VON DOHREN IS 6TH MODIFIED WINNER ON DODGE NIGHT AT BIG DIAMOND;
(STILL NO MODIFIED REPEAT WINNERS BUT WHITMOYER AND ULSH TAKE SECOND WINS)
Minersville, PA - June 27 - Craig Von Dohren of Barto, PA piloted the Devine Transport/Stauffer Construction 70d to his first feature win in NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified action on Dodge Night at Big Diamond Raceway Friday. The win was Von Dohren's 47 career modified win at Big Diamond, tying him for the lead on the tracks all-time win with Duane Howard. Von Dohren became the sixth different winner in six races run this season for the NASCAR Weekly Series Modifieds at Big Diamond.
Craig Whitmoyer of Hamburg, PA captured his second feature win of the year in the shortened 15-lap marathon Sportsman Modified feature. Rodney Ulsh of Summit Station, PA took his second win in the 15-lap roadrunner main.
Craig Von Dohren took the $2000 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series win over point leader Doug Hoffman (Allentown), Rick Laubach (Richlandtown), Meme DeSantis (Temple), Kevin Hartnett (Perkasie), Billy Pauch (Frenchtown, NJ), Ray Swinehart (Bechtelsville), Billy Pauch, Jr. (Frenchtown, NJ), Doug Manmiller (Wyomissing) and Kyle Weiss (Hamburg). Heat wins went to defending champion Keith Hoffman, Laubach and Kenny Brightbill (Sinking Spring) while Gary Hager (Stewartsville, NJ) was the consolation winner.
Kenny Brightbill and rookie Billy Pauch, Jr. started on the front row for the 25-lap modified main and Brightbill took the early lead. Rick Laubach made an incredible move on the opening lap from his sixth starting spot to pull beside Brightbill as they completed lap 1. He completed that pass in turn three to take the lead on lap 2. Craig Von Dohren, who started seventh moved to fourth by lap 4 and took third from Pauch on lap 5. Von Dohren got by Brightbill on lap 7 and set his sights on the leader. He caught Laubach on lap 10 and showed the nose of the 70d to the inside several times before, on lap 12, he charged into the lead using the outside groove in turn two.
Doug Hoffman started in 14th and methodically worked his way through the field to take third on lap 14 from a strong running, Dodge-powered 15x of Pauch, Jr., who had overtaken Brightbill for that position on lap 8. On lap 21 Doug took second but could not close the gap between himself and Von Dohren.
In the Sportsman Modified feature, seven cautions in the first six laps forced the event to be shortened from 20 to 15-laps. Craig Whitmoyer took the victory in his Reppert's Automotive/Yerger's Archery 99 over Tom Brennan (Pottsville), Brad Grim (Coplay), Brent Boyer (Bloomsburg), Billy Moyer, Jr. (Pine Grove), Lowell Snyder (Upper Black Eddy), Greg Weiland (Pottsville), Randy Thomas (Lehighton), Fred Fisher (Womelsdorf) and Lance Hoch (Topton). Heat wins went to Ryan Moyer (Schuylkill Haven), Grim and Boyer with Andy Fayash (Mary-D) getting credit for the consolation victory.
With the Sportsman Modifieds only competing in their third race of the season, it was hard to tell if the drivers were a bit rusty, overanxious or both as the yellow flag flew nine times, three times before the second lap could be completed. Fran Purcell, Jr. (Pottsville) took the early lead from the pole position but with one lap in the books there was a caution that caught previous 2003 feature winners Ryan Moyer and Craig Whitmoyer in a tangle with Larry Lippencott (Upper Black Eddy) and Tom Brennan. Purcell led until he spun his #1 out of the lead on lap three putting Brent Boyer, who started fifth, into the lead. Boyer held off serious pressure from first Lowell Snyder and then Brad Grim but the heat was turned up on lap 7 when Whitmoyer came all the way through the field, after going to the rear on lap 1, to take second.
