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DUANE HOWARD EXTENDS HIS BIG DIAMOND COALCRACKER WIN RECORD TO FIVE…By Gary Lileck
Forestville, PA – August 31, 2008 – Duane Howard drove the BPG Motorsports #4 Troyer to a decisive triumph in Sunday’s Alpine Building & Post Supply Coalcracker 100. Howard extended his Coalcracker career win record to five (1998, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2008). His triumph was worth a crisp $10000.
“We were struggling the last month, month and a half”, mentioned the former BDR six-time point champion. “Some people were doubting us as a team and me as a driver. We needed a turnaround and we certainly got it here tonight. BPG is an excellent race team and I knew that I could still win races”. Howard captured his fourth win of the season on July 4 (Georgie Stevenson Memorial) but had been shut out of the winner’s circle since that time. Sunday night’s performance certainly places the team back on track.
Howard quickly made his way through the field from his twelfth starting spot and managed to set the pace for 97 of 100 laps. Howard’s true challenge would arrive from Jason Hamilton, who remained within striking distance of the race leader. Hamilton pulled alongside of Howard on a lap 94 restart, contact was made, and Hamilton fell from contention.
“Our right front tire was used up”, continued Howard. “Then, I felt the little nudge (contact between him and Hamilton) and I thought we were in trouble. He (Hamilton) had to go for it. I stepped on it in turn four and gave him a chance. Our tire was used up.”
The Roadrunners competed in their annual 20-lap feature, and once again pulled a nice field of 24 entrants. Kirby Sites returned to BDR after several years away and cruised to the winner’s circle. Kirby’s last win was achieved on August 11, 2000 in a Sportsman car.
Fifty-eight 358 Modifieds were in competition for the evening’s festivities. Thirty drivers suited up for the 100-lap feature. During pre-race entertainment, the strong field was led by the Big Diamond Pace Truck, New Egypt (NJ) Speedway Pace Truck, Alpine Truck, and the vintage #88x coupe (the former Don Loder driven machine). A capacity crowd watched as the field received the event’s opening green flag.
By luck of the draw, Keith Hoffman started inside pole and jumped into the early race lead. The former three-time track champion (his first start since June 20) made a special one race appearance in a second Chad Sinon fielded Troyer-4H. Craig Von Dohren, the 2007 Coalcracker winner, started third and immediately roared into the runner-up spot. Young Sean Merkel settled into third, however, his machine developed a fire in the right rear, which triggered the red flag on lap three. Merkel was not injured and returned to the race shortly.
Hoffman remained the race leader under green conditions followed by Von Dohren and Ryan Watt, driving the locally based Franny Purcell Motorsports #6. Howard dove to inside lane and grabbed the fourth position. After four laps had been completed a few cars made contact and a first ’08 starting Vince Gagliardo Jr. went around in turn four, bringing out the caution.
Howard wasted no time in continuing his car passing exhibition. He disposed of Watt in the first corner and blasted past Von Dohren in turn two. Howard settled behind his one race team-ate Hoffman until the caution flag waved for Gary Hager and Colt Harris with seven laps showing on the scoreboard.
On the restart, Howard made his victory bound maneuver. Howard tossed his Main Racing Engines powered machine to the high side and blasted past Hoffman as they screamed down the back straightaway. Von Dohren and Watt watched from the third and fourth positions. Howard reached lapped traffic by the 20th lap as a good stretch of non-amber racing took place until the 26th lap. Mike Nicholas sat sideways at the bottom of the backstretch, bringing out the caution flag.
Von Dohren had been pressuring Hoffman and completed the pass about a quarter way through the event. Therefore, Howard remained the race leader on the green followed by Von Dohren, Hoffman, and Watt. A great battled took place for fifth between several cars including Billy Pauch Sr., Jimmy Horton and Jason Hamilton. The caution waved on lap 32 for Danny Hieber, and Doug Manmiller pitted with a flat left front tire.
While the top three remained unchanged, Watt, Pauch, Hamilton, and Horton exchanged positions from fourth on back. By lap 43, Howard enjoyed a healthy full straightaway advantage over his competition. The caution lights flashed with 45 laps showing on the board. Von Dohren’s second place effort vanished on the restart as his machine struggled with a soft right rear tire. Howard led over Hoffman, Hamilton, Watt and Horton. Hamilton tossed his machine to the inside of Hoffman in turns one and two of lap 50 to take control of the runner-up position.
A mandatory fuel stop took place at half-way (lap 50). After the break, Von Dohren headed to the pit area with a flat tire. Howard jumped out in front to begin the race’s second half over Hamilton, Hoffman, and Watt. 2008 track champion Jeff Strunk had originally started from the twentieth position. He sat sixth during the fuel stop, and abruptly moved into fifth via the outside lane.
