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OVER SEVENTY DRIVERS COMPETE IN LEGENDS CAR DIRT NATIONALS; ENDURO RACES CLOSE OUT THE SEASON AT BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY…By Gary Lileck
Forestville, PA – October 12, 2008 – The INEX Legends Cars held their annual Dirt Nationals this past Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Big Diamond Raceway. Competitors (over 70 strong) traveled from 13 different states and Canada to partake in the prestigious event. The season officially concluded on Saturday evening, as the Nutty Buddy Enduro Series Race #5, presented by Naftzinger's Used Auto Parts & Detweiler's 24 Hour Towing, closed the curtain for 2008.
Tim Henry (Orefield) charged to his first career Big Diamond win in Saturday's 30-lap Legends Car Pro Division main event. The Pro class features the experienced (pro) drivers of Legends car competition. Henry has driven several different types of machinery throughout his successful career and currently steers the Schaeffer Racing #98.
Frank Polimeda, a past BDR winner in Wingless ARDC Midget-car action, led the event's opening twenty-one circuits until his machine developed right rear issues and limped to the infield. Jason Rochelle, a Diamond winner on May 23, had just passed Henry for position and in turn became the new race leader.
Racing remained green until the five-to-go margin, when North Dakota's Nathan Speten exploded an engine. When racing continued, Henry passed Rochelle (Schnecksville) via the inside lane and held on to capture the win. At the flagstand, Stephen Nederostek (Walnutport), a BDR winner in 2007, skated ahead of Rochelle (his crew feverishly repaired the car from an accident the previous evening). Tim Tomson (Kutztown) finished fourth, and Geremy Sheaffer (Ickesburg) rounded out the top five.
Polimeda set fast-time in the Pro Timed Dashes. Heat winners were J. Rochelle and Tomson.
Dwight Pilgrim (McDonough GA) unseated a former BDR Modified racer Tom Mayberry (Sellersville) to win the 30-lap Masters Division Legends Car feature. This class is open to the drivers 40 years of age and older. Pilgrim steered a car that he had sold to another competitor earlier in the year.
This race was nothing short of spectacular. Eric Barth (Sauk City WI) led the opening seven laps. Pilgrim took over on the eighth tour and raced closely with Barth and Mayberry. On lap 16, Mayberry advanced into second and the battle was on for the number one position. Mayberry tried for countless laps, however, Pilgrim remained the race leader. Pilgrim had never been to BDR, and Mayberry is a past Coalcracker winner. Nevertheless, Pilgrim mastered the event.
Pilgrim drove to the stripe by a mere margin of .162 over Mayberry (Sellersville). Barth enjoyed his initial BDR voyage with a third place effort. Rodney Kistler (Kempton), a BDR winner on June 27, posted a fourth place finish. Paul Rochelle (Hackettstown NJ) rounded out the top five.
Heat winners were John Schirk, Mayberry, Barth, and Pilgrim (who also set fast time). P. Rochelle emerged victorious in a 20-lap Race of Champions event (held on Friday). Rochelle took the lead on lap seven and held off a variety of challengers.
The State of Texas captured a huge college football win earlier in the day, and Bryce Walker (Weatherford TX) capped it off with a victory in the 30-lap Semi-Pro Legends Car main event. Walker, a pavement specialist, captured 32 wins this season on the asphalt. Walker utilized the test session as a dirt track learning experience and it paid off.
Walker, steering a #680 Sedan bodied machine, started outside pole and led every lap of the main event. A few cautions would regroup the field, however, Walker remained in control. Walker, at the young age of 15, drove to his first career dirt-track triumph. Buddy Sload Jr. (Glenmoore) finished a second and a half back in the runner-up spot. Justin Grim (Orefield) drove the #611 to a third place finish over Kara Clarke (Palm Beach Gardens FL), and Scott Wilkerson (Stewartsville MD).
Walker set fast time and won his heat race. Other qualifying race winners were Clark, Jeff Steenbergen (Wisconsin), Sload, and Reed Saloney.
Glick Fire Company and RACEceiver presented the 12th annual dirt nationals. INEX officials and competitors were very impressed with the 3/8 mile clay oval facility and have already expressed interest in next year.
Shawn Naftzinger (Auburn) won the 100-lap 6/8 Cylinder Enduro held on Saturday night. S. Naftzinger, the season opener winner back on May 11, concluded '08 with an impressive triumph behind the wheel of his Chevy Monte Carlo #6.
Naftzinger started his BDR career back in the early 90s. He competed in the Roadrunner division, where he captured three wins in '90 and '91. Later, Naftzinger ventured to the Penn National (PA) Speedway where he earned three Roadrunner feature wins in '95 and '96 (Penn's last year as an active speedway). S. Naftzinger contended in BDR's first ever enduro in 2004 and has been a regular fixture since that time.
