FRANK COZZE TAKES DIRT SOUTHEAST SERIES WIN AT BIG DIAMOND;

BRENNAN TOPS NASCAR SPORTSMAN, BEACH WINS IN ROADRUNNERS

Minersville, PA – 3/28/04 – Frank Cozze of Wind Gap, PA piloted his Carquest/Bert Transmissions 44 to his first career win at Big Diamond Raceway on Sunday in the Comdial DIRT Modified Southeast Series 25-lap feature.

Tom Brennan of Pottsville, PA captured the season opener for the NASCAR Dodge ShorTrack Series Sportsman Modifieds and Kevin Beach of Llewellyn, PA won the 15-lap Roadrunner main event.

Frank Cozze came from his ninth starting spot to take the $2500 win over Billy Pauch (Frenchtown, NJ), Jimmy Horton (Neshanic Station, NJ), Doug Manmiller (Wyomissing, PA), Danny Johnson (Rochester, NY) Mike Iles (Medford, NJ) Keith Hoffman (Whitehall), Jimmy Chester (Newfield, NJ), Jeff Strunk (Bechtelsville, PA), and Craig Von Dohren (Barto, PA).

“Brent Tittle and the crew really have this 44 working great,” shared Cozze. “When you can run around the top here on a day race, you really have an advantage. There was some contact out there (battling for the lead) but on a track like this today, you really need to protect your line.”

Under bright, clear skies in the Pennsylvania mountains, Cozze sprung from his ninth starting spot to take the lead on lap eleven, picking up the win at the Minersville, PA 3/8th mile oval. Forty-three Big Block Modifieds participated in the racing action, the second event of the new COMDIAL DIRT Southeast Series that will give the PA-NJ-DE Modifieds a traveling series of their own for the 2004 season.
Palmyra, PA's Jeff Ebersole led the twenty-four car field to the line for the start of the feature event, but his Ebersole Excavating #72 jumped out of the groove in turn one, giving veteran Billy Pauch the opening he needed to put his Greenfield Dodge #114 in first place as they exited turn two. Yellow flag fever hit the speedway for the next few laps, but that didn't stop the Big Block Modifieds from putting on some great racing action, even if it was just one lap at a time. On a restart on lap two, Edwards, NY'S Tim Fuller made a strong move down low in turns one and two, diving under Jimmy Horton, who was running in the runner-up spot at the time. The two raced side by side down the backstraight, rubbing wheels in turn three, with Fuller losing the handle, spinning out in turn four.

Pauch continued to hold on to the lead on each restart, with Horton having his hands full with challengers for his second spot. Past Big Diamond champion Keith Hoffman was all over Horton, getting the Kauffman's Barbecue #5 into second, using the outside of turns one and two to make the pass. Hoffman was able to cut into Pauch's lead, and on lap 6 he had his racer's nose right on the leader's rear bumper. While all this was going on, Frank Cozze and his #44 modified were methodically picking off spots, and by lap seven he was running fourth and closing in on the front three. He was past
Horton a lap later, and on lap ten he was setting up his line to take Pauch and Hoffman and lead. While Pauch and Hoffman were battling it out themselves for the lead, Cozze dove low on the frontstretch for lap eleven, taking over the front spot in turn one.

Cozze was really flying around the 3/8th mile speedway, and in one lap had built up a four-car length lead. That lead was soon erased, with the yellow flag again being displayed, this time for debris in turn two. On the ensuing restart, Cozze drifted up high in turn one, with Pauch shooting down low, regaining the lead. Coming down the front straightaway to complete lap fourteen, Cozze again dove down low, to retake the lead.
With ten laps to go, Cozze began stretching out his lead, while Pauch now had his hands full, holding off Horton and a fast closing Doug Manmiller, in his GMI Mechanical #00. Getting the five to go signal, Cozze was really pulling away from the field, and by the last lap, had a full straightaway lead over the field. At the finish, Cozze had his first career Big Diamond win, with Pauch, Horton, Manmiller, and Rochester, NY's Danny Johnson, who started 22nd after qualifying from the second consolation race, completing
the top five

In his victory lane interview, Cozze was happy about grabbing his first win at the track, stating, "I could run around the top, which is pretty good for a daytime race - and I don't know why! My crew did a great job today. This is my first win here at Big Diamond; I only run here it seems like once every ten years. It still feels good to get that first one."

