JEFF STRUNK TAKES FIRST BIG DIAMOND NASCAR MODIFIED WIN OF ’05;
WEISS PREVENTS MOYER SWEEP IN SPORTSMAN TWINS, SHERMAN REPEATS IN RR
Minersville, PA – July 29, 2005 – It was old times again for Jeff Strunk of Bethel, PA as he powered away from the field in the Chad Sinon, BGP Racing #88 at Big Diamond Raceway on Friday night for his first NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified win of the year at the track and his 25th career Modified win. It was Strunk’s second win of the year at Big Diamond as he also captured the Race of Champions Big Block Modified 75 early last month.
Kyle Weiss of Hamburg, PA capitalized on his first approved start of the year with the Sportsman Modifieds by taking the opening race of the Twin-15s with a late pass of Billy Moyer, PA of Pine Grove, PA. But Moyer battled to the front again in the second 15 and held on for his second win of the year. Jason Sherman of Williamstown, PA repeated an early season feat to take his second roadrunner feature win.
In the team’s first night with a Chevy replacing the Ford under the hood, Jeff Strunk powered the 88 from tenth starting spot to second by turn three on the opening lap of the Modified 25-lap main event with a jaw-dropping charge on the far outside of the track. One lap later he went by Bobby Gunther Walsh (Allentown) for the lead while the other “top dogs” struggled through the field. Duane Howard (Oley) came from the rear of the field after a pit stop on lap two to finish second followed by Ray Swinehart (Bechtelsville), Doug Manmiller (Wyomissing), Paul Kline (Reading), Keith Hoffman (Whitehall), Shawn Fitzpatrick (Pottsville), Jeff Sechrist (Womelsdorf), Sean Merkel (Gilbertsville) and Dave Dissinger (Mohrsville).
The Sportsman Modifieds went in two 15-lap features with Kyle Weiss of Hamburg, PA wasting little time by passing leader Billy Moyer, Jr. on lap 13 of the first main. Moyer took the lead on lap two from initial leader Ray Deemer, Jr. (Phillipsburg, NJ). Weiss took the win over Moyer, Doug Hendricks (Auburn), Tom Brennan (Pottsville) and Craig Whitmoyer (Hamburg), Gary Wagner, Jr. (Womelsdorf), Greg Weiland (Port Carbon), Brad Brightbill (Shillington), Brad Force (Sellersville), and Larry Lippencott (Riegelsville).
In the second Sportsman 15-lapper, the top twelve finishers from the first main were re-handicapped with Kyle Weiss going twelfth. Billy Moyer, Jr. led wire-to-wire this time to take his second win of the year over rookie Jarrad Miller (Northampton), Brad Brightbill, Tom Brennan, Larry Lippencott, Gary Wagner, Jr., Ryan Moyer (Schuylkill Haven), Greg Weiland, Brad Force and Kyle Weiss.
Jeremy Becker (Forestville) led the first seven laps of the Roadrunner 15-lap feature. Joe Hendricks (Auburn) took the lead on lap 8 but, with 11 laps complete, he and second place Dave Miller (Pine Grove) made contact with Hendricks spinning and both cars being sent to restart at the rear. That put Jason Sherman on top and he went on to his second win of the year. Kevin Holland (Pine Grove) finished second followed by Elvin Brennan (Forestville), point leader Kevin Beach (Llewellyn) and Dave Schultz (Forestville).
In the Modified main, Bobby Gunther Walsh put the Square One on top at the drop of the green but had to be shocked to find Jeff Strunk lined-up to his outside during pace laps following a lap 2 yellow. That lap two yellow was caused as the field behind the leaders bottled up on the front stretch. When all was said and done Sean Merkel, Meme DeSantis, Doug Hoffman, Amanda Spotts, Don Keefer, Dale Roth and Dave Dissinger, who went deep through the infield, were listed as involved while Duane Howard, Andy Burkhart, Shawn Fitzpatrick and Tommy Sheetz, Jr. pitted due to contact. All eyes were on the pits bas the track was cleared and the field realigned as point leaders Duane Howard and Doug Hoffman. Howard rejoined the field promptly but Hoffman barely made it back as the field was in turns three and four looking for the restart green.
Strunk blasted around the outside of Walsh in turn two to take command while Doug Manmiller moved to second on lap six and Ray Swinehart to third on lap seven. Paul Kline moved by Walsh for fourth but just briefly as Duane Howard was flying and got by both to take fourth on lap seven as well. Howard went past Swinehart using the outside on lap nine and on lap ten he charged by Manmiller with his sights now only on the leader, Howard.
