DOUG HOFFMAN WINS AT BIG DIAMOND IN 1ST NIGHT IN EISENHART 77
(2002 CHAMP WHITMOYER TOPS SPORTSMAN, HENDRICKS AGAIN IN ROADRUNNERS)
Minersville, PA - June 6, 2003 - Big Diamond NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified point leader, Doug Hoffman of Allentown, just last week was lamenting how he needed a stronger engine in his Hoffman/Leach '60 Over' car to be competitive for wins at Big Diamond. The anticipated new engine coming this week and the '60 Over' was left back in the garage as Hoffman replaced Steve Bottcher in the Klinger Motorsports/Kerry Hertzog Auto Sales 77 of Dennis Eisenhart and took his first win of the season at Big Diamond Raceway on Friday night on US Army Night and also Valvoline Cup Kickoff Night..
The weather and schedule finally gave the NASCAR Dodge ShorTrack Sportsman Modifieds a break and defending Big Diamond champion Craig Whitmoyer of Hamburg robbed race-long leader Brad Grim (Coplay) of his first career with two laps to go in the 20-lap feature. Doug Hendricks of Auburn looked like he was playing with the field as he blasted by sophomore driver, Perry Valariano (Reading), on lap 11 to take his fourth 15-lap NASCAR Roadrunner win in four events this year.
"I can't say enough about these guys on Moose's (owner Dennis Eisenhart) team. I don't even know all of their names yet," commented Hoffman in the winner's circle. "The way they went to work on the car after I spun-out (and did not qualify) in the heat told me I really have a great team here.
"Years ago I ran really well here and I am happy to be back," continued the '88 and '89 Big Diamond champion and brother of Keith Hoffman, the defending, three-time Diamond champ. "It is really competitive. You have plenty of room but you also give some bumps and bangs get some back. It is just lots of fun racing here."
Wall Street's Todd Biever (New York City) took the early lead from the pole in the 25-lap Modified main event in his Alpha Mills 14S, after the first start was aborted by a tangle involving Terry Meitzler (Kutztown), Kenny Brightbill (Sinking Spring), Rick Laubach (Richlandtown), Bobby Gunther Walsh (Allentown), Billy Pauch (Frenchtown NJ), and Kevin Hartnett (Perkasie). Larry Solomon (Birdsboro) started third and moved by Biever on lap two. Solomon led the field through two more yellows, the final of which saw Craig Von Dohren (Barto) jump a bit too early to move from fifth to an apparent second by the end of lap 5 but he was moved back two spots on a lap seven yellow to fourth.
In the meantime, Doug Hoffman was avoiding the tangles and moving through the field from 21st to fifth by lap 5. He was directly behind Von Dohren when the penalty was assessed and Hoffman was second to Solomon followed by Doug Manmiller (Wyomissing), Von Dohren and Biever. The yellows continued to fly and the restart, with eight laps complete, was the beginning of single file restarts. Hoffman was not fazed by his inability to start beside the leader as he powered to the inside of Solomon on lap nine in turns three and four to take the lead. Todd Biever reasserted himself getting by Manmiller on lap eight, Von Dohren on lap nine and Solomon on lap ten. The final flew on lap 15 when Von Dohren and Manmiller got together with Solomon now back ahead of Biever, but there was no stopping Hoffman.
Doug Hoffman took his 22nd Big Diamond Modified win but his first since 1991, over Larry Solomon, Todd Biever, Terry Meitzler, Shawn Reimert (Oley), Ray Swinehart (Bechtelsville), Keith Hoffman (Whitehall), Jeff Strunk (Bethel), Jeff Sechrist (Womelsdorf) and Billy Pauch. Heat winners were Kenny Brightbill, Barry Readinger (Fleetwood), Bruce Williams (Mahanoy Plane) and Sechrist. Rick Schaffer and Doug Hoffman took the consolation wins.
Lance Hoch (Mertztown) started the 20-lap Sportsman Modified feature on the pole but Brad Grim, starting to his outside, powered into the lead in the 611 bearing the same colors his father formerly drove in the modifieds in the '80s and '90s. Hamburg's Joe Goerner moved to second on lap two with Fred Fisher (Wernersville) running third through lap nine. On a lap nine restart John Deatrich, Jr. (Palo Alto), running fifth, charged off two to go three wide but room was not there and he went over the nose of Fisher's 95. Fourth place Craig Whitmoyer somehow avoided the incident by the most recent feature winner Ryan Moyer (Schuylkill Haven) was not as fortunate and collected Deatrich and Fisher.
Whitmoyer was third on the restart and took second from Goerner as they received the halfway signal from starter, Mike Feltenberger. Grim refused to yield and steadfastly held the edge as Whitmoyer dove into the turns beside Grim on nearly every lap only to see Grim getting the edge coming off. Whitmoyer ran even with Grim on the backstretch on lap 18 and barely edged just far enough in front in turn three to slide in front coming off turn four.