41 drivers attempted to qualify 43 cars in the modifieds with Mike Iles, Billy Pauch, Donny Radd (Harleysville) and Frank Cozze taking heat wins. Apparent second place finished Jeff Strunk took the first consolation as apparent winner Matt Sheppard was disqualified for switching cars between the heat and consolation without reporting the change and starting at the rear of the consi. Danny Johnson won the second consolation.

One year ago, Tom Brennan sat on the sidelines for the season opener, awaiting his doctor’s clearance to begin racing again after breaking his leg over the winter. This year Brennan was the opening day winner in the NASCAR Dodge ShorTrack Sportsman Modifieds over Donn Edgar (Lehighton), Gary Wagner, Jr. (Womelsdorf), Larry Kline (Mercerville, NJ), Ken Meisner (Mercerville, NJ), Luke Wagner (Hershey), Keith Fleming (Milford, NJ), Andy Miller (Schuylkill Haven), Billy Moyer (Pine Grove) and Dave Dissinger (Mohrsville)..

New Jersey invader Larry Kline took the early lead in the NASCAR Sportsman Modified feature over Tom Cremer (Sinking Spring) and Tom Brennan. Brennan took second on lap 2 but Kline refused to yield. Brennan made a big outside move on lap 3 in turn two which fell short but a similar move off turn four one lap later gave him the lead for lap 4. Kline came right back and moved under Brennan in turns three and four to regain the lead for lap 5.

Things settled down until a lap 9 restart when Brennan was able to get the edge and take charge. Another restart on lap 11 cost Kline as he fell from second to third and Donn Edgar took over the challenge. But Brennan had his Dirt Wheels, gmiFirst / Kramer’s Power Equipment 26 hooked up to take his sixth career Big Diamond Sportsman win in the event shortened to 15-laps due to the event’s time limit being exceeded.

Heat wins in the 32-car sportsman field went to Donn Edgar, Billy Moyer and Tom Brennan. Jesse Sterling (Lehighton) took the consolation win.

Kevin Beach took his second career roadrunner win in the 15-lap main event over Mike Allar (Orwigsburg), Dean Ulsh (Summit Station), Kevin Holland (Pine Grove) and Jake Smulley (Forestville).

Holland started on the pole after winning his heat but Kevin Beach charged from eighth starting spot to the lead on lap two. From there it was not easy for Beach as the racing state police officer, Mike Allar (Orwigsburg), was filling in for the injured Jason Neidlinger and chasing him down like a speeder on Interstate 81. Allar got right on the leaders on the final lap but that proved to be too close as when the leader bobbled in turn one he was too close and also had to check up and settle for second.

The next event at Big Diamond is this Sunday, April 4, at 2PM. It will feature the season opener for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds along with the second events of the year for the NASCAR Sportsman Modifieds and Roadrunners.

For more information on racing at Big Diamond Raceway check the track’s website at www.bigdiamondraceway.com or call (570) 544-6434.

BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY RACE RESULTS - SEASON OPENER – MARCH 28, 2004
DIRT SOUTHEAST SERIES BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS

25-LAP FEATURE – $2500-TO-WIN - 1. 44 Frank Cozze, 2. 114 Billy Pauch, 3. 5 Jimmy Horton, 4. 00 Doug Manmiller, 5. 27J Danny Johnson, 6. 711 Mike Iles, 7. 5 Keith Hoffman, 8. 44 Jimmy Chester, 9. 88 Jeff Strunk, 10. 83B Craig Von Dohren, 11. 15R Donny Radd, 12. 118 Kerry Kratz, 13. 5 Paul Kline, 14. 16 Kyle Sttrickler, 15. 72 Jeff Ebersole, 16. 17 Scott Van Gorder, 17. 357 Meme DeSantis, 18. 0 Doug Hoffman, 19. M1 Tim Fuller, 20. 6jr Kevin Hartnett, 21. 28 Richie Pratt, Jr., 22. 14 Dan Vauder, 23. 19 Kenny Brightbill, 24. 93 Rick Laubach. Lap Leaders: Pauch (1-10), Cozze (11-12) Pauch (13), Cozze (14-25).

