DOUG HOFFMAN TAKES $10,000 IN BIG DIAMOND COAL CRACKER 100
Minersville, PA – September 5, 2004 – Doug Hoffman of Allentown piloted Dennis Eisenhard’s B&I Speed Supply/Kerry Hertzog Auto Sales/Heritage Ford-Kia TEO #77 to victory in the 25th annual Coal Cracker Nationals for Modifieds at Big Diamond Raceway on Sunday night. Hoffman guided the H&G Ford powered car to a 2.46 second win over Duane Howard of Reading in the Glenn Hyneman/Keystone Racing/Big Spring Car Wash DirtWheels #126.
The $10,100 win was the richest of his nine wins at Big Diamond this season. It completed a year in which Doug successfully defended his NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified championship at Big Diamond Raceway and positioned himself for NASCAR regional championship and national top three honors.
With beautiful, partly cloudy weather forecasted and reported throughout the day, somehow a light list hung over Big Diamond much of the day even though the weather bureau insisted it was not raining. The start of the race was delayed 45 minutes as the drivers felt the mist was too heavy resulting in collection of moisture on theor face shields. The track was prepared and finally the light drizzle subsided and they went racing.
By the luck of the draw Doug Hoffman started fourth in the 32-car Coal Cracker 100 field. Rick Laubach (Richlandtown) started on the pole in the Dick Biever TEO 14 and led the opening two laps before Hoffman took charge. Craig Von Dohren (Oley), Rick Schaffer (Woxall), Ray Swinehart (Bechtelsville) and Kyle Weiss (Hamburg), who started fifth, sixth, seventh and eleventh respectively, quick moved in on Laubach to battle for top five positions with Schaffer leading the way.
Brian Weaver (Windsor, NY) caused the first yellow when his Randy Decker 9R came to a stop in turn four with three laps in the books. Hoffman continued to lead on the restart. Laubach, recovering for leg injuries sustained in a highway accident on Thursday, held second but Kyle Weiss was on the move. He moved his Brickle’s Racing Collectibles DirtWheels #21Kpast Schaffer for third on lap 6. Friday’s Big Diamond winner, Sean Merkel (Gilbertsville) spun on lap 8 causing a yellow and Ray Swinehart got by Weiss on thev restart with the leader’s brother. Keith Hoffman (Whitehall) getting fifth after starting fifteenth. The 21T of Jason Andrews (Parryville) and the 114 of Billy Pauch (Frenchtown, NJ) broke in two separate incidents a lap later for another yellow.
On lap 10 Keith Hoffman moved past Weiss and Laubach to take third and then dropped Swinehart to third a lap later, setting up a classic battle between the brothers that have accounted for the most recent five point championships at Big Diamond. Duane Howard returned to his “favorite race track” after an extended absence to race regularly only on Saturdays, and found things to his liking moving to fourth on lap 14 following the race’s fourth yellow for a tangle between Meme DeSantis (Temple) and Mike Gular (Harleysville). Doug Manmiller (Wyomissing) came from his 16th starting spot to knock Laubach out of the top five on lap 18 following a Danny Erb spin.
The top five remained Doug Hoffman, Keith Hoffman, Swinehart, Howard and Manmiller until lap 27when Manmiller overtook Howard. Battling leg fatigue and pain, Rick Laubach battle back and, following a lap 32 spin by Jimmy Horton (Neshanic Station, NJ) in the Hansell 357, he overtook Howard for fifth. Up front each restart saw Keith Hoffman make a charge at Doug for the lead but each time a lap later he would fall behind the leader.
The race went caution free until lap 43 and the leaders began lapping the tail-enders on lap 40. Craig Whitmoyer (Hamburg) spun with 43 complete and Manmiller and Howard took advantage on the restart to get third and fourth from Swinehart as Laubach began having trouble, dropping from the top ten. Tom Umbenhauer (Richland) had his 19U break on lap 46 causing another yellow. Swinehart was able to get past Howard on that restart.
With 48 complete a series of three yellows occurred. First Rick Laubach and Mike Gular got together on the frontstretch, then Billy Pauch, Jr. had the Rich Scagliotta #8 fail on him and finally Ray Swinehart came to a stop on the backstretch with a fuel starved motor in spite of five gallons of fuel remaining in the tank. With the series of yellows, ragged restarts with the lapped cars in the field and the proximity to the scheduled 50-lap mid-point red, track officials elected to take the break on lap 48 with the top ten reading Doug Hoffman, Keith Hoffman, Doug Manmiller, Duane Howard, Craig Von Dohren, Kyle Weiss, Rick Schaffer, Jeff Strunk (Bethel), Keith Brightbill (Mohnton) and aul Kline (Reading).
