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KEITH HOFFMAN, DOUG HOFFMAN SPLIT BIG DIAMOND MODIFIED FEATURE WINS;



FAYASH GETS CAREER FIRST IN SPORTSMAN, HOLLAND TOPS ROADRUNNERS

Minersville, Pa - August 13, 2004 – It was a family affair at Big Diamond Raceway on Friday night as Keith Hoffman of Whitehall and his brother, Doug Hoffman of Allentown, each captured 25-lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified feature wins.

Andy Fayash of Mary-D took his first career Sportsman Modified 20-lap feature win while Kevin Holland of Pine Grove repeated as the roadrunner feature winner.

The first 25-lap Modified was held over from June 25 and rain delayed one more time before being completed this week. Keith Hoffman passed Doug Manmiller (Wyomissing) on lap 20 to take his fourth feature win of the year over Manmiller, Doug Hoffman, Craig Von Dohren (Oley), Josh Biever (Landingville), Rick Laubach (Richlandtown), Jeff Sechrist (Womelsdorf), Billy Pauch, Jr. (Frenchtown, NJ), Ray Swinehart (Bechtelsville) and Tom Pompei (Sellersville).

Manmiller was again looking at his third feature win in the second 25-lapper but Doug Hoffman passed him on lap 21 to take his eighth win of the year. Manmiller settled for second followed by Pauch, Jr., Von Dohren, Biever, Keith Hoffman, Kyle Weiss (Hamburg), Swinehart, Dale Hartz (Hamburg) and Laubach. Manmiller, Keith Hoffman and Von Dohren took heat wins while Swinehart captured the consolation win.

Andy Fayash was in second when race-long leader and rookie Rob Gibson (Schuylkill Haven) spun on lap18, when it looked like he had the win in the bag. Fayash took his first career Sportsman win over another strong rookie, Jordan Umbenhauer (Richland), Gary Wagner, Jr. (Womelsdorf), Tom Brennan (Pottsville) and Dave Dissinger (Mohrsville). Heat winners were Gibson, Billy Moyer, Jr. (Pine Grove) and Doug Hendricks (Auburn) while Steve Zimmerman (Pine Grove) won the consolation.

Kevin Holland took his seventh roadrunner feature win over Dean Ulsh (Auburn), Dave Miller (Pine Grove), Robbie Pyle (Downingtown) and Jake Smulley (Phoenix Park).

John Willman of Birdsboro started on the pole is the first 25-lap Modified feature and got away on top with Josh Biever getting by Randy Mohn (Fredericksburg) for second on lap one. Kyle Weiss quickly moved from sixth to third by the end of lap one as well but Doug Manmiller was the man on the moved from his eighth starting position. Manmiller passed Weiss for third on lap six and Biever for second on lap eight. One lap later Manmiller took to the outside of leader Willman in turn four to take the lead on lap nine. The night’s first yellow flew with ten laps in and the big three, Keith Hoffman, Craig Von Dohren and Doug Hoffman were fourth, fifth and seventh respectively.

Keith Hoffman moved to second on lap 13 but was well behind Manmiller. Hoffman made only slight gains on the leader and Manmiller looked like a winner until lap 19 when debris apparently shattered the lens on the track traffic light in turn three, making it appear like the yellow caution light was illuminated. The caution flag flew and repairs were promptly completed. Manmiller chose the inside on the restart and he got away on top but Keith Hoffman was able to stay with him and power off turn two to take the lead. A yellow one lap later with five laps to go resulted in a single file restart but Hoffman never looked back and went on to take his fourth feature win in the Johnny Rae owned, Cocino Food Systems/Fanelli Window Pros #1.

Craig Von Dohren was third on lap 20 but lost that spot following the final restart to Doug Hoffman. Josh Biever ran his best race of the season, taking fifth spot on lap 19 from teammate Rick Laubach to finish in that position

Boyertown’s Tommy Sheetz, Jr led the early laps in the regularly scheduled 25-lap Modified main. Dale Roth (Schaefferstown) ran second until Josh Biever moved from fifth starting spot to second on lap three. A yellow on lap five put Biever beside Sheetz on the restart and Biever stayed right there on the green and pulled into the lead in turns one and two. Dale Hartz (Hamburg) also took advantage to grab second but again it was Doug Manmiller on the move with the Classic Harley Davidson / gmi First Mechanical Solutions #00. Manmiller took third on lap six after starting 12th and on lap seven he overtook Hartz for second.

Biever was strong and held off the repeated challenges from Manmiller until lap 15 when Manmiller finally got up far enough inside the leader to edge in front exiting turn four. Two circuits later Doug Hoffman, who started 15th, blew around the outside of Biever for second to chase after the leader as they encountered heavy traffic as the caught the rear of the field. The battle for the lead nearly ended in frustration with 20 laps complete as Justin Andrews spun directly in front of the leaders in turn three with Manmiller lifting suddenly and jerking the wheel to the right while Hoffman somehow avoided drilling him. This was the second and final yellow on the race.