Hoffman was charging just as hard through the field a few cars behind Howard. Doug overtook Jeff Sechrist for seventh on lap six and then went by Keith Hoffman for sixth on lap 10. A lap 12 restart saw Doug make a huge move to go from sixth to third, right on Howard’s tail.
The final 14 laps went caution free. While Howard stayed right with Strunk for several laps, looking like he was preparing for a run for the lead, Hoffman was comfortably third but not able to run with Strunk and Howard. Strunk really pushed the buttons on the Sinon 88 in the closing laps to pull away and proved he was the man tonight.
Hoffman suddenly slowed on lap 22 with a tire going down on the Eisenhard/Klinger 77. He rode it out until Strunk lapped him on lap 24 and he pitted. Hoffman ended up 15th on the final summary putting Howard in command of the 2005 Modified point standings.
Ray Deemer, Jr. got away ahead of Don Miller (Northampton) at the start of the first Sportsman Modified 15-lap feature but Billy Moyer, Jr., who started fifth, took second from Miller on the opening lap. Moyer passed Deemer on the outside on turn two to take the lead on the second lap. Tom Brennan was coming through the field after starting tenth and moved past Deemer for second on lap six but now Kyle Weiss, who started 15th, was on his tail, taking third on lap six, followed by Doug Hendricks, Craig Whitmoyer and Gary Wagner, Jr.
Weiss pointed his 21K to the inside to finally overtake Tom Brennan on lap 12. He repeated that same move to go but Moyer in turn two to lead lap 13. Doug Hendricks was also on the move late but ran out of time as the checkered flag just after he took third from Brennan on the final lap.
In the second 15, which saw the top 12 re-handicapped, had Billy Moyer, Jr. and Don Miller’s brother, Jarrad Miller, starting second after pole sitter, Ray Deemer, Jr. elected to start at the rear with concern over his 25. Moyer led Miller for all but three laps in the middle of the 15-lappper when Doug Hendricks, who started sixth, ran third, But Hendricks was forced pit side on lap ten with mechanical problems before he could challenge Moyer. There were only two cautions in the entire event and none after lap six. Brad Brightbill moved past Larry Lippencott for third on lap ten but could not overtake Miller before the finish.
This Tuesday, August 2, is an Open Practice at Big Diamond Raceway at 7:15 with any drivers, with or without track or NASCAR memberships, from any division able to get some practice time for a pit admission fee of $20. Fans will be admitted free to the spectator area.
Next Friday, August 5, will see the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds and Roadrunners on the card. The Sportsman will run their 20-lap feature, rain-delayed from the Stevenson Memorial on July 1, in addition to their full card. The Roadrunners will be running in The Station House of Llewellyn, 4 Crazy-8’s… 4 eight lap features!
The Race of Champions Modifieds and Sportsman come to Big Diamond raceway on August 9 under the direction of RoC’s Andy Harpell. The Big Block Modifieds will compete with the Big Diamond 358 Modifieds in the 75-lap feature paying $6,000 to win. Likewise the Big Diamond Sportsman will run against the best from PA, NJ and NY in a 40-lapper paying $1000 to win. The roadrunners will round out the card in a non-point feature. Racing starts at 7:30.
There is one change. The RoC race WILL NOT carry a Wednesday, Aug. 10, rain date as originally planned.
For more information on Big Diamond Raceway, go to www.bigdiamondraceway.com or call (570) 544-6434. For info on the race of Champions Dirt Series go to www.rocdirt.com.
BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY, Minersville, PA - RACE RESULTS - JULY 29, 2005
NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES MODIFIEDS - 25-LAP FEATURE -$2000 to Win – 1. 88 Jeff Strunk, Bethel, PA; 2. 357 Duane Howard, Oley, PA; 3. 29 Ray Swinehart, Bechtelsville, PA; 4. 11D Doug Manmiller, Wyomissing, PA; 5. 5 Paul Kline, Reading, PA; 6. 1 Keith Hoffman, Whitehall, PA; 7. 102 Shawn Fitzpatrick, Pottsville, PA; 8. 42 Jeff Sechrist, Womelsdorf, PA; 9. 118 Sean Merkel, Gilbertsville, PA; 10. 123 Dave Dissinger, Mohrsville, PA; 11. 7X Tommy Sheetz, Jr.; 12. 21T Jason Andrews, 13. W9 Colt Harris; 14. 79 Amanda Spotts; 15. 77 Doug Hoffman; 16. Sq1 Bobby Gunther Walsh; 17. 64W John Willman; 18. 83B Josh Biever; 19. 87 Andy Burkhart; 20. 6 Dale Roth; 21. 15 Dale Hartz; 22. 24H Justin Andrews, 23. 14 Rick Laubach; 24. 11 Meme DeSantis; 25. 99K Don Keefer; 26. 72 Jeff Ebersole.