An inside move off turn four on lap eight put Whitmoyer on top. Another driver who went to the rear with Whitmoyer on lap 1, Tom Brennan, had his 'day-glow' green, orange and white 26 hooked up and took second on lap 11. Brennan was able to close a bit but Whitmoyer took the victory.
The roadrunner 15-lap main uncharacteristically saw five yellow flag incidents. Rookie Jake Smulley of Forestville took the early lead but four-time winner Rick Hendricks moved from tenth to second by the end of lap two. Smulley held his own until he bobbled between turns one and two, allowing Hendricks to take advantage. It looked like Hendricks would go 5 for 6 this season when his 8 threw the right rear wheel from the car with three laps remaining, collecting second place Dave Winslow (Fleetwood) and Marty Shappell (Pottsville). The incident was the third of three with 12 laps in and Rodney Ulsh, who was seventh on lap 12, found himself restarting in first spot. Ulsh led the last three laps for the win over Kevin Holland (Pine Grove), Jason Heffner (Pottsville), Kirby Schlappich (Temple) and rookie Butch Solt (Lehighton). Heat winners were Kevin Beach (Minersville) and Elvin Brennan (Forestville) who both fell from the top feature five on lap 12.
This Tuesday night (July 1), Big Diamond Raceway hosts the third stop of the eight-event, $180,000 Pennsylvania Speedweek for Sprint Cars. In addition to a full card of time trials, heats, B-Main and the $4000-to-win, 30-lap 410 Sprint feature, the KARS Doorways Unlimited 358 Sprint cars will run a complete racing card. Gates open at 5:30 and time trials start at 7:30.
On Friday, July 4, the 24th Annual Georgie Stevenson Memorial will kick-off the holiday weekend with a Twin-20 card for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds. Along with qualifying and two $1700-to-win features for the modifieds, there will be full racing cards for the Sportsman Modifieds and Roadrunners as well. The whole package is wrapped up with one of the finest fireworks displays in the area. The racing program will start one-hour earlier at 7 PM.
BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY DODGE NIGHT RESULTS Date:6/27/03
NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES MODIFIEDS
25-lap feature - 1. 70d Craig Von Dohren, Barto; 2. 77 Doug Hoffman, Whitehall; 3. 16 Rick Laubach, Richlandtown; 4. 357 Meme DeSantis, Temple; 5. 6jr Kevin Hartnett, Perkasie; 6. 114 Billy Pauch, Frenchtown, NJ; 7. 33 Ray Swinehart, Bechtelsville; 8. 15x Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown, NJ; 9. 00 Doug Manmiller, Wyomissing; 10. 21K Kyle Weiss, Hamburg; 11. 55 Shawn Reimert; 12. 14 Terry Meitzler; 13. 901 Bruce Williams; 14. 102X Tim Fitzpatrick; 15. Sq.1 Bobby Gunther Walsh; 16. 72 Jeff Ebersole; 17. 15 Dale Hartz; 18. 5 Paul Kline; 19. 19 Kenny Brightbill, 20. 44 Gary Hager, 21. 42 Jeff Sechrist, 22. 53 Mike Gular, 23. 002 Ed Scott, 24. 14S Todd Biever, 25. 1 Keith Hoffman, 26. 102 Shawn Fitzpatrick. Lap Leaders: Brightbill (1), Laubach (2-11), Von Dohren (12-25)�€� �€� �€� 10-lap Heats - Heat 1: K. Hoffman, 70D Von Dohren, 114 Pauch (Sr), 72 J. Ebersole, 55 Reimert, 002 Scott, 14s Biever, Sq.1 Walsh, KB1 John Willman, 14 Meitzler. (No Time)�€� Heat 2: 16 Laubach, 357 DeSantis, 77 D. Hoffman, 00 Manmiller, 6Jr K. Hartnett, 53 Gular, 44 Hager, 901 Williams, 5 Kline, 118 Sean Merkel. (3:02.25)�€�Heat 3: 19 Brightbill, 33 R. Swinehart, 15X Pauch, Jr., 21K Weiss, 42 Sechrist, 102 S. Fitzpatrick, 15 Hartz, 73 Rick Schaffer, 102X T. Fitzpatrick. (No Time)�€� 10-lap Consolation: 44 Hager, 14s Biever, 14 Meitzler, 102x T. Fitzpatrick, 15 Hartz, 5 Kline, Sq.1 Walsh, 901 Williams, 118 Merkel, KB1 Willman, 73 Schaffer. (No Time).