With five laps left it was a single file restart but Doug Hoffman was strong in the Dennis Eisenhard Craft Oil/Kerry Hertzog Used car Sales #77. As they completed lap 21 Hoffman edged the nose of the 77 ahead on Manmiller at the line, using the outside groove, and he went on to grab his eighth win. Billy Pauch, Jr. battled from tenth starting spot to take third from Biever on lap 22 for a very strong finish. Craig Von Dohren grabbed fourth from Biever on the final lap, to give Biever his second fifth place feature finish of the night.

Andy Fayash twice this season looked like his was on his way to his first career Sportsman Modified feature win only to have mechanical misfortune intervene. This time rookie Rob Gibson (Schuylkill Haven) looked like he had the win in the bag in only his third career sportsman race. Gibson started on the pole and held off rookie Ebby Ridge (Milford, NJ) in the early laps. Ridge was looking to prove he had what it takes after losing his first career win one week earlier when he was found with an illegal carburetor on his 35. Ridge ran second in spite of a sour sounding engine through yellows on lap three and four but Fayash took third on lap five and finally got second on lap 7 from Ridge who retired a lap later with engine problems.

The yellow flew for skirmishes on lap nine and ten, but they did not faze Gibson. In fact he drove like a veteran, opening up a ten to fifteen car length lead. With nothing but green flag racing it looked like a dream come true for the newcomer but it suddenly turned into a nightmare as Gibson’s Pioneer Pole Buildings 221 spun out in turn two in clear track racing. Fayash was in position this time to take advantage of another’s misfortune for his first win.

Rookie Jordan Umbenhauer has shown vast improvement over the last month and the second generation driver took a career best second place finish. He was trailed by Gary Wagner, Jr., Tom Brennan and Dave Dissinger. Completing the top ten were Andy Miller (Schuylkill Haven), Ryan Moyer (Schuylkill Haven), Lowell Snyder (Upper Black Eddy), Billy Moyer, jr. (Pine Grove) and John Deatrich, Jr. (Palo Alto). Heat winners were Gibson, Billy Moyer, Jr. (Pine Grove) and Doug Hendricks (Auburn) while Steve Zimmerman (Pine Grove) won the consolation.

Rookie Ricky Bender (Tremont) started on the pole in his renumbered 29W but Tom Hablett (Schuylkill Haven) took the early lead. It was typical competitive roadrunner action with the drivers going five wide, and even trying six wide once on the backstretch without success. Mark Berzowski (Branchdale) passed Hablett to lead lap three. Robbie Pyle was on the point for lap four but Dean Ulsh, who started thirteenth, took charge on lap five. Holland took second on lap six and stalked Ulsh until lap 12 when he passed Ulsh on the outside in turn four for the win.

Coming up this week is the track’s final open practice session on Tuesday night, August 17 at 7:15 PM. The session is open to competitors, of required age, from any and all racing divisions with no track or NASCAR license required. In recent weeks everything from go-karts to modifieds, sprint cars to roadrunners, and micro sprints to late models have taken the opportunity to get some needed track time. Fans will be admitted free top the spectators areas of the speedway. The rain date for the practice is Wednesday night, August 18 at 7:15.

On Friday night, August 20, will see full three division NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series card of stock car racing at Big Diamond Raceway starting at 8 PM. The NASCAR Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds and Roadrunners will be in action with track gates opening at 6 PM. For information on racing at Big Diamond Raceway take a look at the track’s website at www.bigdiamondraceway.com or call (570) 544-6434.

BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY, MINERSVILLE, PA – AUGUST 13, 2004 RACE RESULT SUMMARY
NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES MODIFIEDS – 25-LAP FEATURE (Held over and delayed twice from June 25): 1. 1. Keith Hoffman, 2. OO Doug Manmiller, 3. 77 Doug Hoffman, 4. 70d Craig Von Dohren, 5. 83B Josh Biever, 6. 14 Rick Laubach, 7. 42 Jeff Sechrist, 8. 15X Billy Pauch, Jr., 9. 33 Ray Swinehart, 10. 100 Tom Pompei, 11. 21T Jason Andrews, 12. 64W John Willman, 13. 15 Dale Hartz, 14. 901 Bruce Williams, 15. 102 Shawn Fitzpatrick, 16. 24H Justin Andrews, 17. 221 Ryan Beltz, 18. 73 Rick Schaffer, 19. 85 Bobby Forsythe, 20. 18 Ron Myers, 21. Sq! Bobby Gunther Walsh, 22. 3X Ron Mawson, Jr., 23. 21K Kyle Weiss, 24. 505 Randy Mohn, 25. 157 Tim Fitzpatrick, 26. 69 Roy Wiest. Did not return from 6/25: 27. 5 Paul Kline, 28. 14B Keith Brightbill, 29. 11D Tony Dinatale.

NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES MODIFIEDS – 25-LAP FEATURE: 1. 77 D. Hoffman, 2. OO Manmiller, 3. 15X Pauch, Jr., 4. 70D Von Dohren, 5. 83B Biever, 6. 1 K. Hoffman, 7. 21K Weiss, 8. 33 Swinehart, 9. 15 Hartz, 10. 14 Laubach, 11. 71s Sam Schaeffer, 12. 64W Willman, 13. 3X Mawson, 14. 42 Sechrist, 15. 21T Ja. Andrews, 16. 901 Williams, 17. 102 S. Fitzpatrick, 18. 118 Sean Merkel, 19. 99W Craig Whitmoyer, 20. 73 R. Schaffer, 21. 221 Beltz, 22. 24H Ju. Andrews, 23. 88X Roy Wiest, 24. 85 Forsythe, 25. 178 John Durling, 26. 100 Pompei, 27. 7X Tommy Sheetz, jr., 28. 6 Dale Roth. Non-Qualifiers: 18 Myers, Sq1 Walsh, 99K Don Keefer, W9 Paul Lotier, Jr., 100P Jimmy Payne, 505 Mohn.
Heat 1: OO Manmiller, 77 D. Hoffman, 7X Sheetz, 83B Biever, 42 Sechrist, 64W Willman, 21K Weiss, 102 S, Fitzpatrick, 178 Durling, Sq1 Walsh, W9 Lotier..
Heat 2: 1 K. Hoffman, 71S S. Schaeffer, 24H Ju. Andrews, 21T Ja. Andrews, 15 Hartz, 221 Beltz, 73 R. Schaffer, 33 Swinehart, 99W Whitmoyer, 85 Forsythe, 18 Myers, 100P Payne.
Heat 3: 70D Von Dohren, 15X Pauch, Jr., 14 Laubach, 3X Mawson, 6 Roth, 901 Williams, 100 Pompei, 118 Merkel, 99K Keefer, 88X Wiest, 505 Mohn.
Consolation: 33, 102, 99W, 118, 88x, 178, 85, 18, sq1, 99k, W9, 100P, 505.

NASCAR DODGE SHORTRACK SERIES SPORTSMAN MODIFIEDS – 20-LAP FEATURE: 1. 157 Andy Fayash, Jr., 2. 19U Jordan Umbenhauer, 3. 27 Gary Wagner, Jr., 4. 26 Tom Brennan, 5. 69 Dave Dissinger, 6. 64 Andy Miller, Jr., 7. 93 Ryan Moyer, 8. 10 Lowell Snyder, 9. 17 Billy Moyer, Jr., 10. 12V John Deatrich, Jr., 11. 8JR Doug Hendricks, 12. 59 Jason Kohler, 13. 11 Mike Stankiewicz, 14. 58 Chris Eckert, 15. 8 Brad Force, 16. 221 Rob Gibson, 17. KT3 Cory Renninger, 18. 74 Pete Marburger, 19. 515 Larry Lippencott, 20. 15 Jason Hamilton, 21. 25 Ray Deemer, 22. 35 Ebby Ridge, 23. 147 Louie Mitchalk, 24. 23B Steve Zimmerman, 25. 72 Ray Woodall, Jr. Non-Qualifiers: 22N Ray Gara, W9 Colt Harris, 5 Greg Weiland, 19 Brad Brightbill.

Heat 1: 221 Gibson, 93 R. Moyer, 64 Miller, 47 G. Wagner, 15 Hamilton, 12V Deatrich, 58 Eckert, 147 Mitchalk, 23B Zimmerman, 5 Weiland.
Heat 2: 17 B. Moyer, 26 Brennan, 35 Ridge, 8 Force, 19U J. Umbenhauer, KT3 Renninger, 25 Deemer, 74 Marburger, 19 Brightbill.
Heat 3: 8JR Hendricks, 69 Dissinger, 10 Snyder, 515 Lippencott, 157 Fayash, 59 J. Kohler, W9 Harris, 72 Woodall, 11 Stankiewicz, 22N Gara.
Consolation: 23B, 58, 72, 147, 25, 11, 74, 22N, W9, 5, 19.

NASCAR ROADRUNNERS – 15-lap FEATURE: 1. 66 Kevin Holland, 2. 3 Dean Ulsh, 3. 1 Dave Miller, 4. 39 Robbie Pyle, 5. 4 Jake Smulley, 6. Big1 Mike Allar, 7. 22 Tom Hablett, 8. 117 Marty Shappell, 9. 17 Kevin Beach, 10. 721 Jason Sherman, 11. 39S Butch Solt, 12. 29W Ricky Bender, 13. 555 Elvin Brennan, 14. 550 Mike Berzowski, 15. 19W Derek Bender, 16. 19 Jeremy Becker.