The second half of the race saw lapped cars relegated to the rear following each restart as discussed in the pre-race driver’s meeting rather than holding their spots in the field in the first half.
The Hoffman war continued on the restart but again Doug secured the spot. On lap 55, Ray Swinehart, who restarted on lap 49 at the rear, tangled with Mike Gular and Sean Merkel to yield the second half’s first yellow. Here was little change up front until lap 56 when Manmiller ducked his GMI First/Classic Harley-Davidson Bicknell #OO under Keith Hoffman for second. For ten laps those two waged a tooth and nail battle for second until Keith Hoffman regained the spot on lap 66, just before a yellow for the crippled 20 of Jack Hartnett (Telford).
While the top five remained stable, Jeff Strunk started his move up through the field to sixth behind Von Dohren and ahead of Schaffer on lap 71.The leaders began lapping cars on lap 71 and the racing became even more intense but nothing changed until lap 88 when the yellow flew for second place Keith Hoffman as his Johnny Rae/Fanelli Window Pros/Cocino Food Service Systems TEO #1 developed a flat right rear and stopped.
On the restart Strunk made a big outside change with the BGP/Chad Sinon Bicknell #88 and overtook Von Dohren for second. Manmiller made a charge for the lead but Duane Howard battled to his inside and Duane took second on lap 91. By now Hoffman was just far enough ahead that Howard could not mount a challenge by the time he finally shook Manmiller. There were no further yellows to help and Doug Hoffman took his third Coal Cracker Nationals win and his 31st career Big Diamond victory. Duane Howard ran strong in his first appearance at Big Diamond of the year to take the $4000 second prize followed by Doug Manmiller, Jeff Strunk, Craig Von Dohren in Bill Devine’s Devine Transport Bicknell #70D, Kyle Weiss, Rick Schaffer in the Fran’s Garage Troyer 73, rookie Jason Hamilton (Erwinna) in his own TEO #15J, Keith Hoffman, Mike Gular in the Rudy Gular THP Properties Bicknell, Keith Brightbill in the Rod Britenstein DirtWheels #14B, Paul Kline in the Jennifer Kline TEO #5, Jimmy Reppert, Jr. (Hamburg) in the JR Motorsports Troyer #7JR, Sean Merkel in his Merkel Rebar #118 and Dale Hartz (Hamburg) in the Don Hartz Troyer #15.
Heat winner’s in the 60-car field were Doug Hoffman, Craig Von Dohren, Rick Laubach, Meme DeSantis and Mike Gular. Consolation winners were Billy Pauch, Bruce Williams (Girardville) and Jimmy Horton. The final two qualifying spots went to John Willman (Birdsboro) and Jason Hamilton while Chuck McKee (Middletown, NY) was the odd man out as the last alternate with the Don Keefer Troyer 99K. Billy Pauch, Jr. had problems with his BRB Racing 15X prior to the first heat and got into a skirmish with the Fran Purcell 6JR in qualifying but started the 100, as the highest season point man on the non-qualifiers’ list, in Rich Scagliotta’s #8.
Frannie’s Hilltop Garage in Primose sponsored the mid-race leaders award which was won by Doug Hoffman.
In the Coal Cracker 20 for roadrunners, track champion Dean Ulsh of Auburn went wire-to-wire for his fourth win of the season. Tom Hablett (Schuylkill Haven) ran second from the drop of the green until lap 14 when Dave Miller (Pine Grove) took the position.
That is the way it ended in the 20-lap event that had only one caution. Ulsh took the win over Miller. Kevin Beach, Hablett, Jake Smulley, Marty Shappell, Don Murphy, Butch Solt, Ricky Bender, and invader Lonnie Hill, Jr. Heat winners were Hablett and Ulsh.
Doug Hoffman collected the Program Dynamics Fans’ Favorite Driver award in the Modifieds along with Doug Hendricks in the Sportsman and Mike Allar in the Roadrunners. The Art Bair Wheel Repair and Racing Wheels Heat Win Challenge winners were also finalized with Doug Hoffman, Dave Dissinger and Tom Hablett leading the heat win list in the modifieds, sportsman and roadrunners respectively.
Big Diamond Raceway will close the 2004 racing season with the 2nd Hoover Chevrolet and GM Performance Parts’ Sportsman Modified 50 on Friday evening, September 10, and an Enduro on Sunday afternoon, September 12.