The defending champion, Craig Whitmoyer, took his first win of the year followed by Brad Grim, Billy Moyer, Jr. (Pine Grove), Tom Brennan (Pottsville), Donn Edgar (Lehighton), Brad Force (Milford, NJ), Rick Hendricks (Auburn), Larry Lippencott (Upper Black Eddy), Darren Dreher (Schuylkill Haven) and Gary Wagner, Jr. (Womelsdorf). Heat winners were Joe Goerner, Grim and Fred Fisher while Lippencott took the consolation.
Jason Neidlinger (Schuylkill Haven) grabbed the early lead in the roadrunner feature from pole sitter Mike Allar (Orwigsburg) but Marty Shappell (Pottsville) caught him and took the top spot on lap four. Meanwhile, Doug Hendricks was up to sixth from his 16th starting spot when he tangled with fifth place Allar with six laps in the books. On the restart Perry Valariano (Reading) put the 6Jr. Mushroom Special to the top spot in the best performance of his young career. Valariano held off Dave Winslow (Fleetwood) until Hendrick flew back through the field and battled to the inside of Winslow who was forced to ride right on and at times push the bumper of Valariano. Hendricks took second on lap 10 and one lap later he was in front and on his way to his fourth win. Rodney Ulsh (Summit Station) followed Hendricks' run to move from fourth to second on the final lap. Valariano finished third with Winslow and Kevin Holland (Pine Grove) completing the top five. Jason Neidlinger, Jason Purcell (Pottsville), Kevin Eckert (Minersville), Phil Levering (Parkersburg) and Jake Smulley (Minersville) finished sixth through tenth as Shappell and Elvin Brennan (Forestville) tangled on the final lap racing for fifth.
Big Diamond Raceway will host a unique special event on Friday (June 13) as the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds share the spotlight with a unique challenge race that could be billed at a Limited Sprint Civil War. The track's NASCAR Roadrunners will round out the three-division card.
The Doorways Unlimited KARS 358-Sprint Series will host the North Carolina-based American Outlaw Action Series sprints at Big Diamond in an event that should be quite interesting as the $1500-to-win purse should draw a few Selinsgrove 358 Sprints as rules have been opened to include them. Also the United Racing Club, with rules mirroring those of AOAS, is idle that evening and a number of URC stars make return for this event, just two weeks after their most recent Big Diamond appearance. It should provide for the biggest sprint car field in the track's history with drivers from Georgia to New York and possibly an Australian.
The DIRT Big Block Modified boys get DOWN, DIRTY & WILD in the 100 Lap Super DIRT Series event at the Big Diamond on Wednesday night, June 18. For the Super DIRT Series modified stars, the June 18th visit to the Minersville, PA oval will be their first ever stop, so its neutral ground and no one has a home track advantage, except the competitors that run at weekly with the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds that are limited to 358 cubic inch engines. Many of these drivers also have DIRT big block rides like Doug Hoffman, Keith Hoffman, Jeff Strunk, Meme DeSantis, Ray Swinehart, Kenny Brightbill, Billy Pauch Craig Von Dohren, Rick Schaffer, Rick Laubach and others.
Time Trials, and a series of qualifying events will lead-up to the DOWN, DIRTY & WILD 100 at Big Diamond Raceway on Wednesday night, June 18. General admission for the event is $20 for adults and $5 for children 6-11. Kids under 6 will be admitted for free. Gates will open at 5 PM and race time is set for 7:30 PM.
BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY RACE RESULT SUMMARY Date: 6/6/03
US ARMY NIGHT - - - Valvoline Cup Kickoff Night
NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES MODIFIEDS
25-LAP FEATURE - 1. 77 DOUG HOFFMAN, Allentown, PA; 2. 517 LARRY SOLOMON, Birdsboro, PA; 3. 14S TODD BIEVER, New York, NY; 4. 14 TERRY MEITZLER, Kutztown, PA; 5. 55 SHAWN REIMERT, Oley, PA; 6. 33 RAY SWINEHART, Bechtelsville, PA; 7. 1 KEITH HOFFMAN, Whitehall, PA; 8. 88 JEFF STRUNK, Bethel, PA; 9. 42 JEFF SECHRIST, Womelsdorf, PA; 10. 114 BILLY PAUCH, Frenchtown, NJ; 11. 901 Bruce Williams, 12. 102 Shawn Fitzpatrick, 13. 21T Jason Andrews, 14. 73 Rick Schaffer, 15. 70d Craig Von Dohren, 16. 44 Gary Hager, 17. 5 Paul Kline, 18. 6Jr. Kevin Hartnett, 19. 00 Doug Manmiller, 20. 117 Kevin Hirthler, 21. 16 Rick Laubach, 22. 357 Meme DeSantis, 23. 386 Barry Readinger, 24. 15 Dale Hartz, 25. XB9 Kyle Weiss, 26. 002 Ed Scott. 27. 19 Kenny Brightbill, 28. Sq.1 Bobby Gunther Walsh. Scratched 100 Tom Pompei putting 15 Dale Hartz into feature.
