VON DOHREN TAKES 2ND BIG DIAMOND DODGE NIGHT MODIFIED WIN;
(HAMILTON REPEATS IN SPORTSMAN MODIFIEDS, SHAPPELL TOPS ROADRUNNERS)
Minersville, PA – June 10, 2005 – Craig Von Dohren of Oley, PA powered the Devine Transport 70D to his second win of the season at Big Diamond Raceway in NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified action as part of Friday’s DODGE Night. Jason Hamilton of Erwinna, PA returned to capture the 17-lap Sportsman Modified feature shortened by time limit while Marty Shappell of Pottsville, PA topped the Roadrunner 15.
Craig Von Dohren started eleventh and took the lead from early race leader Bobby Gunther Walsh (Allentown, PA) on lap 5. Walsh started second out overtook pole sitter Dale Roth (Newmanstown) on the backstretch on lap one. Von Dohren got by Roth on lap three with Josh Biever (Landingville) and Meme DeSantis (Temple) following. One lap later Biever had problems with DeSantis making contact sending both to the pits.
After Von Dohren took charge, he was pressured through lap 12 by Jeff Strunk (Bethel, PA). Doug Hoffman (Allentown, PA) battled with Doug Manmiller (Wyomissing, PA) for third until they made contact on lap 8 with Hoffman gaining control of the spot and Manmiller dropping to ninth as he fought to collect his 11D. Hoffman then focused on Strunk and gained the second spot on lap 13.
Hoffman challenged Von Dohren but Craig held on for the victory. Hoffman did finish second to retain the track point lead while Duane Howard (Oley, PA) caught Strunk in the closing laps to finish third and retained his position as the track’s high man in points in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Division I national standings. Strunk finished fourth followed by Ray Swinehart (Bechtelsville, PA), Doug Manmiller (Wyomissing, PA), Shawn Fitzpatrick (Pottsville, PA), Jeff Sechrist (Wernersville, PA), Keith Hoffman (Whitehall, PA) in his new ride, the Fran Purcell 6SR, and Tracy Readinger (Oley, PA).
Qualifying heat winners were Dale Roth, Bobby Gunther Walsh and Meme DeSantis while John Willman (Birdsboro, PA) captured the consolation.
Jason Hamilton started 12th in the Sportsman Modified feature and threaded his way through the field after going to the rear after getting caught up in an eleven car tangle on the front stretch on lap two. Rookie Chris James (Mohrsville, PA) led the first four laps over another rookie, Jarrad Miller (Northampton, PA) but Doug Hendricks (Auburn, PA) who started sixth was strong. He went by Miller on lap four and James on lap five to take the lead. Hendricks looked like a sure winner leading circuits five through fifteen. His chances improved when the 30-minute time limit was reached during a caution with 15 laps in the books and word came down that the race would go green-white-checkered to end on lap 17.
Hamilton was fourth with Miller and Jordan Umbenhauer (Richland, PA) between he and the leader but when the green flag flew he took third on the backstretch and blew by Miller and Hendricks in turns three and four to take command. Hamilton took win number two over Hendricks, Umbenhauer, Craig Whitmoyer (Hamburg, PA), Jarrad Miller, Greg Weiland (Pottsville, PA), Larry Lippencott (Riegelsville, PA), Kevin Nolf (Nazareth, PA), Luke Wagner (Hershey, PA) and Louie Mitchalk (Summit Hill, PA).
Heat winners were Jarrad Miller, Ryan Moyer (Schuylkill Haven), Doug Hendricks and Chris James while Larry Lippencott and Andy Miller (Schuylkill haven, PA) won the 8-lap consolations.
Marty Shappell went wire-to-wire to win the roadrunner feature over Joe Hendricks (Auburn, PA), Kevin Holland (Pine Grove, PA), Kirby Schlappich (Temple, PA) and Butch Solt (Lehighton, PA). Shappell was first pressured by Kirby Schlappich but on lap six Tom Hablett (Schuylkill Haven, PA) took second looking for his first point race win after winning the Big Diamond open show on Tuesday. But Hablett faltered and Schlappich regained the spot on lap eight. Joe Hendricks took second from Schlappich on lap eleven but Shappell held on to win.
Roadrunner heat winners with the 22-car field were Hendricks and Schlappich.
Racing returns to Big Diamond for a midweek, open practice session on Wednesday night, June 15 at 7:15 pm. The practice is open to all drivers and all divisions with no membership required. Pit admission is $20 while there is no charge for admission to the spectator area.
Then on Friday, June 17, the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds and Roadrunners return to action along with Excel’s 600cc Modifieds. Racing starts at 8 PM. The evening of speed is also Craftsman Night.
RACE RESULTS - DATE: JUNE 10, 2005
BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY, Minersville (Forestville), PA
NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES MODIFIEDS - 25-LAP FEATURE - 1. 70D Craig Von Dohren ($2000), 2. 77 Doug Hoffman, 3. 357 Duane Howard, 4. 88 Jeff Strunk, 5. 29 Ray Swinehart, 6. 11D Doug Manmiller, 7. 102 Shawn Fitzpatrick, 8. 42 Jeff Sechrist, 9. 6SR Keith Hoffman, 10. 2T Tracy Readinger, 11. 118 Sean Merkel, 12. 17Ryan Grim, 13. W9 Colt Harris, 14. 21T Jason Andrews, 15. 71s Sam Schaeffer, 16. 64w John Willman, 17. 31 Chris Esposito, 18. 123 Roy Wiest, 19. 178 Neil Huber, 20. 24H Justin Andrews, 21. 7X Tommy Sheetz, Jr., 22. Sq1 Bobby Gunther Walsh, 23. 6 Dale Roth, 24. 87 Andy Burkhart, 25. 11 Meme DeSantis, 26. 83B Josh Biever, 27. 5 Paul Kline, 28. 14 Rick Laubach. Non-Qualifiers: 79 Amanda Spotts, 808 Dennis Horvath, 72 Jeff Ebersole,
HEAT 1: 6, 29, 14, 11D, 5, 123, 21T, W9, 31, 79.
HEAT 2: SQ1, 7X, 88, 83B, 6SR, 357, 2T, 64W, 17, 178.
HEAT 3: 11, 70D, 87, 102, 77, 42, 71S, 24H, 72, 118, 808.
CONSOLATION: 64W, 17, W9, 118, 178, 31, 24H, 808, 72, 79.
NASCAR SPORTSMAN MODIFIEDS - 17-LAP FEATURE - 1. 15 Jason Hamilton ($600), 2. 8JR Doug Hendricks, 3. 19U Jordan Umbenhauer, 4. 99 Craig Whitmoyer, 5. 917 Jarrad Miller, 6. 145 Greg Weiland, 7. 515 Larry Lippencott, 8. 17R Kevin Nolf, 9. 3 Luke Wagner, 10. 147 Louie Mitchalk, 11. 8 Brad Force, 12. 93 Ryan Moyer, 13. 2 Rich Stankiewicz, 14. 47 Gary Wagner, 15. 221 Rob Gibson, 16. 71 Chris James, 17. 25 Ray Deemer, 18. 59 Jason Kohler, 19. 43 Ray Masiado, 20. 64 Andy Miller, 21. 26 Tom Brennan, 22. KT3 Cory Renninger, 23. 110 Bill Finneran, 24. 39 Tom Cremer, 25. 58 Chris Eckert, 26, 72 Ray Woodall, Jr (finished 7th but dropped to last, light after race). Scratches: 157 Andy Fayash and 95 Fred Fisher. Non-Qualifiers: 72 Woodall (in as alternate), 39 Cremer (in as alternate), 35 Ebby Ridge, 144 Don Miller, 17 Billy Moyer, Jr., 73 Darryl Herman, 61 John Leindecker, 10 Lowell Snyder, 30 Carl Felty.
Heat 1: 917, 221, 2, 47, 26, 515, 17, 95, 30.
Heat 2: 93, 15, 58, 25, 43, 61, 35, 17R, 72.
Heat 3: 8JR, 157, 147, KT3, 110, 64, 39, 144, 10.
Heat 4: 71, 99, 19U, 3, 59, 8, 147, 73.
Consi 1: 515, 95, 17R, 72, 35, 17, 61, 30.
Consi 2: 64, 8, 147, 39, 144, 73, 10..
NASCAR ROADRUNNERS - 15-LAP FEATURE - 1. 117 Marty Shappell ($200), 2. 11X Joe Hendricks, 3. 66 Kevin Holland, 4. 11 Kirby Schlappich, 5. 8S Butch Solt, 6. 17 Kevin Beach, 7. 555 Elvin Brennan, 8. 22 Tom Hablett, 9. 37 Eric D. Pinkerton, 10. 712 Jeremy Becker, 11. 20 Corey Sechrist, 12. 721 Jason Sherman, 13. 4 Jake Smulley, 14. 5 Dave Schultz, 15. 39 Phil Levering, 16. 93 Rob Pyle, 17. Big1 Jason Generelli, 18. 8M Ken Eckert, Jr., 19. 7T7 Andy Fayash III, 20. 8 Pete Gettis, 21. 1 Charlie Eckert, Jr., 22. 550 Ryan Olenick.
Heat 1: 11, 4, 117, 20, 39, 550, 721, 8s, 8, Big1, 8m. Heat 2: 11x, 555, 37, 5, 66, 712, 22, 93, 7T7, 17, 1.