VON DOHREN TAKES BIG DIAMOND THRILLER OVER HOFFMAN, MANMILLER;
LIPPENCOTT NIPS BRENNAN IN SPORTSMAN, ULSH TAKES 1ST ROADRUNNER WIN
Minersville, PA (June 4)– Craig Von Dohren of Barto, PA overtook leader Doug Manmiller (Wyomissing) then swapped the lead twice with Keith Hoffman (Whitehall) while holding off Manmiller to take his third Big Diamond Raceway NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series win on Dodge Night, Friday. After going winless while Doug and Keith Hoffman were dominating, Von Dohren found the combination with Bill Devine’s Devine Transport/Stauffer Construction TEO #70d taking three wins in eight days at Big Diamond to raise his track career leading modified win total to 51.
The NASCAR ShorTrack Sportsman Modified feature was a thriller to the checkered flag as Larry Lippencott of Riegelsville, PA took his second win of the year in his Lucas Oil Products/Clinton Truck Stop Tobias Taxi 515 by a nose over point leader Tom Brennan (Pottsville), who charged back for the rear after a mid-race skirmish with his Kramer’s Power Equipment/gmiFirst. The roadrunners also did not disappoint as Dean Ulsh (Pine Grove) held off a wide pack, that saw the top five change in order and ‘membership’ several times every lap, to get his first win of the year.
The top ten in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified 25-lap feature was as good as it gets anywhere as Von Dohren took the win over Keith Hoffman in the Fanelli Window Pros 1, Doug Manmiller, Billy Pauch (Frenchtown, NJ), Ray Swinehart (Bechtelsville), the rapidly improving Billy Pauch, Jr. (Frenchtown, NJ). Charging back from the rear late in the race was points leader Doug Hoffman (Allentown) followed by Rick Schaffer (Woxall), Rick Laubach (Richlandtown) and Tom Pompei (Quakertown). Qualifying heat winners were Manmiller and both Hoffmans.
Dale Roth (Schaefferstown) took the early lead in the Modified 25 from the pole starting position but it was second-generation sophomore driver, Billy Pauch, Jr., in front on lap two after starting fifth. Fourth row starters Paul Kline (Reading) and Doug Manmiller moved through the field with Kline taking second on lap three only to see Manmiller take it from him on lap five. Manmiller launched off the outside of turn two on lap seven to take the top spot from young Pauch and opened up a comfortable lead while lurking right behind were Keith Hoffman, Pay Swinehart (in the Schaeffer 27 instead of his own 33), Craig Von Dohren and the elder Billy Pauch.
Billy Jr. bobbled briefly off turn four on lap 10 enabling Keith Hoffman and Von Dohren to take second and third. A caution followed for a two-car tangle and point leader Doug Hoffman pitted to replace a flat tire. On the restart this time it was Keith Hoffman powering around the outside of Manmiller to take the lead on lap 11 but, with Manmiller pre-occupied with Hoffman, Von Dohren snuck to the inside of the 00 to steal second. Von Dohren was hooked up on the inside and went on to dive under the leader in turn 1 to take the top spot on lap 14. On lap 17, Hoffman charged back on the outside to draw even on the backstretch and nose in front but Von Dohren refused to yield. Craig stayed to Hoffman’s inside to regain the lead on lap 18 and take the victory.
Second-year Big Diamond NASCAR ShorTrack Sportsman competitor, Larry Lippencott took his second win of the year in a photo finish over Tom Brennan, Greg Weiland (Port Carbon), Andy Miller (Schuylkill Haven), Donn Edgar (Lehighton), Darren Dreher (Schuylkill Haven), Billy Moyer, Jr. (Pine Grove), Brad Force (Milford, NJ), Luke Wagner (Grantville) and Ray Woodall, Jr. (Stewartsville, NJ). Heat wins went to Lippencott, Edgar and Dave Dissinger, who lost the engine in his 69 in the feature. Another rising second-generation star, Brad Brightbill (Sinking Spring) took the consi win.