Ray Cinqmars, a former Pro Stock racer at the Linda's Speedway, led the first trio of laps. Shon Elk headed the field for a pair of circuits before Cinqmars regained the spot on lap 6. Once again, Elk took top honors on the eighth lap, and Phil Levering became the third different early race pace setter on the ninth tour.
S. Naftzinger was on the move and guided his machine into the race lead on the thirteenth lap. '07 Roadrunner champion Tom Hablett was next in line to earn a crack at the top position. Hablett powered into the lead on lap 22 (ironically his car number) in his two-race old Nova. S. Naftzinger patiently followed from the runner-up spot and worked back into the front on lap 43. In a few circuits (lap 51) Hablett was involved in an accident and retired from the event.
S. Naftzinger set fast time in the race (22.561) and finished five and half seconds over the apparent second place car of Vince James (his machine failed post race tech). Therefore, S. Naftzinger finished on his own lap. Mike Naftzinger (Auburn) has enjoyed an impressive season aboard his Monte Carlo and finished in the runner-up spot. Jason Brown (Schuylkill Haven) concluded the Monte Carlo top three sweep with a third place finish. Chris Reichert (Orwigsburg) guided his Caprice-327 to a fourth place result. Jamie Naftzinger (New Ringgold) drove his Caprice-3 to the fifth position.
Chuck Dietzel (Pottsville), a former Street Stock racer back in the 90s, finished sixth ahead of earlier race leader Elk (Sinking Springs). Mike Reichert (New Ringgold) pitted about three-quarters of the way through and finished seven laps back in the eighth spot. Larry Carmen (Moore Twp) finished ninth ahead of June 15 winner Joey Zvorsky (Orwigsburg). Seventeen of the original thirty-five starters were alive at the finish.
The moment of truth has arrived for Chris Holland. The second generation competitor from Pine Grove won his first career BDR race in the 100-lap Four Cylinder Enduro. Holland finished seventh in BDR Roadrunner points this season, and has been a steady competitor in the Four Cylinder Enduro class. Holland throttled his #8c Pontiac Sunfire to the impressive season finale victory.
Tony Wetzel, the May 11 winner, drove his Mike Geiser tribute car #27x into the early race lead. Wetzel paced the field for 28 laps until his machine dropped from contention, relinquishing his lead. Paul Noll took command on lap 29 and relished his finest effort of the season. Holland, who started seventeenth, chased down the race leader. Holland gained control of the contest on the 46th lap.
Noll remained in the runner-up position until his #70 went up in smoke with 77 laps showing on the scoreboard. With twenty laps remaining, Holland enjoyed a full straightaway advantage over runner-up Joel Matter. At the two-to-go signal, Matter's car dropped from the pace, which allowed Holland to finish a lap on his own. Holland became the fifth different winner in five events held.
Lance Hoch (Topton), the August 17 winner, ran a safe race and powered to a second place finish. Previous race winner Jeremy Krauss (Kutztown) ended up in third. Despite the fact that he was unable to finish, Matter (Tower City) finished fourth. Matter set quick time of the event (22.995) on the 97th lap. Phil Levering (Parkerford), an enduro legend, rounded out the top five, after starting from tenth.
The racing school teacher Kevan Schaeffer (Orwigsburg) finished sixth ahead of Sam Creveling, who started 24th. Second year enduro racer Gary Grim (Fleetwood) finished eighth ahead of the son/father combination of Earl Eichert Jr. (Tower City) and Earl Eichert Sr. (Tower City).
Dave Dissinger, one of the BDR promoters, landed a ride in the little #13 Ford Festiva. Dave cruised around the speedway, never pitted, and finished two laps off the pace in the twelfth position.
When Chris Holland crossed the start-finish line, he entered his name in the BDR record books. The final checkered flag of the season occurred on Oct. 11, which is the latest in track history. Other than a Diamond Nationals event on October 1, 2006, the speedway has never operated in the month of October.
The 2008 season at Big Diamond Raceway has officially been completed. The tri-promotional team of Barry Bashore, Buddy Biever, and Dave Dissinger would like to thank all teams, drivers, sponsors, and fans for their support this season and we look forward to another exciting year of competition in 2009.
BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY – COMPLETE RESULTS – SATURDAY OCTOBER 11, 2008
INEX LEGENDS CAR PRO DIVISION FEATURE (30-LAPS): 1) #98-Tim Henry, 2) #769-Steve Nederostek, 3) #148-Jason Rochelle, 4)#94T-Tim Tomson, 5) #7-Geremy Sheaffer, 6) #5-Scott Houdeshell, 7) #89-Tim Bauer, 8) #78-Roy Danner Jr., 9) #11-Bob Sobieski, 10) #46-Pat McDermott, 11) #M1-Todd McCollum, 12) #12J-Clinton Penkauskas, 13) #3-Nathan Speten, 14) #77R-Frank Polimeda, 15) #29-Josh Morrow, 16) #6R-Rodney Adams.
