, however, Zvorsky stopped for a caution. Since the next lap was not completed, Olenick would return to his position (second) from the previously scored lap.
Olenick stormed past Pinkerton on the restart and remained in front until the checkers fell. Olenick of Pottsville notched his third win of the season. Pinkerton (Tower City) held on for second. Rounding out the top five were Chris Holland (Pine Grove), newcomer Jim Neiman (Halifax), and Dave Miller (Pine Grove). The actual third and fourth place drivers (Joe Hendricks and Tom Hablett) were put to the end of the finishing field. Both drivers made contact with one another on the cool down lap.
A good field of 21 Roadrunners competed in a pair of qualifying heats with wins going to Holland and Pinkerton.
Mike Keppler (Bechtelsville) started tenth in the 20-lap Xcel 600 Modified feature. Keppler passed race leader Eric Whitby on lap sixteen and remained in control. Keppler captured his third BDR victory of the season. Rounding out the top five were Whitby, Ryan Higgs, Kyle Gardner, and Mike Pychinka. 29 600s were present with heat wins going to Kevin Gruber and Mike Keppler.
The evening’s card was presented in honor of Chad Miller. Sadly, Chad lost his life earlier this week in an automobile accident at the young age of seventeen. Chad Miller was a crew member on the Hyneman Racing #126 car driven by Jeff Strunk. During the pace laps of the 25-lap 358 Modified feature, Strunk paced the field in an emotional moment.
The United Racing Company (URC) 360-Sprint cars return to Big Diamond Raceway this Friday evening July 20. It is the first appearance from URC since July 22, 2005. Jason Clauss was the winner of that event. The 358-Modifieds, Sportsman, and Roadrunners will also take part in this Friday’s card on NAPA Auto Parts of Schuylkill County night. Gates open at 5:00PM with warm-ups at 7:00PM and heat racing goes green at 7:30PM.
Big Diamond Raceway Complete Results – Friday July 13, 2007
358 Modified Feature (25-laps): 1) #1c-Craig Von Dohren, 2) #11-Meme DeSantis, 3) #91-John Willman, 4) #126-Jeff Strunk, 5) #00-Doug Manmiller, 6) #47-Gary Wagner Jr., 7) #1-Keith Hoffman, 8) #6-Ryan Watt, 9) #81-Terry Meitzler, 10) #33-Ray Swinehart, 11) #17-Ryan Grim, 12) #14-Rick Laubach, 13) #27-Troy Wink, 14) #39-Scott Frack, 15) #T102-Shawn Fitzpatrick, 16) #29-Kenny Eckert Jr., 17) #70-Kurt Spotts, 18) #42-Corey Sechrist, 19) #318-Jeff Sechrist, 20) #11D-Billy Pauch Jr., 21) #44-Danny Erb, 22) #901-Jamie Schwartz, 23) #F15-Dale Hartz, 24) #97-Jimmy Reppert. DNQ: Carroll Hine III, Bobby Gunther-Walsh, Greg Weiland, Mike Bent, Mike Nicholas, Doug Hendricks.
Sportsman Feature (20-laps): 1) #ONE-Chris James Jr., 2) #17R-Kevin Nolf, 3) #2T-Mike Taylor, 4) #19B-Brad Brightbill, 5) #71-Mike Mammana, 6) #123-Roy Wiest, 7) #26-Tom Brennan, 8) #99-Craig Whitmoyer, 9) #2-Richard Stankiewicz, 10) #61-Patrick Cozze, 11) #75-James Morris, 12) #84-Leroy Long, 13) #04-Steven Hughes, 14) #71J-Codie Berk, 15) #46-Josh Biever, 16) #6JR-Kevin Beach, 17) #23-Kyle Somers, 18) #72-Ray Woodall Jr., 19) #33E-Earl Paules, 20) #64-Andy Miller, 21) #56-Shawn Hiestand, 22) #8-Brad Force, 23) #19-Jordan Umbenhauer, 24) #69-Andy Fayash Jr. DNQ: Kevin Brady, Ray Gara, Conrad Fitch, Shane Moser, Willard Knecht.
Roadrunner Feature (15-laps): 1) #450-Kevin Olenick, 2) #37-Eric Pinkerton, 3) #66-Chris Holland, 4) #111-Jim Neiman, 5) #1-Dave Miller, 6) #z71-Andy Zvorsky, 7) #72-Mark Paine, 8) #909-Neil Bressler, 9) #555-Elvin Brennan, 10) #17-Bud Vidal, 11) #8-Davey Nester, 12) #11x-Joe Hendricks, 13) #22-Tom Hablett, 14) #16-Robert Derfler, 15) #201-Brian Johnson, 16) #29W-Derek Bender, 17) #14-Perry Valeriano, 18) #101-Gary Renninger. DNS: #93-Rob Pyle, #11-Dan Strenkoski, #29B-Ricky Bender.
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