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Wyomissing, PA – January 5, 2008 – Drivers, teams, and fans gathered at the Reading Sheraton in Wyomissing PA for Big Diamond Raceway’s awards party. Plenty of accolades were allotted among the competitors from Diamond’s primary three divisions of dirt track racing. Over $30,000 had been distributed to the award recipients.
Jeff Strunk of Mohnton PA won the 358 Modified driver point title while his owner, Keystone Racing, captured the 2007 owner’s championship. Strunk steered the Teo Chassis #126 to four feature wins (April 13, April 22, June 29, and July 6-Stevenson Memorial Race), and fifteen top-five finishes out of twenty point events held. Strunk also attained victories in a Chad Miller Memorial Cash Dash on August 10 and the Pepsi Challenge on August 17.
After a highly successful career in go-karts, Strunk started driving Modifieds at Big Diamond during the final years of the 1980’s. Strunk picked up his first career victory in a family owned ride back in 1989, and nailed down his thirty-fourth career BDR feature win this past July ’07.
Strunk captured four previous BDR track champions (four straight seasons-’94, ’95, ’96, ’97). After a couple of seasons away, Strunk returned to weekly competition a few years ago. Throughout most of 2007’s duration, Strunk remained firmly in control of the point title chase and eventually won the crown by a margin of 350 markers.
After much speculation car owner Glenn Hyneman revealed his plans for 2008. " The Keystone Racing 126 and Jeff Strunk will be racing at Big Diamond on Friday nights as well as returning to Grandview on Saturday's to defend the championship at both tracks."
Doug Manmiller enjoyed a successful ’07 season aboard his self-owned #00, finishing second in driver/owner points. The Shoemakersville based competitor won a pair of main events (May 18, August 3). Third place in the driver’s points went to Rick Laubach of Adamsdale (owner-Dick Biever). Laubach earned three feature victories (April 27, June 15 & 22).
Craig Von Dohren of Oley drove Mike Harvey’s #1c to a fourth place in the standings, Von Dohren, the speedway’s all-time win leader, was victorious on three point events (May 11, July 13 & 20) and the prestigious Coalcraker 100 on September 3. Terry Meitzler of Kutztown drove the Dennis Bailey fielded #81 to a fine season, capturing a feature win on June 15.
Positions six through ten in driver points went to Ryan Watt of Boyertown, Jimmy Reppert of Hamburg, Gary Wagner Jr. of Womelsdorf, Meme DeSantis of Temple, and John Willman of Birdsboro.
After winning the 2006 Sportsman title, Wagner advanced into the 358 Modifieds for 2007. By virtue of his eighth place points finish and eight top ten finishes, Wagner secured the ’07 Rookie of the Year award.
Troy Wink of Mohrsville returned to Modified racing after several years away from the sport. Wink’s season began with an injury, and some tough moments during the year. He received the Hard Luck Award.
The determination award went to John Willman of Birdsboro who drove several machines during the course of 2007 and powered to a fine point finish of tenth. The Sportsmanship Award went to popular racer Ryan Grim of Laurys Station who picked up his very first career Modified feature win on August 17.
Craig Whitmoyer of Hamburg was the superior force in BDR Sportsman competition this past year. Whitmoyer, the 2002/2003 track champion and division’s all-time leading feature winner, won the crown by 70 points.
Whitmoyer switched to a Bicknell Chassis #99 for his ’07 racing efforts. He captured seven wins this season (April 13, May 18, June 15 & 29, July 6, August 10 & 24). Whitmoyer plans to compete regularly with the 358 Modifieds in 2008.
Tom Brennan of Pottsville finished second in driver points, however, the veteran competitor won the ’07 car owner points. Whitmoyer didn’t compete in every event with car-99, and Brennan made every show with his #26. Brennan, a past Sportsman and Street Stock track champion, earned a feature win this season and ten top five finishes.
Second generation talent Brad Brightbill of Sinking Springs steered the family owned #19 to a pair of feature wins and third in final driver points. Third year racer, Jordan Umbenhauer of Richland, captured three wins (including the Sept. 1 Coalcracker 50, finishing fourth in points. Josh Biever of Orwigsburg captured a feature win and rounded out the front finishing five.