Jason Kohler (Fleetwood) started on the pole for the 20-lap Sportsman Modified main and led the opening lap until Andy Miller took the lead on lap two from his third starting spot. Ray Woodall, Jr. took second one lap later but Brad Force took that position on lap five. Force ran second to Miller until lap 10 when Larry Lippencott, who started eighth, took over. Lippencott pulled to within two car lengths of the leader but seemed content then until lap 17 when Miller pushed slightly out of his groove. Lippencott quickly jumped to his inside and took the lead.
One lap later Greg Weiland took second but as they completed lap 19 Brennan edged his 26 even with Weiland. Brennan, who went to the rear of the field on lap 8, gained second in turn one. Lippencott later reported his 515 was a bit loose and Brennan charged to his inside as they exited turn four. Lippencott was able to get just enough horsepower to the track in time to hold off Brennan for the win by about two feet.
Dean Ulsh took his first win in the roadrunners in an event that saw a handful of drivers shuffle opportunities to challenge the leader on the inside and out in a three-wide war for the win. Mr. Consistency, Mike Allar (Orwigsburg) finished second followed by Jason Purcell (Pine Grove), Kevin Holland (Pine Grove) and Jake Smulley (Minersville) with Purcell coming back from deep in the field after getting crossed up and spinning a full 360 without drawing a yellow. Robbie Pyle (Downingtown) took the preliminary 6-lapper.
Smulley led the first four laps with Robbie Pyle and Butch Solt (Lehighton) right behind. Allar, Purcell, Ulsh, Marty Shappell (Pottsville), Elvin Brennan (Forestville), Holland and Derek bender (Tremont) were in a wild battle for position four. As they completed lap five, Smulley bobbled and Ulsh took the lead Bender got into Shappell to cause a yellow as they went by Smulley for second along with Brennan, giving Brennan the runner-up spot.
Smulley regained second on the restart and actually retook the lead from Ulsh on lap 10 as Allar tried to go under both leaders. Ulsh went back in front on lap 11 as Allar took second. Ulsh went on to his first win of the year.
A big week of speed is on the agenda this upcoming week as Big Diamond Raceway will host a special 358/360 Sprint Car Challenge under the direction of the KARS Limited Sprint organization on the Friday, June 11 card which will also include the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds and NASCAR Roadrunners. Gates open at 5:30 with the first heat slated for 8 PM.
On Wednesday night, June 16, the DIRT Modifieds will be in town for the Super DIRT Advance Auto Parts “Down, Dirty and Wild 100” which carries a 7:30 starting time. Alan Johnson was the winner of this event last season but the winner of the DIRT SE Tour event opening Big Diamond’s 2004 season, Frank Cozze (Wind Gap) will lead the list of challengers which should include Tim Fuller, Danny Johnson, Brett Hearn. Gary Tomkins, Duane Howard, Billy Decker, Vic Coffey, Jerry Higbie, Steve Paine, Kenny Brightbill, Tim McCreadie, Matt Sheppard and many others against the strong weekly Big Diamond stars Doug Hoffman, Keith Hoffman, Craig Von Dohren, Billy Pauch, Ray Swinehart and Rick Laubach.
