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Forestville, PA – May 2, 2008 – Billy Pauch Jr. led Duane Howard to the checkered flag in Friday’s 25-lap 358 Modified feature at Big Diamond Raceway. Howard, who won the previous week, pressured the popular third generation racer from Frenchtown NJ on numerous occasions, however, Pauch remained in command for his first victory of the season.
Twenty-six cars started the main event with rookie competitor Kevin Albert Jr. showing the way early. Albert led the first five laps before a caution flag period. On the ensuing restart, Shawn Fitzpatrick (originally started sixth) powered into the runner-up position behind the young Albert.
Fitzpatrick, of nearby Pottsville PA, blasted to the outside of Albert on a lap nine restart. Albert faded back a few spots and eventually dropped from contention with a flat right front tire. Meanwhile Pauch Jr. had begun advancing from thirteenth. He sat in fifth position for the ninth lap restart. By the completion of lap nine, Pauch asserted himself into the runner-up spot behind Fitzpatrick.
Pauch flexed a victory bound muscle on a lap twelve restart as he tossed the Pioneer Pole Buildings #8 to the outside of Fitpatrick through turns one and two, becoming the new pace setter. Pauch passed the flag stand at the half-way mark as the leader over Fitzpatrick and sixteenth place starter Duane Howard. A battle for second began to brew, and Howard darted to the inside of Fitzpatrick through turns three and four of lap seventeen.
The event’s final caution flag was unfurled with just four laps remaining. On the single file restart, Howard mirrored every Pauch move. Howard peeked to the inside of Pauch through the corners, and Pauch kept his machine in front down the straightaways. Only one car length separated the pair down the backstretch of lap 24. On the race’s final lap, Pauch opened a few more lengths over Howard down the back. Pauch cruised to his first win of the season and fourth of his BDR career.
Howard of Oley PA recorded his second runner-up finish of the season behind the wheel of Chad Sinon’s #4. Fitzpatrick lost the third position on the final lap. Jeff Strunk (started fourteenth) drove Glenn Hyneman’s #126 to third while racing to the flag. Ray Swinehart, driving his self-owned #33, ended up fourth and May 18 winner Meme DeSantis rounded out the top five. As cars closely crossed the line, Fitzpatrick finished sixth.
32 Modifieds were present with heat wins going to Mike Nicholas, Rick Laubach, Shawn Fitzpatrick and Craig Von Dohren. Shawn Reimert won the consolation race.
On April 25, Earl Paules of Palmerton PA wired the Sportsman feature for an apparent victory. His car weighed in light on the scales, however. One week later, Paules once again dominated the 20-lap feature and his machine did make weight on this evening. As a matter of fact, Paules weighed in at an extra 45 pounds.
Paules started from the pole position and basically led the entire race unchallenged. Former champion Gary Wagner (who races the car driven by Paules in 2007) followed him early. Third year Sportsman racer, Kevin Beach, advanced into second on lap six via the inside lane. At the half-way point, Paules led with Beach, twelfth place starter Josh Biever, and Wagner in pursuit.
Paules drew to a 2.50 second advantage over his competition and steered his car #4 to the winner’s circle. It was his first of the season and second BDR career win. Beach of Llewllyn finished in second ahead of Orwigsburg’s Biever. Finishing a five second distance behind Biever was Kyle Weiss, who charged back from an opening lap tangle. Wagner finished fifth for the second consecutive week.
35 Sportsman were broken down into four qualifying heats. Winners were Gary Wagner, Patrick Cozze, Earl Paules, and Ebby Ridge. Rookie Pete Phillips Jr. won his first career consi race.
Joe Hendricks of Auburn increased strength as every week passed in Roadrunner competition. After not finishing in the opener, Hendricks ended up seventh on April 18 and sixth on April 25. This week, Hendricks powered to a feature victory, the fourth of his Big Diamond career.
Mark Paine, a former pavement racer, set the early pace. Hendricks actually got into the guardrail on the race’s green flag, but stayed on the accelerator and kept competing. He shot between a pair of cars on a lap three restart to occupy second behind the race leader Paine. Hendricks wrestled the lead away from Paine on the fourth lap.
Ryan Olenick, who started sixth, abruptly maneuvered into second. Ricky Bender, from ninth, drove past Olenick on the eighth circuit. The caution lights flashed with just two circuits remaining, however Hendricks remained in command of the race. Hendricks became the fourth different winner in four events. Bender narrowly edged Olenick for second. In another good multi-car battle, Elvin Brennan and Kevin Holland earned fourth and fifth place finishes.
22 Roadrunners were pitside on the evening. Heat wins went to Mark Paine and Ricky Bender.
This Friday May 9 is Murphy Jewelers/Relay For Life Night. Each division will go an extra five laps in their feature events. 358 Modifieds (30-laps, $2250 to win), Sportsman (25-laps, $750 to win), Roadrunners (20-laps, $175 to win). There will be no increase in adult general admission. Gates open at 5:00PM, warm-ups take to the speedway at 7:10PM, and racing gets underway at 7:45PM.
Then on Mother’s Day Sunday May 11, the Naftzinger’s Used Auto Parts/Detweiler 24 hour Towing Nutty Buddy Enduro Series will hold their first event of 2008. The 6/8 Cylinders, 4 cylinders, and a Powder Puff take center stage with races starting at 5:00PM.
DIAMOND GEMS: Alpha Mills (Schuylkill Haven) sponsored this past Friday’s nights program…The 358 Modified points chase is certainly heating up. Duane Howard and defending champion Jeff Strunk are tied for the lead. Feature winner Billy Pauch Jr. is a mere 25 points behind in third…Newcomer to Big Diamond this year, Dan Hineline, continues his extremely tough early season. Hineline travels from Lake Ariel PA each and every Friday night. After experiencing fuel pump problems early, Hineline erupted an engine at the conclusion of his heat race…Ryan Godown also suffered engine problems while leading his heat race in the Johnny Rea owned machine and Godown, a newcomer this year out of New Jersey, was an early scratch…New entrants to the Modified field this week were Mike Gular and Greg Weiland…Katie Madenford waved the 358 Modified feature green flag. She traveled to BDR straight from her prom and was still wearing her green prom dress…Another good crowd assembled for the fourth regular season show of the season and it was all completed by 10:35PM.
COMPLETE RACE SUMMARY – BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY – MAY 2, 2008
358 MODIFIEDS
FEATURE (25-LAPS): 1) Billy Pauch Jr., 2) Duane Howard, 3) Jeff Strunk, 4) Ray Swinehart, 5) Meme DeSantis, 6) Shawn Fitzpatrick, 7) Craig Von Dohren, 8) Mike Nicholas, 9) Sean Merkel, 10) Mike Gular, 11) Keith Hoffman, 12) Terry Meitzler, 13) Shawn Reimert, 14) Ryan Grim, 15) John Willman, 16) Gary Hager, 17) Dale Hartz, 18) Kenny Eckert Jr., 19) Troy Wink, 20) Bobby Gunther-Walsh, 21) Corey Sechrist, 22) Rick Laubach, 23) Craig Whitmoyer, 24) Ryan Watt, 25) Doug Manmiller, 26) Kevin Albert Jr.
DNQ: Colt Harris, Greg Weiland, Kevin Hirthler, Ryan Godown, Danny Nicholas, Dan Hineline.
SPORTSMAN
FEATURE (20-LAPS): 1) Earl Paules, 2) Kevin Beach, 3) Josh Biever, 4) Kyle Weiss, 5) Gary Wagner, 6) Brad Brightbill, 7) Mike Loney, 8) Tom Brennan, 9) Patrick Cozze, 10) Ray Woodall Jr., 11) Jordan Umbenhauer, 12) Chris James Jr., 13) Pete Phillips Jr., 14) Billy Moyer Jr., 15) Ebby Ridge, 16) Brad Force, 17) Tim Fitzpatrick, 18) Daryl Dissinger, 19) Jarad Umbenhauer, 20) Conrad Fitch, 21) Shane Moser, 22) Mike Mammana, 23) Kevin Brady, 24) Steven Hughes, 25) Harry Landis, 26) Steve Yankowski Jr.
DNQ: Kermit Horning, Jason Neidlinger, Doug Stepanchuk, Jeff Sterner, Kevin Smith, Lenny Hoffert Jr., Rich Stankiewicz, Earl Mace, Ryan Moyer.
ROADRUNNERS
FEATURE (15-LAPS): 1) Joe Hendricks, 2) Ricky Bender, 3) Ryan Olenick, 4) Elvin Brennan, 5) Kevin Holland, 6) Kody Sites, 7) Tom Hablett, 8) Jeremy Becker, 9) Neal Bressler, 10) Gary Willard Jr., 11) Davey Nester, 12) Gary Renninger, 13) Butch Lesher, 14) Danny Mazy, 15) Byrd Klinger, 16) Rob Pyle, 17) Mark Paine, 18) Cory Swartz, 19) Toby Chase, 20) Bud Vidal. DNS: Kevin Olenick, Chris Holland.
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