NASCAR DODGE SHORTRACK SERIES SPORTSMAN MODIFIEDS
15-lap Main: 1. 99 Craig Whitmoyer, Hamburg; 2. 26 Tom Brennan, Pottsville; 3. 611 Brad Grim, Coplay; 4. 19 Brent Boyer, Bloomsburg; 5. 17 Billy Moyer, Pine Grove; 6. 10 Lowell Snyder, Upper Black Eddy; 7. 5 Greg Weiland, Pottsville; 8. 24 Randy Thomas, Lehighton; 9. 95 Fred Fisher, Womelsdorf; 10. 35 Lance Hoch, Topton; 11. 21 Chris Clemens; 12. 91 Joe Goerner; 13. 97 Dan Guinther; 14. 64 Andy Miller; 15. 30T Tom Sheetz, Jr.; 16. 157 Andy Fayash; 17. 4 Jesse Sterling; 18. 12V John Deatrich, Jr.; 19. 1 Fran Purcell, Jr.; 20. 11x Rick Hendricks; 21. 8 Brad Force; 22. 23B Steve Zimmerman; 23. 515 Larry Lippencott; 24. 3 Luke Wagner; 25. 47 Gary Wagner, Jr.; 26. 93 Ryan Moyer. Lap Leaders: Purcell (1-2), Boyer (3-7), Whitmoyer (8-15)�€� �€� �€� 8-lap Heats - Heat 1: 93 R. Moyer, 3 L. Wagner, 95 Fisher, 12V Dietrich, 91 Goerner, 47 G. Wagner, 30T Sheetz, 64 A. Miller, 12 Carl Lieber, 23B Zimmerman. (No Time)�€��€� Heat 2: 611 Grim, 1 Purcell, 17 B. Moyer, 10 Snyder, 4 Sterling, 515 Lippencott, 24 Thomas, 98 Tim Apgar, 97 Guinther, 72 Ray Goodall, Jr. (No Time)�€��€� Heat 3: 19 Boyer, 99 Whitmoyer, 35 Hoch, 26 Brennan, 21 Clemens, 8 Force, 157 Fayash, 11X R. Hendricks, 5 Weiland (2:36.02)...... Consolation: 157 Fayash, 24 Thomas, 64 A. Miller, 97 Guinther, 11x R. Hendricks, 5 Weiland, 23B Zimmerman, 30T Sheetz, 98 Apgar, 12 Lieber, 72 Woodall. (Stopped after one lap, 9 cars started - 8 cars remaining).
NASCAR ROADRUNNERS
15-lap Feature: 1. 5 Rodney Ulsh, Summit Station; 2. 66 Kevin Holland, Pine Grove; 3. 88 Jason Heffner, Pottsville; 4. 77x Kirby Schlappich, Temple; 5. 39S Butch Solt, Lehighton; 6. 555 Elvin Brennan; 7. Big1 Jason Neidlinger; 8. 6Jr Perry Valariano; 9. 117 Marty Purcell,;10. 8 Doug Hendricks, 11. 27X Dave Winslow, 12. 4 Jake Smulley; 13. 19W Derek Bender; 14. 17 Kevin Beach, 15. 8M Ken Eckert, Jr.; 16. 35 Lance Hoch. Lap Leaders: Smulley (1-5), Hendricks (6-12), Ulsh (13-16). 6-lap Heats - Heat 1: 17, 6Jr, 117, 27X, 5, Big1, 77x, 35. Heat 2: 555, 8, 19w, 4, 66, 88, 39s, 8M.