Steven Hughes of Riegelsville joined the Sportsman field in ’07, following the footsteps of his father Mike Hughes, a former star in the division. Hughes captured a feature win on July 27 and finished fifteenth in points. Hughes was the Rookie of the Year Recipient.
Roy Wiest of Elizabethville continues to support weekly BDR action. Wiest was the speedway’s first champion in 2007. Wiest won the Determination award. The above mentioned Umbenhauer added to his ’07 hardware with the Sportsmanship award, while Milford NJ’s Mike Taylor received the Hard Luck Award.
Tom Hablett of Schuylkill Haven PA started racing Roadrunners in 2004, when he picked up his first career win. Since that time, Hablett has been a front running competitor and he powered to his first career track championship in 2007.
Hablett, driver of the #22 Chevy Nova, attained five regular season wins (April 13 & 22, May 4, June 15 & 22), and a Diamond Nationals triumph on September 29. Hablett captured eleven top fives, and finished outside the top ten in only four of twenty features.
Young racer Kevin Olenick of Pottsville captured four victories and second in points. Veteran Dave Miller of Pine Grove returned to weekly competition for the first time in several years, won a main event and finished third. Andy Zvorsky of Orwigsburg won twice and ended up fourth in points. Consistent racer Ricky Bender of Joliett rounded out the top five.
Second generation racer Chris Holland of Pine Grove earned six top fives and finished sixth in final points. Holland, who plans to return in ’08 with a new car, was the ’07 Rookie of the Year. Olenick won the Determination and Sportsmanship awards, after having an incredible second year behind the wheel of his #450 Nova. Bud Vidal of Pottsville won the Hard Luck Award.
Former racer Art Bair presented his Wheel Repair Heat Winners Awards to: Mike Nicholas (7 wins-358 Modified), Joe Masiado (5 wins-Sportsman) and Tom Hablett (5 wins-Roadrunner). Special thanks are extended to all award sponsors: Shiley Fabrication (Rookie of the Year), VP Fuels (Determination), Dan Drobnick – Track Welder (Sportsmanship), and J&L Speed Supplies (Hard Luck).
Big Diamond Raceway promoters Buddy Biever, Barry Bashore, and Dave Dissinger have also released a tentative 2008 schedule. The season is set to begin on Sunday March 30 with a 40-lap Big Block Modified feature paying $4000 to win.
Other highlighted events include: USAC Sprints June 5, WoO Late Models June 25, Stevenson Memorial July 4, Chad Miller Memorial August 8, Pepsi Challenge August 15, Coalcracker Sportsman 50 August 29, Coalcracker 358 Modified 100 August 31, Diamond Nationals September 27 & 28, and INEX Legends Dirt Nationals October 9, 10, 11.
Friday dates for 2008 will follow the timeline of: gates open at 5:00PM, warm-ups start at 7:15PM, and first heat goes green at 7:45PM.
Thanks are extended to all drivers, teams, fans, and sposnors for all of their support in 2007.
****Special thanks to Chris Budihas for news of Glenn Hyneman's plans for 2008.
358 MODIFIED DRIVER FINAL 2007 POINTS: 1) Jeff Strunk, 2) Doug Manmiller, 3) Rick Laubach, 4) Craig Von Dohren, 5) Terry Meitzler, 6) Ryan Watt, 7) Jimmy Reppert, 8) Gary Wagner Jr., 9) Meme DeSantis, 10) John Willman, 11) Ray Swinehart, 12) Ryan Grim, 13) Keith Hoffman, 14) Billy Pauch Jr., 15) Jeff Sechrist, 15) Shawn Fitzpatrick.