HEAT 1: 711 Iles, 5 Horton, 6jr Hartnett, 357 DeSantis, 5 Kline, 88 Strunk, 44s Matt Sheppard, 58S Shawn Reimert, 51 Sam Wescott, 66 Bob Trappoer, 10X Richie Pratt.
HEAT 2: 114 Pauch (Sr), M1 Fuller, 72 Ebersole, 44 Chester, 0 D. Hoffman, 88u Tom Umbenhauer, 16 Strickler, 7JR Jimmy Reppert, 3 Mike Nicholas, 100J Joseph Pekuposki, 1 Fran Purcell.
HEAT 3: 15R Radd, 5 K. Hoffman, 00 Manmiller, 17 Van Gorder, 19 Brightbill, 102 Shawn Fitzpatrick, 221 Ryan Beltz, 33 Ray Swinehart, 93 Laubach, 27J Johnson.
HEAT 4: 44 Cozze, 83B Von Dohren, 28 Pratt, 14 Vauder, 118 Kratz, 21K Kyle Weiss, 58SX Shawn Reimert, 100 Tom Pompei, 15 Billy Pauch Jr., VR1 Tim Fitzpatrick, Sq1 Bobby Gunther Walsh.
Consi 1: 88 Strunk, 16 Strickler, 7Jr Reppert, 88u Umbenhauer, 3 Nicholas, 66 Trapper, 58S Reimert. DQ – Winner 44s Matt Sheppard. DNS: 51 Wescott, 10X Pratt, 1 Purcell.
Consi 2: 27J Johnson, 93 Laubach, 21K Weiss, 100 Pompei, 58sx Reimert, 221 Beltz, 102 S. Fitzpatrick, 15 Pauch, Jr. DNS: 33 Swinehart, VR1 T.Fitzpatrick, Sq1 Walsh.

Medford, NJ; 114 Billy Pauch, Frenchtown, NJ; 15R Donny Radd, Harleysville; 44 Frank Cozze, Wind Gap.

NASCAR SPORTSMAN MODIFIEDS

15-LAP FEATURE - 1. 26 Tom Brennan, 2. 30 Donn Edgar, 3. 47 Gary Wagner, Jr., 4. 93.3 Larry Kline, 5. 4m Ken Meisner, 6. 3 Luke Wagner, 7. 512 Keith Fleming, 8. 64 Andy Miller, 9. 17 Billy Moyer, 10. 69 Dave Dissinger, 11. 57 Ricky Rutt, 12. 97 Dan Guinther, 13. 4 Jesse Sterling, 14. 157 Andy Fayash, Jr., 15. 707 Craig Whitmoyer, 16. 5 Greg Weiland, 17. 8 Brad Force, 18. 19 Brad Brightbill, 19. 93 Ryan Moyer, 20. 2 Art Liedl, 21. 515 Larry Lippencott, 22. 39 Tom Cremer, 23. 91 Joe Goerner, 24. 59 Jason Kohler. Lap Leaders: Kline (1-3), Brennan (4), Kline (5-8), Brennan (9-15).

HEAT 1: 30 Edgar, 39 Cremer, 4M Meisner, 2 Liedl, 19 Brightbill, 97 Guinther, 24H Justin Andrews, 4 Sterling, 95 Freddie Fisher, 64 Miller, 707 Whitmoyer.
HEAT 2: 17 B. Moyer, 157 Fayash, 93 R. Moyer, 47 Wagner, 69 Dissinger, 57 Rutt, 00 Mario Dinatale, 10 Lowell Snyder, 59 Kohler, 72 Ray Woodall, 8JR Doug Hendricks.
HEAT 3: 26 Brennan, 93.3 Kline, 3 Wagner, 8 Force, 512 Fleming, 91 Goerner, 5 Weiland, 515 Lippencott, 23B Steve Zimmerman, 24 Randy Thomas.
CONSI: 4 Sterling, 707 Whitmoyer, 5 Weiland, 59 Kohler, 515 Lippencott, 64 Miller, 95 Fisher, 72 Woodall, 24H Andrews, 00 Dinatale, 8JR Hendricks, 10 Snyder, 23B Zimmerman, 24 Thomas.

NASCAR ROADRUNNERS

15-LAP FEATURE – 1. 17 Kevin Beach, 2. Big 1 Mike Allar, 3. 3 Dean Ulsh, 4. 66 Kevin Holland, 5. 4 Jake Smulley, 6. 555 Elvin Brennan, 7. 39S Butch Solt, 8. 93 Rob Pyle, 9. 31 Robbie Laudeman, 10. 35 Jason Purcell, 11. 117 Marty Shappell, 12. 23 Dave Kamp, 13. 39 Phil Levering, 14. 19W Derike Bender.
Heat: 66, 3, 555, 4, Big 1, 117, 35, 17, 39, 39s, 93, 31, 23, 19w.

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