INEX LEGENDS CAR MASTERS DIVISION FEATURE (30-LAPS): 1) #73-Dwight Pilgrim, 2) #27R-Tom Mayberry, 3) #21B-Eric Barth, 4) #99-Rodney Kistler, 5) #R3-Paul Rochelle, 6) #48-Randy Kissinger, 7) #769-Will Cagle, 8) #37-Brian Weitzel, 9) #799-Ricky Harring, 10) #Z-Jim Black, 11) #39-Harry Garber, 12) #7L-Andy Lupfer, 13) #21G-Bill Gardner, 14) #6-Keith Meyer, 15) #20-Frank Johnston, 16) #7-Jan Ingram, 17) #63-John Schirk, 18) #77-Randy Fetterolf, 19) #7c-Paul De Jong, 20) #52-Steve Beck, 21) #41s-Joseph Plunkett, 22) #399-Bob Weymouth, 23) #60-John Kerchner, 24) #5K-Brian Levan. DNS: #14W-Ed Wentz, #890-David Bauer, #94x-Butch Brough.
INEX LEGENDS CAR SEMI-PRO DIVISION FEATURE (30-LAPS): 1) #680-Bryce Walker, 2) #53JR-Buddy Sload Jr., 3) #611-Justin Grim, 4) #21-Kara Clarke, 5) #77W-Scott Wilkerson, 6) #8-Michael Kudlicki, 7) #37-Grant Greenfield, 8) #33-Drew Wakefield, 9) #M0-Paul McCollum, 10) #27-Chad Glatfelter, 11) #16JR-TJ Mayberry, 12) #14-Jason Chilton, 13) #20-Cullen Camasta, 14) #11-Luke Polzin, 15) #19-Drew Weisser, 16) #99-Alex Kempf, 17) #22-Reed Salony, 18) #17R-Mike Mayberry, 19) #79-Ed Trump, 20) #62-Jeff Steenbergen, 21) #53-Bill Diehl, 22) #4-Shane Glatfelter, 23) #13-Troy Speten, 24) #5M-Jeremy Meyer.
6/8 CYLINDER NUTTY BUDDY ENDURO (100-LAPS): 1) #6-Shawn Naftzinger, 2) #777-Mike Naftzinger, 3) #8-Jason Brown, 4) #327-Chris Reichert, 5) #3-Jamie Naftzinger, 6) #49-Chuck Dietzel, 7) #10-Shon Elk, 8) #63-Mike Reichert, 9) #57-Larry Carmen, 10) #1-Joey Zvorsky, 11) #9-Brian Buchinski, 12) #23-Jody Brensinger, 13) #86-Kevin Martin, 14) #888-Robert Staller Jr., 15) #302-Ralph Bankes Jr., 16) #39-Phil Levering, 17) #58-Doug Naftzinger, 18) #84-Ralph Bankes III, 19) #34-Angelo Spezialetti, 20) #349-Adam Dietzel, 21) #73-Aaron Bowman, 22) #102-TJ Fitzpatrick, 23) #911-Sammy Detweiler, 24) #94-Robert Bankes, 25) #98-Ray Cinqmars, 26) #22-Tom Hablett, 27) #33-Keith Owens, 28) #51-Brad Krause, 29) #36-Tyler Wallen, 30) #2-Ron Kriner, 31) #666-Chuck Detweiler, 32) #7-Mike Fiskaldo, 33) #6M-Mark Purcell, 34) #23B-Bee Luckenbill. DQ: #8J-Vince James.
4 CYLINDER NUTTY BUDDY ENDURO (100-LAPS): 1) #8c-Chris Holland, 2) #127x-Lance Hoch, 3) #11-Jeremy Krauss, 4) #90-Joel Matter, 5) #39-Phil Levering, 6) #44-Kevan Schaeffer, 7) #12c-Sam Cerveling, 8) #127-Gary Grim, 9) #72-Earl Eichert Jr., 10) #15-Earl Eichert Sr., 11) #384-George Schaeffer Jr., 12) #13-Dave Dissinger, 13) Steve Greiss, 14) #72x-Todd Morgan, 15) #7x-Randy Adams, 16) #88-Tyler Swingle, 17) #70-Paul Noll, 18) #56-Andrew Tobash, 19) #54-Jeff Sheetz, 20) #11x-Joe Marko Jr., 21) #77-James Foose Jr., 22) #27x-Tony Wetzel, 23) #17x-James White Jr., 24) #22-Erik Mitchell, 25) #24-Larry Spencer, 26) #85-Wayne Krauss.
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