The Sportsman Modified Open sponsored by Hoover Chevrolet of Wernersville, Pa will see the competitors go 50-laps for $2000 to win. Also on the card will be the limited late models, and roadrunners with powder puff races for each division wrapping of the evening of speed.
The “open” sportsman modified rules for this event basically mean the event is event is open to sportsman cars from other speedways as no NASCAR or other membership is required for drivers. Drivers from any division may drive as long as their cars are legal and they are of age. The teams must adhere to all Big Diamond Sportsman Modified engine rules. The need to run 4412 Holleys on their 358 engines with flat tappets. Cars utilizing Vortek heads will be limited to 9:1 compression ratio while those with Bowties are 12:1. No touch ports and no Dart heads are permitted. Teams will be able to run the track tires from their home speedway but no drag rubber is permitted and no aluminum wheels are allowed. No wings, sail panels or unsafe wheel covers may be run. Cars will be required to weigh 2450 pounds after the event.
The pit fee will be the same as a regular weekly event at Big Diamond, $25 for NASCAR members and $30 for non-members as only the sportsman will be running a special event. Only the sportsman modifieds will pay a $25 entry fee per car.
The inaugural Big Diamond Raceway Enduro 100 is slated for Sunday, September 12 at 1 PM with the top five finishers receiving $350, $200, $100, $75 and $50. The pre-entry fee is $40 for car and driver before September 5. After September 5, this fee goes up to $50. There will be a cost of $15 to all others who wish to enter the pit area.
The first 50 laps of Big Diamond's inaugural Enduro 100 on Sept. 12, 2004 are sponsored by Franny's Hilltop Service Center in Primrose (570-544-3101) and the second 50 laps are sponsored by Fran's Auto Repairs, Pottsville PA (570-628-7986).
Pit gates will open at 10 AM and a mandatory drivers’ meeting will be held at 12 noon. Also all cars must be inspected before the race which will not be held up for those arriving late and unable to meet this inspection requirement.
BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY, MINERSVILLE (FORESTVILLE), PA
RACE RESULT SUMMARY SHEET - SUNDAY NIGHT, SEPT, 5, 2004
THE 25TH ANNUAL COAL CRACKER NATIONALS - MODIFIED 100-LAP FEATURE
1. 77 Doug Hoffman, Allentown, Pa
2. 126 Duane Howard, Reading, Pa
3. OO Doug Manmiller, Wyomissing, Pa
4. 88 Jeff Strunk, Bethel, Pa
5. 70D Craig Von Dohren, Oley, Pa
6. 21K Kyle Weiss, Hamburg, Pa
7. 73 Rick Schaffer, Woxall, Pa
8. 15J Jason Hamilton, Erwinna, Pa
9. 1 Keith Hoffman, Whitehall, Pa
10. 53 Mike Gular, Harleysville, Pa
11. 14B Keith Brightbill, Mohnton, Pa
12. 5 Paul Kline, Reading, Pa
13. 7JR Jimmy Reppert, Jr., Hamburg, Pa
14. 118 Sean Merkel, Gilbertsville, Pa
15. 15 Dale Hartz, Hamburg, Pa
16. 64W John Willman, Zionsville, Pa
17. 20 Jack Hartnett, Telford, Pa
18. 19U Tom Umbenhauer, Richland, Pa
19. 99w Craig Whitmoyer, Hamburg, Pa
20. 901 Bruce Williams, Girardville, Pa
21. 2 John Tschudy, Birdsboro, Pa
22. 33 Ray Swinehart, Bechtelsville, Pa
23. 14 Rick Laubach, Richlandtown, PA
24. 8 Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown, NJ
25. 66 Bob Trapper, Scranton, Pa
26. 178 Ryan watt, Phoenixville, Pa
27. 21T Jason Andrews, Parryville, Pa
28. 357 Jimy Horton, Jr., Neshanic Station, NJ
29. 44 Danny Erb, Boyertown, Pa
30. 11D Meme DeSantis, Temple, Pa
31. 114 Billy Pauch, Frenchtown, NJ
32. 9R Brian Weaver, Windsor, NY
1st Alternate (not needed): 99K Chuck McKee, Middletown, NY
Lap Leaders: 14 Rick Laubach (1-2), 77 Doug Hoffman (3-100).
Hoffman’s 3rd Coal Cracker Win. 31st career Big Diamond win. Hoffman pilots the B&I Auto Supply, East Penn Podiatry, Kerry Hertzog Auto Sales, Hertiage Ford/Kia #77 TEO owned by Dennis “Moose” Eisenhard powered by an H&G Ford.