10-LAP QUALIFYING HEATS (5 Qualified, 4 Handicapped into top 16): Heat 1: 19 Ken Brightbill (No Time), 517 L. Solomon, 70D Von Dohren, 5 Kline, 100 Pompei, 357 DeSantis, 61D Kyle Strickler, 15 Hartz, 15X Billy Pauch, Jr., 44 G. Hager. Heat 2: 386 B. Readinger (3:05.38), 14S Biever, 33 R. Swinehart, 88 J. Strunk, 55 Reimert, 73 R. Schaffer, 102 S. Fitzpatrick, 53 Mike Gular, 118 Sean Merkel. Heat 3: 901 Williams (3:04.73), XB9 Weiss, 6Jr. K. Hartnett, 114 Pauch, Sr., Sq.1 Walsh, 002 Scott, 77 D. Hoffman, 117 Hirthler, 71S Sam Schaeffer, 102X Tim Fitzpatrick. Heat 4: 42 Sechrist (3:02.95), 14 Meitzler, 21T Andrews, 16 Laubach, 1 K. Hoffman, 00 Manmiller, 4 Chris Gambler, 22 Ron Solomon, Jr., KB1 John Willman. 8-LAP CONSOLATIONS (4 Qualified): Consi 1: 73 R. Schaffer (2:27.08), 357 DeSantis, 102 T. Fitzpatrick, 44 G. Hager, 15 Hartz, 61D Strickler, 53 Gular, 118 Merkel, 15X Pauch, Jr.. Consi 2: 77 D. Hoffman (No Time), 00 Manmiller, 002 Scott, 117 Hirthler, 102X T. Fitzpatrick, 71S S. Schaeffer, 4 Gambler, 22 R. Solomon, Jr., KB1 Willman.
NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SHORTRACK SERIES SPORTSMAN MODIFIEDS
20-LAP FEATURE - 1. 99 CRAIG WHITMOYER, Hamburg, PA; 2. 611 BRAD GRIM, Coplay, PA; 3. 17 BILLY MOYER, Pine Grove, PA; 4. 26 TOM BRENNAN, Pottsville, PA; 5. 30 DONN EDGAR, Lehighton, PA; 6. 8 BRAD FORCE, Milford, NJ; 7. 11X RICK HENDRICKS, Auburn, PA; 8. 515 LARRY LIPPENCOTT, Upper Black Eddy; 9. 926 DARREN DREHER, Schuylkill Haven, PA; 10. 47 GARY WAGNER, JR, Womelsdorf, PA, 11. 3 Luke Wagner, 12. 21 Chris Clemens, 13. 95 Fred Fisher, 14. 23B Steve Zimmerman, 15. 24 Randy Thomas, 16. 91 Joe Goerner, 17. 12V John Deatrich, Jr., 18. 93 Ryan Moyer, 19. 97 Dan Guinther; 20. 39J Jeff Geake, 21. 35 Lance Hoch, 22. 98 Tim Apgar, 23. 157 Andy Fayash, Jr., 24. 61 John Leindecker.
8-LAP QUALIFYING HEATS (6 qualified, 5 Handicapped to top 15): Heat 1: 91 Goerner, (2:32.82), 35 Hoch, 3 Wagner, 99 Whitmoyer, 30 Edgar, 11X R. Hendricks, 23B Zimmerman, 19 Brent Boyer, 926 Dreher, 10 Lowell Snyder. Heat 2: 611 Grim (No Time), 93 R. Moyer, 97 Guinther, 157 Fayash, 8 Force, 98 Apgar, 515 Lippencott, 24 Thomas, 21 Clemens, 1 Fran Purcell, Jr. Heat 3: 95 Fisher (2:33.45), 47 Wagner, 17 B. Moyer, 12V Deatrich, 28 Brennan, 39J Geake, X5 Greg Weiland, 64 Andy Miller, 61 Leindecker, 12 Carl Lieber. 8-LAP CONSOLATION (6 Qualified): 515 Lippencott (No Time), 21 Clemens, 926 Dreher, 61 Leindecker, 24 Thomas, 23B Zimmerman, 12 Lieber, X5 Weiland, 19 Boyer, 64 A. Miller, 10 Snyder, 1 Purcell.
NASCAR ROADRUNNERS - 15-LAP FEATURE - 1. 8 DOUG HENDRICKS, Auburn, PA; 2. 5 RODNEY ULSH, Summit Station, PA; 3. 6jr. PERRY VALARIANO, Reading, PA; 4. 27x DAVE WINSLOW, Fleetwood, PA; 5. 66 KEVIN HOLLAND, Pine Grove, PA; 6. Big 1 Jason Neidlinger, 7. 35 Jason Purcell, 8. 8M Ken Eckert, Jr., 9. 39 Phil Levering, 10. 4 Jake Smulley, 11. 77X Kirby Schlappich, 12. 22 Mike Allar, 13. 19W Derek Bender; 14. 117 Marty Shappell, 15. 555 Elvin Brennan, 16. 88 Jason Heffner; 17. 17 Kevin Beach, 18. 39S Butch Solt. 6-LAP QUALIFYING HEAT: Heat 1: 27x (No Time), Big1, 117, 66, 17, 35, 6Jr., 8M, 77X. Heat 2: 19W (No Time), 555, 8, 22, 39, 5, 88, 4, 39s.