Big Diamond Rainout 2000-07-15 / Special Next Week

Coming Dates:

Fri., July 21 - Kenworth/Cummins Night. NASCAR WRS Modified 50, Exide ShorTrack Sportsman, Accel Roadrunners.

Fri., July 28 - Racing with Jesus Family Night. Schuylkill Chamber Night at the Races. Simpson Race Products Contingency Night. NASCAR-WRS Modifieds, NASCAR Exide ShorTrack Sportsman, NASCAR Accel Roadrunners.

Fri., Aug. 4 - NASCAR WRS Modifieds, United Racing Club Sprint Cars by Carquest, Roadrunners. (No Exide Sportsman racing.)

HEAVY RAIN STOPS BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY ACTION ON FRIDAY NIGHT; KENWORTH/CUMMINS MODIFIED 50 SET FOR THIS FRIDAY, JULY 21

Minersville, PA - Heavy rain started at Big Diamond Raceway Friday night, July 14, at 7:45 and continued throughout the evening, forcing track promoters to postpone their NASCAR Weekly Racing Series racing card. The scheduled Racing with Jesus Family Night will be combined with Schuylkill Chamber Night at the Races on Friday, July 28, at the Forestville, PA oval just northwest of Minersville in Schuylkill County. This Friday night, July 21, will see Motor Truck Equipment Company bring the $3500-to-win Kenworth/ Cummins 50 to Big Diamond Raceway for the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Modifieds. Motor Truck Equipment, Kenworth and Cummins are the title sponsors of the Dual Track Modified Championship Series being contested this season at Big Diamond Raceway and Grandview Speedway for the second year. Also on the card will be the NASCAR Exide ShorTrack Sportsman and the NASCAR Accel Roadrunners. Defending Big Diamond Raceway NASCAR WRS Modified champion, Duane Howard of Oley, PA, continues to lead the current point standings with 1791 points. He is followed by Keith Hoffman of Whitehall, PA with 1696, Terry Meitzler of Kutztown, PA with 1635, Meme Desantis of Blandon, PA with 1630 and Glenn Strunk of Bechtelsville, PA with 1565. Completing the top ten are Jim Hauer of Lebanon, PA (1510), Jeff Strunk of Bethel, PA (1461), Ray Swinehart of Bechtelsville, PA (1421), Kyle Weiss of Hamburg, PA (1410) and Doug Manmiller of Wyomissing, PA (1380). In NASCAR's Weekly Racing Series Northeast Region, Duane Howard stands sixth 0.0847 behind leader Mark Cottone who competes weekly at Motordrome Speedway as of July 14. Keith Hoffman is 14th, Terry Meitzler is 24th, Meme DeSantis is 33rd and Glenn Strunk is 45th. In the Exide ShorTrack Sportsman division Gary Hager of Stewartsville, NJ, who is running his first full season at Big Diamond, is the point leader with 2122 points. Donn Edgar of Lehighton, PA, is second with 1942 trailed by rookie Lenny Leibold, Jr. of Jonestown, PA with 1729, Shawn Fitzpatrick of Pottsville, PA with 1660 and Billy Moyer, Jr. of Pine Grove, PA with 1631. Ed Scott of New Tripoli, PA; John Patchoski of Scranton, PA; Joe Biasi of New Ringgold, PA; defending champion Tom Brennan of Pottsville, PA; and Ryan Bauer of Bethlehem, PA complete the top ten. Gary Hager is in the thick of the battle for the championship in NASCAR's Exide ShorTrack Series' Northeast Region. Hager is second to Tioga Speedway's Wayne Lent by only 0.0029 in the CPI rating. Don Edgar is 11th (1st in the 2nd Tier), Lenny Leibold is 27th, Shawn Fitzpatrick is 33rd and Billy Moyer is 42nd as of July 14. Dean Ulsh of Auburn, PA looks like he is on his way to his second straight Accel Roadrunner track title as he leads Glenn "Buckshot" Rowan of Pottsville, PA by 178 markers. Steve Fessler of Schuylkill Haven, PA; John Ulsh of Summit Station, PA, and Marc Berzowski of Minersville, PA complete the top five. Prior to the racing card scheduled for July 15 at Grandview Speedway, Terry Meitzler leads the Motor Truck Equipment Co. Kenworth/Cummins NASCAR Modified Dual Track Series pursued by defending champ Jeff Strunk, Meme DeSantis, Glenn Strunk, Kerry Kratz (Bechtelsville, PA), Doug Manmiller, Ray Swinehart, Shawn Reimert (Oley,PA), Dennis Bailey (Kutztown,PA) and Barry Readinger (Fleetwood,PA). Lap sponsorships are already being accepted for the 2000 Rieck's Printing/Post Vinyl Digital Graphics Coal Cracker 100 for Modifieds on Friday night, September 1. Laps cost $10 each and can be purchased by contacting Mary Bagley on Friday nights in the officials' tower, by calling 610- 659-1869 or via the Internet at baggroup@aol.com. To insure you get an opportunity to purchase the lap you want, you should do so now target your selection as tickets are going fast. This year the rich event paying at least $10,000 to win carries a Sunday, September 3 raindate. For more information, call (570)544-6434 or visit www.bigdiamondraceway.com.