DOUG MANMILLER OUTRUNS MODIFIED DOMINATORS AT BIG DIAMOND;

MOYER (RYAN), FISHER TAKE 1ST SPORTSMAN ‘04 WINS; ULSH TOPS ROADRUNNERS

Minersville, PA – July 9 – Doug Manmiller of Wyomissing, PA stopped the Hoffman-VonDohren-Hoffman winners’ circle strangle hold at Big Diamond Raceway to capture Friday’s NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified feature on Weaknecht Sporting Goods Night. Manmiller piloted the Greg Sarangoulis-owned, gmiFirst Mechanical Solutions/Classic Harley Davidson #OO Bicknell chassis car to victory, holding off all three of the past 2004 modified winners.

Ryan Moyer of Schuylkill Haven took his first Sportsman Modified win of the year in the held-over program from June 25 wile Freddie Fisher of Reading captured his first career Sportsman Modified feature win in the nightcap. Dean Ulsh of Auburn won the roadrunner feature, his third of the year.

All three previous winner’s were right there behind new NASCAR Modified winner, Doug Manmiller, as Keith Hoffman (Whitehall) finished second trailed by Doug Hoffman (Allentown), and Craig Von Dohren (Oley) in the NASCAR Modified 25. Rick Laubach (Richlandtown) continued to knock on the door to victory lane with a strong fifth place run trailed by Kyle Weiss (Hamburg,), late consolation entry Meme DeSantis (Temple), Rick Schaffer (Woxall), Billy Pauch, Jr. (Frenchtown, NJ) and Jason Andrews (Palmerton). Heat winners were Doug Hoffman, Von Dohren and Manmiller while Craig Whitmoyer (Hamburg) was the consolation winner.

Ryan Moyer’s luck finally appears to have turned in his favor in his Heritage Ford-Kia/Farber Technologies 93 with a strong winning run the Sportsman Modified 20-lap feature as part of the program held over from the June 25 rain-out. Tom Brennan (Pottsville) finished second trailed by Freddie Fisher, Gary Wagner, Jr. (Womelsdorf), Donn Edgar (Lehighton), Billy Moyer, Jr. (Pine Grove), Doug Hendricks (Auburn), Jordan Umbenhauer (Richland), Greg Weiland (Port Carbon) and Andy Fayash, Jr. (Mary-D). Heat winners were Fisher, Brad Force (Milford, NJ) and Gary Wagner with Dan Guinther (Salisbury Township) won the consolation.

Following up on his strongest run of the year in the opening feature, Freddie Fisher took his first career win in his Hoover Chevrolet/Wachovia Securities, Olsen/Dirt Wheels #95 in the closing Sportsman Modified 20. Brad Brightbill (Sinking Spring) also had his strongest run of the year to take second over Dave Dissinger (Mohrsville), Greg Weiland, Jesse Sterling (Lehighton), Gary Wagner, Larry Lippencott (Riegelsville), Billy Moyer, Tom Brennan and Keith Fleming (Milford). Sterling, Billy Moyer and Dissinger won the 10-lap heats while the consolation honors went to Ray Woodall, Jr. (Stewartsville, NJ).

Dean Ulsh took his third roadrunner feature in the 15-lap main event over Mark Berzowski (Minersville) in his first start of the year, Kevin Holland (Pine Grove), Derek Bender (Tremont) and Jason Purcell (Pine Grove). Tom Hablett (Schuylkill Haven) took the tune-up heat event.

Tim Fitzpatrick (Branchdale) took the lead from pole-sitter Dale Roth (Schaefferstown) on the lap while Billy Pauch, Jr. jumped too early to move to third. Pauch moved to second on lap two but fell one spot to Kyle Weiss on lap three, only to be dropped four positions on the race’s first yellow on lap 6 for the infraction. Weiss, who started ninth, took the lead at the close of the first lap following the restart and Doug Manmiller, who started tenth, took second on the following lap. Manmiller drew beside Weiss on lap 11 and finally used his inside line to take the lead down the backstretch on lap 13.

But everyone now waited to see which of the big three would steal the win from Manmiller this week as they have been doing all year long. Keith Hoffman moved into second on lap 14 after starting 13th. Doug Hoffman, who started 14th, swapped third with Weiss on laps 15 and 16 before securing the spot on lap 18; Craig Von Dohren came from his 12th starting spot to dropped Weiss to fifth on lap 18 as well. In spite of restarts on laps 16, 18 and 21, Manmiller held off the best to grab that illusive first win of the year.

Of note was the run of Meme DeSantis. DeSantis was in the pit area when he was approached by Greg Sarangoulis about possibly taking out the second OO in the consolation. A quick change and two pieces of tape to make the car 001, saw DeSantis 13th on the starting grid in a car he never sat in before. He moved from thirteenth to second in the 10-lap qualifier. He then came from 23rd starting spot in the feature to finish seventh in the 25-lap main.

Ebby Ridge (Milford, NJ) led the opening laps of the first 20-lap Sportsman main. Louie Mitchalk ran second until lap six when Ryan Moyer moved his 93 from his ninth starting spot to second. Freddie Fisher also moved by Mitchalk for second on lap 7 but one lap later Moyer again did it one better and took the lead with an inside move on Ridge in turn one. Fisher took second on lap nine but was unable to seriously challenge Moyer. On lap 18. Tom Brennan, who started 15th, was able to catch and overtake Fisher for second.

Mitchalk was on the pole for the second Sportsman Modified 20 and led the opening lap. Fisher, who started second, took charge of the top spot on lap two and never looked back. Brad Brightbill, driving the distinctive black and white 19 of the Brightbill Family, moved from tenth to second by lap six. Brightbill was able to get to Fisher but was unable to draw beside him at any point. Late in the race Dave Dissinger got to third to pressure Brightbill but he was forced to settle for third.

Tommy Hablett (Schuylkill Haven) paced the roadrunner feature field for the opening lap but early yellows, including one for past winner Elvin Brennan (Forestville) with a wheel leaving his 555. When the got back to racing, Jake Smulley (Forestville) took the lead. The battle behind the leaders was wild but Dean Ulsh, who started tenth, came out of the fray to take the lead from Smulley on lap 5. Kevin Holland (Pine Grove) took second on lap 5. lost it to Mark Berzowski on lap 6 and regained it on lap 7. Berzowski, in his first appearance at Big Diamond this year, was persistent and took the runner-up spot once and of all on lap 11 to trail Ulsh at the finish.

In other speedway notes, the car of apparent July 4 Sportsman Modified 15-lap feature winner, Mario Dinatale (Bernville), was found to have unapproved engine work in a tear down this past week. Dinatale was disqualified, giving John Deatrich, Jr. (Palo Alto) his first win of the season in that July 4 event.

The disqualification of Marty Shappell (Pottsville) from the roadrunner finish on July 2 (illegal exhaust) and July 4 (illegal racing shock absorbers) was reported but the Shappell’s track points were misreported. In the roadrunners, as part of a disqualification for illegal components, the driver loses all points earned to date. Thus Marty Shappell can into tonight’s (July 9) action with 0 points.

The United Racing Club Sprints return to Big Diamond Raceway on July 16 on an 8 PM card with the NASCAR Modifieds and Roadrunners. Although not scheduled for their official fan club night at Big Diamond until July 30, representatives of the Checkered Flag Fan Club will be on hand to recognize the URC Sprint feature winner.

The rules for the limited late model show scheduled as part of the tracks 33rd anniversary special on July 30 have been determined. The Grandview Speedway and Silver Spring late model rules will be used as the standard with aluminum wheels okay and either Grandview or Silver Spring tires acceptable. Grandview cars will be able to run four-barrel carburetors and the minimum weight will be 2400 pounds for all cars. Further details will be announced as the event comes closer.

The second Sportsman Modified 15-lap feature and second Roadrunner 12-lap feature will be added to the August 6 racing program at Big Diamond Raceway. That date already included a full racing card for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds, ShorTrack Sportsman Modifieds and Roadrunners.

For more information on Big Diamond Raceway check out the Internet http://www.bigdiamondraceway.com.

COMPLETE RESULT SUMMARY – BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY – JULY 9, 2004

NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES MODIFIED 25-LAP FEATURE – 1. OO Doug Manmiller, 2. 1 Keith Hoffman, 3. 77 Doug Hoffman, 4. 70d Craig Von Dohren, 5. 14 Rick Laubach, 6. 21K Kyle Weiss, 7. OO1 Meme DeSantis, 8. 73 Rick Schaffer, 9. 15X Billy Pauch, Jr., 10. 21T Jason Andrews, 11. 64W John Willman, 12. 102 Shawn Fitzpatrick, 13. VR1 Tim Fitzpatrick, 14. 33 Ray Swinehart, 15. 99W Craig Whitmoyer, 16. 02 Greg Hummelhanz, 17. 83B Josh Biever, 18. Sq1 Bobby Gunther Walsh, 19. 15 Dale Hartz, 20. 100 Tom Pompei, 21. 5 Paul Kline, 22. 88X Roy Wiest, 23. 42 Jeff Sechrist, 24. 118 Sean Merkel, 25. 178 John Durling, 26. 901 Bruce Williams, 27. 3X Ron Mawson, Jr., 28. 6 Dale Roth.

Non-Qualifiers: 221 Ryan Beltz, 505 Randy Mohn, 87 Andy Burkhart, 85 Bobby Forsythe, 11D Tony Dinatale, 24H Justin Andrews.