A caution flag took place on lap 56 for Billy Pauch Jr. Following this yellow period, the race wouldn’t be stopped until the 93rd circuit. Once again, Strunk pulled to the outside on the restart and moved into fourth behind Howard, Hamilton, and Hoffman. Laps continued to score, and Hamilton remained within striking distance of Howard. They negotiated lapped traffic (a slight encounter on lap 71 gave Howard a few more length’s advantage). Hamilton closed back within the 20-to-go margin of the event.
With ten laps remaining Howard and Hamilton reeled in a pack of four lapped cars (each were good quality feature win caliber machines). It was about to get interesting as suddenly the lapped machine of Gagliardo got out of shape in front of the leaders and tagged the wall. This brought out the caution flag with 93 laps completed.
Seven laps remained, and Hamilton knew that his time was running out. On the restart, Hamilton pulled alongside of Howard in turn four. Contact was made between the pair, and Hamilton’s #16 swung low to the bottom of the speedway. Hamilton eventually slowed from the pace, ending his fine performance. Howard pulled out to an advantage and was poised for victory, until the caution flag was unfurled with just one lap remaining. Ray Swinehart and Manmiller collided on the frontstretch, entering turn one.
Despite the one lap shootout, Howard (Oley) encountered no problems and drove to the convincing victory. It was Howard’s fifth win of the season, and sixth overall (he began the season March 29 with a Big Block Modified victory). Hoffman (Whitehall) finished second and executed the two-car BPG Motorsports sweep with a runner-up result worth $5000. Strunk (Mohnton) drove the Glenn Hynemann #126 to a third place finish ($3000). Watt, the opening day feature winner, grabbed the fourth place check ($2000). Horton (Neshanic Station NJ) made his second ’08 start aboard Norm Hansell’s #357 and cruised to a fifth place finish ($1500).
Billy Pauch Sr. (Frenchtown NJ), a past two-time Coalcracker winner, drove his self-owned #1 to a final finish of sixth. Terry Meitzler (Kutztown) ran within the top ten during the entire distance and crossed the line in seventh. Tom Umbenhauer (Richland) likewise enjoyed a steady top ten night and ended up eighth. Ryan Godown (Ringoes NJ) advanced from nineteenth to ninth and Nicholas rebounded from the earlier caution to post a tenth place finish.
By luck of the draw, Jeremy Becker started inside pole in the Roadrunner feature and grabbed the early race lead. 2007 track champion Tom Hablett raced second and pressured Becker for the top spot. After a caution flag period with three laps on the scoreboard, Becker drifted out of the race lead. Suddenly a tangle took place further on back. Butch Lesher’s machine rolled over on the backstretch. Lesher was uninjured in the accident. Becker headed pitside, and was able to return.
Hablett continued to set the pace, despite a caution restart on lap six. Kirby Sites (driving his son Kody’s #95K) began from the twelfth spot. Sites powered into the runner-up position on the event’s eighth circuit. Likewise, Joe Hendricks was charging through the field from his tenth place starting spot. Hendricks erupted into the third spot at the half-way point (lap ten). A pair of yellow flags were thrown at the lap ten margin, which regrouped the field.
Sites looked for passing room on the inside and worked ahead of Hablett on lap twelve. On the next circuit, Hendricks dropped to the bottom and passed Hablett for the second spot. Hendricks closed within striking distance of Sites during the closing moments, however, Sites remained in complete control.
Sites (Hamburg) returned to the driver’s seat after a few years of racing inactivity and quickly returned to form. He captured his first career Roadrunner victory (in his first RR appearance) and 16th overall career BDR triumph (11-Street Stock, 3-Pro Truck, 1-Sportsman, 1-Roadrunner).
Hendricks (Auburn), a six-time ’08 winner and co-track champion, finished a strong runner-up in “The Outlaw” 11x machine. Hablett (Schuylkill Haven) posted three feature wins this season aboard his self-owned #22 and powered to a final finish of third in the extra distance 20-lapper. ’08 co-champion, Kevin Olenick (Forestville), was racing in second place at one time. He remained within the front five and finished fourth aboard the Olenick Racing #450 nova bodied car. Becker (Pottsville) rebounded from the earlier pit stop and powered his Monte Carlo-97 to a hard earned finish of fifth.
Big Diamond Raceway returns to action on Sunday September 14. The Naftzinger’s Used Auto Parts/Detweiler’s 24 Hour Towing Nutty Buddy Enduro Series will compete in their fourth show of the season. The 6/8 Cylinder cars and 4 Cylinder cars will battle in separate endurance events. Racing begins at 5:00PM and adult general admission to the grandstands for this show is only $5. The third annual Diamond Nationals is set for Saturday September 27 and Sunday September 28.
BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY COMPLETE RESULTS – SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2008
358 MODIFIEDS
First Heat (10-laps): 1) Jimmy Horton, 2) Tom Umbenhauer, 3) Ryan Watt.
Second Heat (10-laps): 1) Duane Howard, 2) Sean Merkel, 3) Terry Meitzler.
Third Heat (10-laps): 1) Ray Swinehart, 2) Jason Hamilton, 3) Shawn Reimert.
Fourth Heat (10-laps): 1) Meme DeSantis, 2) Troy Wink, 3) Danny Erb.
Fifth Heat (10-laps): 1) Billy Pauch Sr., 2) Doug Manmiller, 3) Keith Hoffman.
Sixth Heat (10-laps): 1) Craig Von Dohren, 2) Danny Hieber, 3) Billy Pauch Jr.
First Consolation (10-laps): 1) Ryan Godown, 2) Kevin Hartnett, 3) Mike Nicholas.
Second Consolation (10-laps): 1) Jeff Strunk, 2) Vince Gagliardo Jr., 3) Ryan Beltz.
Third Consolation (10-laps): 1) Gary Hager, 2) John Willman, 3) Dale Hartz.
Provisional Starters: Rick Laubach, Craig Whitmoyer, Colt Harris.
Did Not Qualify: Jordan Umbenhauer, AJ DeSantis, Kenny Brightbill, Kevin Albert Jr., Mark Kratz, Chris James Jr., Kyle Weiss, Danny Creeden, Neil Huber, Don Uhrig Jr., Don Brownlee, Randy Stoudt, Bobby Gunther-Walsh, David Van Horn Jr., Steve Young, Joe Masiado, Tommy Sheetz, Sammy Schaeffer, Larry Lippincott, Shawn Fitzpatrick, Brad Brightbill, Josh Biever, Kevin Beach, Jeff Sechrist, John Tschudy, Roy Wiest, Billy Moyer Jr., Tom Hager.
ALPINE BUILDING & POST SUPPLY COALCRACKER 100-LAP FEATURE: 1) #4-Duane Howard, 2) #4H-Keith Hoffman, 3) #126-Jeff Strunk, 4) #6-Ryan Watt, 5) #357-Jimmy Horton, 6) #1-Billy Pauch, 7) #81-Terry Meitzler, 8) #19-Tom Umbenhauer, 9) #R1-Ryan Godown, 10) #3-Mike Nicholas, 11) #41-Shawn Reimert, 12) #33-Ray Swinehart, 13) #00-Doug Manmiller, 14) #CR7-Colt Harris, 15) #16-Jason Hamilton, 16) #14-Rick Laubach, 17) #66-Vince Gagliardo Jr., 18) #27-Troy Wink, 19) #1c-Craig Von Dohren, 20) #8-Billy Pauch Jr., 21) #178-Dale Hartz, 22) #11-John Willman, 23) #88D-Meme DeSantis, 24) #118-Sean Merkel, 25) #107-Danny Hieber, 26) #73GT-Kevin Hartnett, 27) #44-Danny Erb, 28) #221-Ryan Beltz, 29) #99-Craig Whitmoyer, 30) #44H-Gary Hager.
ROADRUNNERS
First Heat (6-laps): 1) Joe Hendricks, 2) Tom Hablett, 3) Ryan Olenick, 4) Neil Bressler, 5) Jeremy Becker, 6) Kirby Sites, 7) Danny Mazy, 8) Gary Willard Jr., 9) Butch Lesher, 10) Joe Brennan, 11) Mark Paine, 12) Jim Kost.
Second Heat (6-laps): 1) Kevin Holland, 2) Kevin Olenick, 3) Marc Berzowski, 4) Gary Renninger, 5) Toby Chase, 6) Chris Holland, 7) Bud Vidal Jr., 8) Chip Kennedy, 9) Davey Nester, 10) Joe Kavanaugh, 11) Wayne Wolfe, 12) Charlie Eckert Jr.
20-LAP COALCRACKER FEATURE: 1) #95K-Kirby Sites, 2) #11x-Joe Hendricks, 3) #22-Tom Hablett, 4) #450-Kevin Olenick, 5) #97-Jeremy Becker, 6) #66K-Marc Berzowski, 7) #8c-Chris Holland, 8) #555-Jim Kost, 9) #66-Kevin Holland, 10) #88-Toby Chase, 11) #X-Danny Mazy, 12) #777-Joe Kavanaugh, 13) #8-Davey Nester, 14) #105-Joe Brennan, 15) #101-Gary Renninger, 16) #45-Ryan Olenick, 17) #2-Gary Willard Jr., 18) #909-Neil Bressler, 19) #98-Chip Kennedy, 20) #CR7-Butch Lesher, 21) #72-Mark Paine, 22) #72W-Wayne Wolfe, 23) #17-Bud Vidal. DNS: #16-Charlie Eckert Jr.
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