RACE RESULT SUMMARY SHEET - FRIDAY NIGHT, June 4, 2004
NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES MODIFIEDS - 25-LAP FEATURE - 1. 70d Craig Von Dohren, Barto, PA; 2. 1 Keith Hoffman, Whitehall, PA; 3. 00 Doug Manmiller, Wyomissing, PA; 4. 114 Billy Pauch, Frenchtown, NJ; 5. 27 Ray Swinehart, Bechtelsville, PA; 6. 15X Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown, NJ; 7. 77 Doug Hoffman, Allentown, PA; 8. 73 Rick Schaffer, Woxall, PA; 9. 14 Rick Laubach, Richlandtown, PA; 10. 100 Tom Pompei, Quakertown, PA , 11. 3x Ron Mawson, Jr., 12. Sq1 Bobby Walsh Gunther; 13. 221 Ryan Beltz, 14. 15 Dale Hartz, 15. 102 Shawn Fitzpatrick, 16. 83B Josh Biever, 17. 6 Dale Roth, 18. 24H Justin Andrews, 19. 42 Jeff Sechrist, 20. 5 Paul Kline, 21. VR1 Tim Fitzpatrick, 22. 15H Kevin Hartnett, 23. 21K Kyle Weiss, 24. 505 Randy Mohn, 25. 21T Jason Andrews, 26. 88x Roy Wiest, 27. 64W John Willman, 28. 11 Keith Brightbill. Lap Leaders: 6 Dale Roth, Schaefferstown, PA (1); 15X Pauch, Jr. (2-6), 00 Manmiller (7-10), 1 K. Hoffman; 70d Von Dohren (14- 16); 1 K. Hoffman (17), 70d Von Dohren (18-25)… Heat 1: 00, 114, 70d, 6, 15x, VR1, 21K, 88x, 15, 24H. 10-lap Time: 3:02.599… Heat 2: 1, 14, 505, 5, 11, Sq1, 102, 3x, 221. No Time… Heat 3: 77, 100, 83b, 42, 27, 73, 21T, 15H, 64W. 10-lap Time: 3:08.467.
NASCAR SHORTRACK SPORTSMAN MODIFIEDS - 20-LAP FEATURE
1. 515 Larry Lippencott, Riegelsville, PA, 2. 26 Tom Brennan, Pottsville, PA, 3. 5 Greg Weiland, Port Carbon, PA, 4. 64 Andy Miller, Schuylkill Haven, PA, 5. 30 Donn Edgar, Lehighton, PA, 6. 926 Darren Dreher, 7. 17 Billy Moyer, Jr., 8. 8 Brad Force, 9. 3 Luke Wagner, 10. 72 Ray Woodall, Jr., 11. 12V John Deatrich, Jr., 12. 47 Gary Wagner, Jr., 13. 97 Dan Guinther, 14. 95 Freddie Fisher, 15. 59 Jason Kohler, 16. 19 Brad Brightbill, 17. 69 Dave Dissinger, 18. 23B Steve Zimmerman, 19. 93 Ryan Moyer, 20. 17T Ryan Grim, 21. 12 Carl Lieber, 22. 35 Ebby Ridge, 23. 157 Andy Fayash, Jr., 24. 4 Jesse Sterling. Leaders: 59 Jason Kohler, Fleetwood, PA (1), 64 Miller (2-16), 515 Lippencott (17-20)… Non-Qualifiers: KT3 Cory Renninger, 147 Louie Mitchalk, 39B Bobby Reese, 19U Jordan Umbenhauer, 8JR Doug Hendricks, 976 Don Norris, Jr… Heat 1: 515, 59, 4, 3, 93, 95, 17T, 12, KT3, 8JR. No Time… Heat 2: 69, 47, 26, 72, 157, 35, 19, 97, 19U, 39B. 10-lap Heat Time: 3:15.210… Heat 3: 30, 64, 926, 8, 5, 17, 23B, 147, 12V, 976. N/T… Consolation: 19, 97, 17T, 12, 12V, 23B, KT3, 147, 39B, 19U, 8JR, 976. N/T.
NASCAR ROADRUNNERS - 15-LAP FEATURE
1. 3 Dean Ulsh, Pine Grove, PA, 2. Big1 Mike Allar, Orwigsburg, PA, 3. 35 Jason Purcell, Pine Grove, PA, 4. 66 Kevin Holland, 5. 4 Jake Smulley, 6. 17 Kevin Beach, 7. 39S Butch Solt, 8. 555 Elvin Brennan, 9. 117 Marty Shappell, 10. 39 Robbie Pyle, 11. 22 Tom Hablett, 12. 19W Derek Bender.
Leaders: Smulley (1-4), Ulsh (5-9), Smulley (10), Ulsh (11-15)… Heat: 39, 117, 66, 17, 39s, 35, 555, 22, 3, 4, Big1, 19W.