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ALAN JOHNSON TAKES ADVANCE AUTO PARTS SUPER DIRT 100 AT BIG DIAMOND; ALL TIME LEADING DIRT MODIFIED WINNER RAISES CAREER TOTAL TO 303




Alan Johnson of Phelps, NY scored his fourth Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series win of the year at Big Diamond Raceway in Minersville, PA on Wednesday night (June 18). Johnson waited until lap 87 of the 100-lap event to take the lead from Gary Tomkins of Clifton Springs, NY and capture the $6,000 top prize.

Tomkins held on to finish second after dominating the event. Current Big Diamond NASCAR Modified point leader Doug Hoffman of Allentown finished second followed by Billy Pauch of Frenchtown, NJ, Brett Hearn of Sussex, NJ, Tim Fuller of Edwards, NY, defending Big Diamond NASCAR Dodge Modified champion Keith Hoffman of Whitehall, Craig Von Dohren of Barto, Tim McCreadie of Watertown, NY and Frank Cozze of Wind Gap, PA.

Alan Johnson started fifth in the 100-lapper, but fell to eighth at the completion of one lap while Tomkins grabbed the early lead from his pole starting position in his Honeoye Auto Parts 84. Steve Paine (Waterloo, NY) held second for two laps until Keith Hoffman powered his Bashore Trucking 5K into second. The events first yellow flew with 10 laps complete and on the restart Hoffman used the outside groove to take the lead coming off turn two. A yellow followed one lap later, under which Billy Decker (Unadilla, NY) and Jimmy Horton (Neshanic Station, NJ) pitted out of fourth and fifth in the running order moving Frank Cozze into fourth. Cozze moved by Paine for third on the restart with Johnson moving back up to fourth one lap later.

On lap 20, Tomkins dove to the inside of the Hoffman and ran most of the lap wide-by-side with the leader until he regained the edge coming off turn four. The top five ran unchanged until Doug Hoffman dropped Steve Paine out of the top five as the Lincoln Auto Body 5 began to move up. Paine now fell into a war for sixth with Brett Hearn, Billy Pauch, Craig Von Dohren and Vic Coffey, who started 11th, 12th, 22nd and 4th respectively.

The racing was tight but there was little change until Von Dohren secured sixth and began followed Johnson by Doug Hoffman on lap 40. Doug regained fifth on lap 43 but just ahead Johnson was on the move. Johnson reeled in and passed Frank Cozze for third on lap 52. While Johnson closed in on Keith Hoffman for second, Keith's brother Doug overtook Cozze and fought to stay with Johnson.

Tomkins drew away to a half straight-away lead by the time Johnson took the second spot in the Doughboy Racing 1 on lap 64 in a cluster of lapped cars. The event's final yellow flew on lap 65 when Billy Decker spun his Mirabito Fuel after coming back from the rear on lap 12 to seventh. The restart saw Tomkins again pull away to a big lead leaving Johnson, Doug Hoffman, Billy Pauch and Brett Hearn in the dust. But as they reached lap 75, Johnson began to close the margin and by lap 82 his was on the leaders rear bumper. Johnson charges up beside Tomkins on the outside as the completed lap 86 and needed the full lap until he was able to secure the lead on lap 87.

A total of 47 of the 48 cars on hand attempted laps in time trials with Jimmy Horton setting the fast time of the night, stopping the clocks at 17.571 seconds, to edge Brett Hearn and his lap of 17.587. Doug Hoffman, Frank Cozze, Billy Pauch, Billy Decker and Gary Tomkins were qualifying heat winners. Jerry Higbie (Slate Hill, NY) and Tim McCreadie were the consolation winners.

On Friday, June 20, it would seem that things would get back to normal with a solid weekly card of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds, ShorTrack Series Sportsman Modifieds and Roadrunners, but that is not the case. The spectators, or more appropriately the young fans, get a chance to take the spotlight. The kids will come down on the front stretch with their big wheels and compete in the 1st Big Wheel Races ever at Big Diamond. Age groups will be 4 and under, 5 to 7, and 8 and over. The big wheels may not be modified but may be decorated, numbered or lettered but the standard wheels and pedal configuration may not be modified. Also the big wheels must be ridden in the normal fashion. Gates will open at 6 PM, with racing at 8 o'clock. The Big Wheel Races will take place at intermission.

For information on Big Diamond Raceway contact the track at (570) 544-6434 or check the track's website, www.bigdiamondraceway.com.

FEATURE FINISH: Alan Johnson, Gary Tomkins, Doug Hoffman, Billy Pauch, Brett Hearn, Tim Fuller, Keith Hoffman, Craig VonDohren, Tim McCreadie, Frank Cozze, Bobby Varin, Vic Coffey, Stave Paine, Kenny Tremont, Matt Sheppard, Pat Ward, Kyle Strickler, Billy Decker, Steve Hulziser, Doug Manmiller, Shawn Reimert, Chuck Bower, Ray Swinehart, Chuck Bower, Ray Swinehart, Kevin Hartnett, Jeff Strunk, Butch Tittle, Jerry Higbie, Kenny Brightbill, Rick Schaffer, Duane Howard, Jimmy Horton, Rich Laubach. Details follow: