KEITH HOFFMAN JOINS BROTHER, DOUG, AS BIG DIAMOND 2-TIME MOD WINNER
CRAIG WHITMOYER TOPS SPORTSMAN, HOLLAND IS RR WINNER
Minersville, PA – May 27, 2005 – Keith Hoffman of Whitehall, PA, found his way to another peak of a roller coaster season at Big Diamond Raceway on Friday night (9May 27) to capture his second win of the 2005 season as part of the PA State Police “Click It or Ticket” Night. Thus far this season Keith a seventh place finish and three finishes outside of the top 20, to go with his two wins.
Past Sportsman modified track champion, Craig Whitmoyer of Hamburg, PA, found his way back to the Hoover Chevrolet winner’s circle after a year and a half absence while Kevin Holland of Pine Grove, PA, captured his first roadrunner feature win of the year.
Keith Hoffman took the 25-lap modified feature win over his brother and current point leader Doug Hoffman (Allentown). Craig Von Dohren (Oley), Meme DeSantis (Temple), Ray Swinehart (Bechtelsville), Shawn Fitzpatrick (Pottsville), Duane Howard (Oley), Rick Laubach (Quakertown), Tracy Readinger (Oley) and Jason Andrews (Parryville). Heat winners were Keith Hoffman, Bobby Gunther Walsh (Allentown) and Sean Merkel (Gilbertsville) while Jason Andrews won the consolation.
Josh Biever (Landingville) led one lap before the events first yellow flew. On the restrt s they rored of turn four, Biever’s 83B broke in front of the entire field collecting fifteen of the 28 starters. This moved fifth starting Keith Hoffman into the lead and he never looked back. Craig Von Dohren took second from Bobby Gunther Walsh on lap three. Walsh lost the handle in traffic in turns one and two a lap later collecting six drivers including point race contenders Duane Howard and Doug Manmiller. Back under green Doug Hoffman moved by Meme DeSantis and Ray Swinehart to take third on lap four.
Von Dohren made a strong run at Keith Hoffman on the outside in turn three on lap six but the effort came up short and he fell into the clutches of Doug Hoffman. One lap later Doug completed the inside pass of Von Dohren for second. Doug made a few runs at the lead but in the late going Keith pulled away for a comfortable win.
The 2002 and 2003 Big Diamond sportsman track champion, Craig Whitmoyer took the Sportsman Modified 20 over invader Mike Lyons (Cranberry, NJ), Ray Woodall, Jr. (Pen Argyl), Cory Renninger (Llewellyn), Luke Wagner (Hershey), point leader Tom Brennan (Pottsville), Gary Wagner, Jr. (Womelsdorf), Brad Brightbill (Shillington), Lowell Snyder (Upper Black Eddy) and Greg Weiland (Pottsville).
Lowell Snyder (Upper Black Eddy) led first three laps of the Sportsman Modified 20-lap main only to see Cory Renninger (Llewellyn) make a turn four, inside pass off four to lead lap four. But Craig Whitmoyer, who started 10th, followed Renninger by Snyder and then made that same move on Renninger to take the lead one lap later and the win.
Mike Lyons started behind all the heat handicapped cars in the feature in 12th and slowly moved through the field, cracking the top five on lap 8. Lyons took second from Rrenninger on lap 15 but Whitmoyer was long gone. Rob Gibson spun in turn one of the final lap, putting Lyons on Whitmoyer’s tail and then repeated that feat on the restart. On both restarts Whitmoyer held his line and held on for the win.
The win earned Whitmoyer a guaranteed starting spot in the Hoover Chevrolet / GMC Performance Parts 50 on September 2. Whitmoyer joins Billy Moyer, Jr., who was absent this race night, as starters for the Hoover Chevy 50.
Elvin Brennan (Forestville) finished second trailed by Jason Sherman (Williamstown), point leader Kevin Beach (Llewellyn), and Ryan Olenick (Forestville).
Eric D. Pinkertown (the elder Eric in the family) was back in the 37 and he led the first seven laps of the Roadrunner 15-lap main. But Kevin Holland, who started 8th, was not to be denied as he took the lead on lap 8 and went on to win.
This Friday, June 3, at 8 pm is Craftsman Night as well as the 1980 Hall of Fame Night featuring the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds and Roadrunners. It is also 1980 Big Diamond Hall of Fame Night as track champions from that season, Billy Schinkel, Scott Haus and Curtis Troup, will be honored.
Then, on Tuesday, June 7, the new Race of Champions Dirt series will open their South Region tour for their big block modifieds at Big Diamond at 7:30 pm. Rules will allow the Big Diamond modifieds to rule their alcohol powered 358 modifieds against the gasoline powered big block modifieds for this event which culminates with a 75 lap championship feature.
This will be the first event for the Southern RoC Tour of 2005 but Bobby Varin of Sharon Springs, NY, who has two wins in two starts in RoC North Region action, will be part of the Big D field in the Ed Munger’s PMC 93. Also the roadrunners will run a non-point 15-lap feature which will permit the Selinsgrove legal roadrunners to challenge the Big Diamond regulars.
For information on big Diamond Raceway contact the speedway office at (570) 544-6434 or drop in on the track’s official internet site at www.bigdiamondraceway.com.
RACE RESULT SUMMARY - DATE: May 27, 2005
BUCKLE UP PA NIGHT – PA STATE POLICE “CLICK IT OR TICKET”
NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES MODIFIEDS - 25-LAP FEATURE - 1. 1 Keith Hoffman, Whitehall, PA ($2000), 2. 77 Doug Hoffman, Allentown,PA, 3. 70D Craig Von Dohren, Oley, PA, 4. 11 Meme DeSantis, Temple, PA, 5. 29 Ray Swinehart, Bechtelsville, PA, 6. 102 Shawn Fitzpatrick, Pottsville, PA, 7. 357 Duane Howard, Oley, PA, 8. 14 Rick Laubach, Quakertown, PA, 9. 2T Tracy Readinger. Oley, PA, 10. 21T Jason Andrews, Parryville, PA; 1. 88 Jeff Strunk; 12. 83B Josh Biever; 13. 11D Doug Manmiller; 14. 18 Sean Merkel; 15. 02 Greg Hummelhanz; 16. 87 Andy Burkhart; 17. 31 Chris Esposito; 18. 123 Roy Wiest; 19. 178 Neil Huber, 20. 79 Amanda Spotts; 21. W9 Colt Harris; 22. 6 Dale Roth; 23. 42 Jeff Sechrist; 24. 64W John Willman; 25. Sq1 Bobby Gunther Walsh; 26. 72 Jeff Ebersole; 27. 5 Paul Kline; 28. 85 Bobby Forsythe. Non-qualifiers: 808 Dennis Horvath, 505 Randy Mohn, 24H Justin Andrews.
Heat 1: 1, 83B, 357, 11D, 64W, 85, 2T, W9, 23, 178.
Heat 2; Sq1, 11, 77, 5, 88, 102, 72, 21T, 31, 505.
Heat 3; 118, 29, 70D, 14, 02, 6, 87, 79, 808, 42, 24H.
Consi: 21T, W9, 123, 79, 42, 178, 31, 808, 505, 24H.
NASCAR SPORTSMAN MODIFIEDS - 20-LAP FEATURE - 1. 99 Craig Whitmoyer, Hamburg, PA ($600); 2. 1M Mike Lyons, Cranberry, NJ; 3. 72 Ray Woodall, Jr., Pen Argyl, PA; 4. KT3 Cory Renninger, Llewellyn, PA; 5. 3 Luke Wagner, Grantville, PA; 6. 26 Tom Brennan, Pottsville, PA; 7. 47 Gary Wagner, Jr., Womelsdorf, PA; 8. 19 Brad Brightbill, Shillington, PA; 9. 10 Lowell Snyder, Upper Black Eddy, PA; 10. 145 Greg Weiland, Pottsville, PA; 11. 8 Brad Force; 12. 17R Kevin Nolf; 13. 19U Jordan Umbenhauer; 14. 93 Ryn Moyer; 15. 147 Louie Mitchalk; 16. 515 Larry Lippencott; 17. 35 Ebby Ridge; 18. 157 Andy Faysh, Jr., 19. 8JR Doug Hendricks; 20. 73 Darrel Herman; 21. 144 Don Miller; 22. 221 Rob Gibson; 23. 2 Rich Stankiewicz; 24. 95 Freddie Fisher. Non-qualifiers: 917 Jarrad Miller, 71 Chris James, 110 Bill Finneran, 30 Carl Felty, 3H Mark Herman, 58 Chris Eckert; 17T Ryan Grim; 25 Ray Deemer; 43 Joe Masiado; 59 Jason Kohler; 113 Jeff Sterner.
Heat 1: 99, 10, 144, 8, 26, 35, 221, 30, 17T, 157, 43, 3H.
Heat 2: 47, 8JR, 1M, KT3, 19, 2, 147, 58, 25, 71, 59, 93.
Heat 3: 72, 17R, 3, 73, 145, 19U, 95, 917, 515, 110, 113.
Consolation: 147, 157, 95, 221, 515, 93, 917, 71, 110, 30, 3H, 58, 17T, 25, 43, 59, 113.
NASCAR ROADRUNNERS - 15-LAP FEATURE - 1. 66 Kevin Holland, Pine Grove, PA ($100); 2. 555 Elvin Brennan, Forestville, PA; 3. 721 Jason Sherman, Williamstown, PA; 4. 17 Kevin Beach, Llewellyn, PA; 5. 550 Ryan Olenick, Forestville, PA; 6. 37 Eric D. Pinkerton; 7. 4 Jake Smulley; 8. 22 Tom Hablett; 9. 1 Kirby Schlappich; 10. 8 Pete Gettis; 11. 712 Jeremy Becker; 12 7T7 Andy Fayash, III; 13. 20 Corey Sechrist; 14. 93 Rob Pyle; 15. 11x Joe Hendricks; 16. 5 Dave Schultz; 17. 38 Butch Solt; 18. 8M Ken Eckert, Jr.
Heat 1: 11X, 37, 11, 555, 93, 8, 17, 4, 2.
Heat 2: 66, 550, 20, 38, 721, 7T7, 5, 712, 8M