Heats (Top 4 Qualified):
Heat 1: 77 D. Hoffman, 1 K. Hoffman, 44 Erb, 14B K. Brightbill. DNQ: 114 Pauch, 901 Williams, 221 Ryan Beltz, 7X Tommy Sheetz, Jr., 54B Smokey Warren (replaced Billy Warren when Smokey broke 54 in warm-ups), 002 Ed Scott, 81 Kevin Hartnett. (61 Tom Mayberry scratched to fifth heat.) 10-lap Time: 3:02.352.
Heat 2: 70D Von Dohren, 7Jr. Reppert, 73 Schaffer, 15 Hartz. DNQ: 357 Horton, Sq1 Bobby Gunther Walsh, 71S Sam Schaeffer, 87 Andy Burkhart, 42 Jeff Sechrist, 83B Josh Biever, 5W Greg Weiland, 99k Chuck McKee. No Time.
Heat 3: 14 Laubach, 88 Strunk, 21K Weiss, 9R Weaver. DNQ: 24H Justin Andrews, 505 Randy Mohn, 85 Bobby Forsythe, 79 Amanda Spotts, 6JR Billy Pauch, Jr. (replaced open entry from Fran Purcell). Scratched: 15X Billy Pauch, Jr., 54 Smokey Warren. No Time.
Heat 4 : 11D DeSantis,21T Ja. Andrews, 20 J. Hartnett, 66 Trapper. DNQ: 2 Tschudy, 19 Brad Brightbill, 02 Greg Hummelhanz, 15J Hamilton, 8 Rich Scagliotta, 39 Todd Smith, 35 Chris Gambler. No Time.
Heat 5: 53 Gular, 126 Howard, 178 Watt, 5 Kline. DNQ: 99w Whitmoyer, 64w Willman, 19u Umbenhauer, 88X Roy Wiest, 61 Tom Mayberry, 157 Andy Fayash, Jr., 102 Shawn Fitzpatrick, 69 Dave Dissinger.
Friday’s Feature Top 3: 118 Merkel, OO Manmiller, 33 Swinehart.
Consis (Top 2 Qualified, 3rd through 5th to Last Chance):
Consi 1: 114 Pauch, 2 Tschudy. 64W Willman, 15J Hamilton, 99K McKee. DNQ: 61 Mayberry, 7X Sheetz, Sq1 Walsh, 85 Forsythe, 81 K. Hartnett, 42 Sechrist, 69nDissinger. 10-lap Time: 3:05.490.
Consi 2: 901 Williams, 19U Umbenhauer. 83B Biever, 71S S. Schaeffer, 24H Ju. Andrews. DNQ: 8 Scagliotta, 157 Fayash, 79 Spotts, 19 B. Brightbill, 6JR Pauch, 54B S. Warren. 10-lap Time: 3:11.263.
Consi 3: 357 Horton, 99W Whitmoyer. 87 Burkhart, 221 Beltz, 002 Scott. DNQ: 505 Mohn, 39 Smith, 88X Wiest, 35 Gambler, 02 Hummelhanz, 5W Weiland, 102 Fitzpatrick. No Time
Last Chance Race (Top 2 Qualified): 64W Willman, 15J Hamilton. DNQ: 99K McKee, 83B Biever, 87 Burkhart, 71S S. Schaeffer, 002 Scott5, 221 Beltz, 24H Ju. Andrews.
Of Non-Qualifiers, Highest Point Man in Season Points Added: 8 Billy Pauch, Jr.
NASCAR ROADRUNNERS --- COAL CRACKER 20-LAP FEATURE
1. 3 Dean Ulsh, Auburn, PA, 2. 1 Dave Miller, Pine Grove, PA, 3. 17 Kevin Beach, Llewellyn, PA, 4. 22 Tom Hablett, Schuylkill Haven, PA, 5. 4 Jake Smulley, Phoenix Park, PA, 6. 117 Marty Shappell, Pottsville, PA, 7. 550 Don Murphy, Minersville, PA, 8. 39S Butch Solt, Lehighton, PA , 9. 35 Ricky Bender, Tremont, PA, 10. 8 Lonnie Hill, Jr., Liverpool, PA, 11. 39 Rob Pyle, 12. 721 Jason Sherman, 13. 19W Derek Bender, 14. 23 Dave Kamp, 15. 19 Jeremy Becker
Heat 1: 22, 17, 550, 1, 721, 4, 117, 19.
Heat 2: 3, 39S, 19W, 35, 8, 23, 39.