358 MODIFIED OWNER FINAL 2007 POINTS: 1) Keystone Racing, 2) Doug Manmiller, 3) Dick Biever, 4) Mike Harvey, 5) Bailey Fabrications, 6) Fran Purcell, 7) Jimmy Reppert, 8) GTW Motorsports, 9) Ed Nowotarski, 10) Mike Dinatale, 11) Jeff Sechrist, 12) Saracino Racing, 13) Ryan Grim, 14) Ray Swinehart, 15) Pioneer Pole Buildings.
SPORTSMAN DRIVER FINAL 2007 POINTS: 1) Craig Whitmoyer, 2) Tom Brennan, 3) Brad Brightbill, 4) Jordan Umbenhauer, 5) Josh Biever, 6) Kevin Beach Jr., 7) Mike Taylor, 8) Ray Woodall Jr., 9) Leroy Long, 10) Earl Paules Jr., 11) Andy Miller, 12) Frank Cozze Jr., 13) Billy Moyer Jr., 14) Mike Mammana, 15) Steven Hughes.
SPORTSMAN OWNER FINAL 2007 POINTS: 1) Tom Brennan, 2) Craig Whitmoyer, 3) Brad Brightbill, 4) Tom Umbenhauer, 5) Josh Biever, 6) Kevin Beach Sr., 7) Mike Taylor, 8) Leroy Long, 9) William Fisher Jr., 10) Andy Miller, 11) Ray Woodall, 12) Janice Cozze, 13) Billy Moyer Jr., 14) Mike Hughes, 15) Wink Motorsports
ROADRUNNER DRIVER FINAL 2007 POINTS: 1) Tom Hablett, 2) Kevin Olenick, 3) Dave Miller, 4) Andy Zvorsky, 5) Ricky Bender, 6) Chris Holland, 7) Eric Pinkerton, 8) Joe Hendricks, 9) Rob Pyle, 10) Dan Strenkoski.
TENTATIVE 2008 BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY SCHEDULE
Sun. March 30 – Big Block Modifieds (40-laps, $4000 to win). Test and tune for Sportsman and Roadrunners.
Fri. April 4 – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Fri. April 11 – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Fri. April 18 – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Sun. April 20 – Nutty Buddy Enduro 1 presented by Naftzinger & Detweiler.
Fri. April 25 – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Xcel 600 Modifieds.
Fri. May 2 – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Fri. May 9 – TBA SPECIAL – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners
Sun. May 11 – Nutty Buddy Enduro 2 presented by Naftzinger & Detweiler.
Fri. May 16 – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Legends.
Fri. May 23 – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Fri. May 30 – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Thurs. June 5 – USAC SPRINTS, ARDC MIDGETS.
Fri. June 6 – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Xcel 600 Modifieds.
Fri. June 13 – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Sun. June 15 – Nutty Buddy Enduro 3 presented by Naftzinger & Detweiler.
Fri. June 20 – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Wed. June 25 – WOO LATE MODELS.
Fri. June 27 – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Fri. July 4 – GEORGIE STEVENSON MEMORIAL. 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Fri. July 11 – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Xcel 600 Modifieds.
Sun. July 13 – Nutty Buddy Enduro 4 presented by Naftzinger & Detweiler.
Fri. July 18 – 358 Modifieds,URC Sprints, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Fri. July 25 – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Fri. August 1 – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners, ARDC Midgets.
Fri. August 8 – CHAD MILLER MEMORIAL. 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Fri. August 15 – PEPSI CHALLENGER. 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Sun. August 17 – Nutty Buddy Enduro 5 presented by Naftzinger & Detweiler.
Fri. August 22 – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Fri. August 29 – COALCRACKER 50 SPORTSMAN, 358 non-winners race, ARDC Midgets.
Sun. August 31 – COALCRACKER 100 358 MODIFIEDS, Roadrunners.
Sun. September 14 – Nutty Buddy Enduro 6 presented by Naftzinger & Detweiler.
Sat. September 27 – DIAMOND NATIONALS.
Sun. September 28 – DIAMOND NATIONALS.
Fri. October 9 – INEX Legends Dirt Nationals Test and Tune.
Sat. October 10 – INEX Legends Dirt Nationals.
Sun. October 11 – INEX Legends Dirt Nationals. |
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