Heat 1: 357, 87, 24H, 42, 88, 102, W9, 15, 6.
Heat 2: 29, Sq1, 77, 14, 11, 83B, 118, 123, 99K.
Heat 3: 1. 11D, 21T, 5, 7X, 64W, 79, 72.
NASCAR SPORTSMAN MODIFIED TWIN-15’S
1ST 15-LAP FEATURE - $450 to Win - 1. 21K Kyle Weiss, Hamburg, PA; 2. 17 Billy Moyer, Jr., Pine Grove, PA; 3. 8JR Doug Hendricks, Auburn, PA; 4. 26 Tom Brennan, Pottsville, PA; 5. 99 Craig Whitmoyer, Hamburg, PA; 6. 47 Gary Wagner, Jr., Womelsdorf, PA; 7. 145 Greg Weiland, Port Carbon, PA; 8. 19 Brad Brightbill, Shillington, PA; 9. 8 Brad Force, Sellersville, PA; 10. 515 Larry Lippencott, Riegelsville, PA; 11. 917 Jarrad Miller; 12. 25; Ray Deemer, Jr.; 13. 72 Ray Woodall, Jr.; 14. 64 Andy Miller; 15. 10 Lowell Snyder; 16. 93 Ryan Moyer; 17. 712 Kevin Beach; 18. 144 Don Miller; 19. 147 Louie Mitchalk; 20. 73 Darrell Herman; 21. 19U Jordan Umbenhauer; 22. 2 Rich Stankiewicz; 23. 43 Ray Masiado; 24. 2T Mike Taylor; 25. 221 Rob Gibson; 26. KT3 Cory Renninger.
2ND 15-LAP FEATURE - $450 to win - 1. 17 Billy Moyer, Jr., 2. 917 Jarrad Miller, Northampton, PA; 3. 19 Brad Brightbill; 4. 26 Tom Brennan; 5. 515 Larry Lippencott; 6. 47 Gary Wagner, Jr.; 7. 93 Ryan Moyer, Schuylkill Haven, PA; 8. 145 Greg Weiland; 9. 8 Brad Force; 10. 21K Kyle Weiss; 11. 19U Umbenhauer; 12. 144 D. Miller; 13. 72 Woodall; 14. 147 Mitchalk; 15. KT3 Renninger; 16. 64 A. Miller; 17. 59 Jason Kohler; 18. 10 Snyder; 19. 95 Freddie Fisher; 20. 43 Masiado; 21. 73 Herman; 22. 8JR Hendricks; 23. 712 Beach; 24. 35 Deemer; 25. 99 Whitmoyer; 26. 221 Gibson. Scratched: 2 Stankiewicz, 2T Taylor.
Heat 1: 147, 26, 99, 64, 43, 73, 17R Kevin Nolf, 13 James Norris, 113 Jeff Sterner, 19U.
Heat 2: 21K, 17, 19, 25, 917, 27M Ken Eckert, Jr., 515, 17T Ryan Grim, 95, 35 Ebby Ridge.
Heat 3: 93, 47, 144, 8, 712, 2T, 59, 157 Andy Fayash, Jr., 3 Luke Wagner, 39B Barry Lippencott.
Heat 4: 221, 2, 8JR, 10, KT3, 71 Chris James, 72, 145, 22N Ray Gara.
Consi 1: 515, 73, 19U, 95, 35, 17T, 13, 27M, 113, 17R.
Consi 2: 2T, 72, 145, 59, 22N, 71, 157, 3, 29B.
NASCAR ROADRUNNERS - 15-LAP FEATURE - $100 to win - 1. 721 Jason Sherman, Williamstown, PA; 2. 66 Kevin Holland, Pine Grove, PA; 3. 555 Elvin Brennan, Forestville, PA; 4. 17 Kevin Beach, Llewellyn, PA; 5. 5 Dave Schultz, Forestville, PA; 6. 550 Ryan Olenick; 7. 8S Butch Solt; 8. 712 Jeremy Becker; 9. 1 Dave Miller, 10. 4 Jake Smulley; 11. 22 Tom Hablett, 12, 20 Corey Sechrist; 13. 11X Joe Hendricks; 14. 37 Eric Pinkerton; 15. 377 Fran Purcell, Jr.; 16. 7T7 Andy Fayash, III.
Heat 1: 66, 20, 8, 17, 22, 377, 5, 7T7.
Heat 2: 37, 721, 11x, 550, 555, 4, 1, 712.