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;…By Gary Lileck
Forestville, PA – April 25, 2008 –Duane Howard of Oley cruised to his first 358 Modified feature win of the season Friday night at Big Diamond Raceway. His victory, worth a crisp $2000, was the 57th of his illustrious BDR career. It was Howard’s second overall ’08 win, as he was victorious in a Big Block Modified special event back on March 29th.
Brad Brightbill of Sinking Springs may have crossed the finish line in second, however, he cruised to the Sportsman winner’s circle after the apparent first place machine weighed in light. Elvin Brennan of Pottsville seized his first Roadrunner main event win of the year while Ryan Higgs of Nazareth won the Xcel 600 Modified feature.
As the 358 Modified feature began, Colt Harris placed his machine in front. Harris showed the way until a lap six restart when Ray Swinehart assumed command. Harris retreated pitside a lap later. While Swinehart continued to lead, Howard (started fourteenth) patiently worked through the top ten. Howard gained the runner-up spot on lap eleven.
Howard chased Swinehart under green flag laps and passed him via the inside lane of lap thirteen. Howard, driving Chad Sinon’s #4 Troyer, would lead the remainder of the contest.
“We needed this win”, mentioned Howard after scoring the victory. On April 11, Howard was dominating the season opener until the engine erupted. He rebounded for a runner-up finish on April 18. “The car was a little tight, but it was strong all night long. We have had a really consistent car week to week.”
While Howard celebrated in victory circle, several of the BDR heavy hitters struggled through a rough night. Ryan Watt and Billy Pauch Jr. (who were running one-two in the point standings) were involved in an opening lap tangle. Later, Watt, defending track champion Jeff Strunk and Craig Whitmoyer tangled in a hard crash on the front stretch. Whitmoyer’s machine rolled over the inner turn one barrier. No injuries were reported.
Craig Von Dohren was the first car to retire on lap two (while racing tenth). Von Dohren pitted with mechanical problems. Previous week’s winner Meme DeSantis dropped out of the event as did Ryan Godown (who was racing fourth on lap 15). Tom Umbenhauer was another driver to experience tough luck when his machine slowed while running fifth with only three laps to go. Umbenhauer had started 22nd.
Doug Manmiller enjoyed his finest evening of the season aboard the Wink Motorsports #00. Manmiller started seventh, and raced past Swinehart for the runner-up position on lap 24. Swinehart turned his early season around (he finished 14th and 21st in the opening pair of races) with a third place effort.
Terry Meitzler, driving the Dennis Bailey owned #81, started ninth and entered the front five on lap seven. Meitzler nailed down a fourth place finish. After Strunk’s machine sat sideways on the front stretch after the lap seven red flag accident, he put together an impressive surge through the field. Strunk, driving Glenn Hyneman’s #126, advanced into fifth on lap 23 and finished there.
Heats for the 36 cars present were awarded to Duane Howard, Craig Whitmoyer (on the final lap), Terry Meitzler, and Craig Whitmoyer. Consi winners were Ryan Grim and Rick Laubach.
Earl Paules started inside pole to start the 20-lap Sportsman feature. Paules, who competes on dirt and pavement tracks during each racing weekend, showed the way from wire-to wire. Second generation racer, Brad Brightbill, started thirteenth and moved into the runner-up spot on lap fifteen.
A caution flag took place with sixteen laps complete. During the final four laps, Brightbill remained close to Paules, however, settled for an apparent runner-up finish. While crossing the scales, Paules weighed in light and Brightbill would stand triumphantly in victory circle. It was Brightbill’s 4th career BDR win.
Kevin Smith, making only his third career BDR start, impressed many with a fine runner-up finish. Kyle Weiss worked through the pack from his sixteenth place starting spot and battled along the way with Billy Moyer Jr. Weiss finished third ahead of Moyer and former track champion Gary Wagner.
Heats races for the 36 Sportsman in attendance were won by Patrick Cozze, Tim Apgar, Kevin Smith, and Earl Paules. Chris James Jr. won the consi.
Mark Paine led the opening circuit of the 15-lap Roadrunner feature. Ricky Bender took control on lap two. Elvin Brennan, who started eighth, stormed to the inside of Bender for the lead on lap nine. Bender tried to take the spot back a lap later, but Brennan remained in front.
With a pair of laps left, Brennan led Bender by about two car lengths. On the final lap, Brennan stretched his advantage a little and cruised to his first win of the season and 6th of his BDR career. Bender finished second ahead of opening day winner Kevin Holland (started 11th), Ryan Olenick, who has returned to BDR this season after time away, and Rob Pyle, who safely finished fifth.
24 Roadrunners competed on the evening with heat wins going to Ryan Olenick and Ricky Bender.
The Xcel 600 Modifieds were utilizing every groove on the race track as positions changed dramatically in the early going. Unfortunately, Kyle Gardner’s machine flipped viciously in a turn four crash. Gardner was not injured, although his #G1 was severely damaged.
Bryan Mady led for three laps until George Loux took command. Loux dropped out after six laps with a flat tire. Ryan Higgs became the new race leader and set a blistering pace over the events final nine laps. Higgs drove to his first career BDR victory in the family fielded #16 machine.
Ryan’s father Chris Higgs is a former Street Stock competitor at the closed speedways of Nazareth (PA) and Penn National (PA). Mike Keppler raced from thirteenth to second. Mike Pychinka finished third ahead of Eric Witbe and Nate Dibble.
A record 600 Modified count (35) competed on the evening. Heat winners were Kyle Gardner, Mike Keppler, and Modified competitor Butch Getz. Kevin Gruber won the consi.
Nice weather conditions brought another great crowd to the races on Felty Farms and Trucking Night. BDR promoters Buddy Biever, Dave Dissinger, and Barry Bashore announced that all fans in attendance on April 25 may bring their rain check next week (May 2) and they will receive a $1 discount from the general admission price.
Week four of the points season takes place this Friday May 2. Thus far there have been no repeat winners in the 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, and Roadrunner classes. Gates open at 5:00PM, warm-ups start at 7:15PM and the first heat goes green at 7:45PM. For complete information visit the track’s official website at www.bigdiamondraceway.com
COMPLETE RACE SUMMARY – BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY – APRIL 25, 2008
358 MODIFIEDS
FEATURE (25-LAPS): 1) Duane Howard, 2) Doug Manmiller, 3) Ray Swinehart, 4) Terry Meitzler, 5) Jeff Strunk, 6) Rick Laubach, 7) Kevin Hirthler, 8) John Willman, 9) Gary Hager, 10) Ryan Grim, 11) Corey Sechrist, 12) Bobby Gunther-Walsh, 13) Dale Hartz, 14) Kevin Albert Jr., 15) Tom Umbenhauer, 16) Ryan Godown, 17) Meme DeSantis, 18) Kenny Eckert Jr., 19) Billy Pauch Jr., 20) Shawn Fitzpatrick, 21) Craig Whitmoyer, 22) Ryan Watt, 23) Colt Harris, 24) Keith Hoffman, 25) Mike Nicholas, 26) Sean Merkel, 27) Craig Von Dohren.
DNQ: Shawn Reimert, Troy Wink, Ray Deemer, Jeff Sechrist, TJ Wink, Jason Hamilton, Danny Nicholas, Dan Hineline, Kurt Spotts.
SPORTSMAN
FEATURE (20-LAPS): 1) Brad Brightbill, 2) Kevin Smith, 3) Kyle Weiss, 4) Billy Moyer Jr., 5) Gary Wagner, 6) Patrick Cozze, 7) Jordan Umbenhauer, 8) Mike Loney, 9) Harry Landis, 10) Brad Force, 11) Chris James Jr., 12) Pete Phillips Jr., 13) Tim Apgar, 14) Kevin Brady, 15) Lenny Hoffert Jr., 16) Kevin Beach, 17) Josh Biever, 18) Steven Hughes, 19) Ebby Ridge, 20) Tim Fitzpatrick, 21) Mike Mammana, 22) Kermit Horning, 23) Ryan Moyer, 24) Tom Brennan, 25) Rich Stankiewicz, DQ: Earl Paules.
DNQ: Kevin Brady, Daryl Dissinger, Jason Neidlinger, Earl Mace, Conrad Fitch, Steve Yankowski Jr., Shane Moser, Jimmy Kleedorfer, Rick Raisner, Andy Fayash Jr., Greg Stepanchuk.
ROADRUNNERS
FEATURE (15-LAPS): 1) Elvin Brennan, 2) Ricky Bender, 3) Kevin Holland, 4) Ryan Olenick, 5) Rob Pyle, 6) Joe Hendricks, 7) Chris Holland, 8) Tom Hablett, 9) Kevin Olenick, 10) Jeremy Becker, 11) Gary Renninger, 12) Gary Willard Jr., 13) Kody Sites, 14) Davey Nester, 15) Toby Chase, 16) Danny Mazy, 17) Byrd Klinger, 18) Butch Lesher, 19) Cory Swartz, 20) Ed Kuperavage, 21) Bud Vidal, 22) Mark Paine, 23) Neil Bressler, 24) Brian Close. |
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