Heat 1: 77, 21K, 14, VR1, 15X, 21T, 02, 118, Sq1, 87, 178. No Time.

Heat 2: 70d, 42, 5, 64W, 6, 83B, 3x, 99W, 85, 33, 221. No Time.

Heat 3: OO, 1, 73, 901, 100, 102, 15, 505, 11D, 88X, 24H. No Time.

Consolation: 99W, OO1, 33, 118, 178, 88x, Sq1, 221, 505, 87, 85, 11D, 24H. No Time.

NASCAR DODGE SHORTRACK SERIES SPORTSMAN MODIFIED 20-LAP FEATURE – 1. 93 Ryan Moyer, 2. 26 Tom Brennan, 3. 95 Freddie Fisher, 4. 47 Gary Wagner, Jr., 5. 30 Donn Edgar, 6. 17 Billy Moyer, Jr., 7. 8JR Doug Hendricks, 8. 19U Jordan Umberhauer, 9. 5 Greg Weiland, 10. 157 Andy Fayash, Jr., 11. 147 Louie Mitchalk, 12. 515 Larry Lippencott, 13. 19 Brad Brightbill, 14. 72 Ray Woodall, Jr., 15. 12V John Deatrich, Jr., 16. 35 Ebby Ridge, 17. 3 Luke Wagner, 18. 8 Brad Force, 19. 10 Lowell Snyder, 20. 512 Keith Fleming, 21. 64 Andy Miller, 22. 59 Jason Kohler, 23. 97 Dan Guinther, 24. 4 Jesse Sterling, 25. 69 Dave Dissinger.

Non-Qualifiers: 28S Tom Solderich, 221 Steve Owens, 17R Kevin Nolf, 73 Darrell Herman, X Robert Grasie, 17T Ryan Grim, 39J Jeff Geake.

Heat 1: 95, 93, 69, 26, 147, 4, 12V 10, 00. 10-lap Time: 3:10.672.

Heat 2: 8, 157, 72, 5, 515, 3, 23B, 926, 59. 5-lap Time: 1:36.855.

Heat 3: 47, 19, 19u, 64, 35, 17, 8, 39J, 59. No Time.

Consolation: 97, 8, 30, 59, 512, 12V, 10, 28s, 221, 17R, 73, X, 17T, 39J. No Time.

NASCAR DODGE SHORTRACK SERIES SPORTSMAN MODIFIED 20-LAP FEATURE – 1.95 Fisher, 19 Brightbill, 3. 69 Dissinger, 4. 5 Weiland, 5. Sterling, 6. 47 G. Wagner, 7. 515 Lippencott, 8. 17 B. Moyer, 9. 26 Brennan, 10. 512 Fleming, 11. 10 Snyder, 12. 30 Edgar, 13. 93 R. Moyer, 14. 39J Geake, 15. 147 Mitchalk, 16. 8JR Hendricks, 17. 72 Woodall, 18. 35 Ridge, 19. 976 Don Norris, Jr., 20. 17R Nolf, 21. 12V Deatrich, 22. Fayash, 23. 3 L. Wagner, 24. 64 Miller, 25. 28S Solderich.

Scratched: 58 Chris Eckert. Non-Qualifiers: 221 Owens, 73 Herman, 17T Grim, 59 J. Kohler, 59 Warren Kohler, 14K Matt Krause, 19U Umbenhauer, 74 Pete Marburger, 97 Guinther, X Grasie.

Heat 1: 4, 64, 26, 3, 515, 35, 59 J.Kohler, 28S, 976, 74, 97, 8. No Time.

Heat 2: 17, 19, 147, 12V, 30, 512, 72, 17R, 8JR, 17T, 14K, X. No Time.

Heat 3: 69, 47, 95, 5, 93, 58, 19U, 221, 73, 157, 10, 39J. No Time.

Consolation: 72, 157, 10, 28s, 8jr. 17R. 39J 976, 221, 73, 17T, 59 W.Kohler, 14K, 19U, 74, 97, X. No Time.

ROADRUNNER – 15-LAP MAIN: 1. 3 Dean Ulsh, 2. 550 Mark Berzowski 3. 66 Kevin Holland, 4. 19W Derek Bender, 5. 35 Jason Purcell, 6. 4 Jake Smulley, 7. 117 Marty Shappell, 8. 39 Robbie Pyle, 9. 39s Butch Solt, 10. 17 Kevin Beach, 11. 22 Tom Hablett, 12. Big1 Mike Allar, 13. 23 Dave Kamp, 14. 555 Elvin Brennan.

Heat: 22, 39s, 17, 66, 550, 555, 19W, 3, 39, 35, 4, 117, Big1, 23.