Big Diamond Results 2000-06-16

Coming:

June 23 - 8pm - J R Trucking Night.
NASCAR WRS Modifieds, Exide ShorTrack Sportsman, Accel Roadrunners.

June 27 - 7:30pm (Tuesday) - Keystone Pretzel PA Speedweek Super Sprints & Sportsman.

June 30 - 8pm - Georgie Stevenson Memorial.
NASCAR WRS Modified 50, Exide ShorTrack Sportsman, Accel Roadrunners.

JIM HAUER STEALS BIG DIAMOND MODIFIED WIN AS LEADERS ON LAST LAP; HAGER TAKES 5TH SPORTSMAN WIN; OSWALD GETS 1ST ROADRUNNER VICTORY

Minersville, PA - June 16 - Jim Hauer of Lebanon, PA worked himself into the right place at the right time and when leaders Ray Swinehart and Keith Hoffman tangled on the final lap, Hauer found himself up front for his first NASCAR WRS Modified win of the season at Big Diamond Raceway on Friday's True Value Hardware Night. Gary Hager of Stewartsville, NJ, captured his fifth Exide ShorTrack Series Sportsman feature win while Jason Oswald of New Ringgold, PA took his first career Accel Roadrunner win. The evening of speed was also a Simpson Race Products Contingency Night for the top three finishers in each class. Scott Albert (Fredericksburg, PA) led the opening tow laps of the 25-lap NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Modified 25-lap feature. Tom Pompei (Quakertown, PA) led the third and fourth laps before veteran Ray Swinehart (Bechtelsville, PA) moved his Bechtelsville Auto Body 33 into the lead on lap five after starting eighth. On the same lap Keith Hoffman (Whitehall, PA), who started 16th, took the second spot with the Bashore Trucking 5. Hoffman stalked Swinehart while 13th starting Jim Hauer moved to third on lap 8. Hauer had a front row seat for one of the best battles for the lead of the season. On lap 15 Hoffman began showing the nose along side of the leader on the inside. Lap after lap Swinehart held the lead at the start/finish line by only the length of the hood of his 33. Hoffman stayed with his inside line and pulled in front as the completed lap 20 but Swinehart powered back to the lead on lap 21. As they came off turn four to complete lap 24, Hoffman again nosed in front. Swinehart again powered to the outside as they entered turn one but as they exited turn two, the got together with Swinehart spinning to cause a yellow. Hoffman also was sent to the rear for his contribution toward causing the incident. This put Hauer and his Dave's Automotive/Hutter's Gas 'n Shop Troyer 9 into the lead and he never looked back, taking his first win of the season. Tom Pompei took second followed by 23rd place starter Duane Howard (Oley, PA), Glenn Strunk (Bechtelsville, PA), Randy Bailey (Kutztown, PA), Meme DeSantis (Blandon, PA), Kerry Kratz (Bechtelsville, PA), Terry Meitzler (Kutztown, PA), Kevin Graver, Jr. (Lehighton, PA), and Jeff Strunk (Bethel, PA). Modified qualifying heat winners were Todd Bashore (Bethel, PA), Scott Albert, Glenn Strunk and Brian Engle (Leesport, PA) while the twin consolations went to Tom Umbenhauer (Richland, PA) and DeSantis. Defending NASCAR ShorTrack Series Sportsman track champion, Tom Brennan of Pottsville, PA has had nothing but back luck this season. It looked like that might change as he took the lead in the 20-lap Exide Sportsman feature from Rick Hendricks (Auburn, PA) on lap three. Joe Biasi (New Ringgold, PA) and Donn Edgar (Lehighton, PA) ran second and third by lap 7 but the blue Johnny's Truck Stop 44 of Gary Hager was on the move. Hager started 19th in the 26-car field and took fourth by lap 7. On a lap ten restart, Hager made a big move to get by both Biasi and Edgar for second. After trailing Brennan for several laps waiting for an error, Hager took things into his own hand, moving to the outside to sweep around the leader on lap 17. Hager took another feature win followed by Brennan, Biasi, Shawn Fitzpatrick (Pottsville, PA), Kyle Strickler (Sinking Spring, PA), Ed Scott (new Tripoli, PA), Terry Bensinger (Schuylkill Haven, PA), John Deatrich, Jr. (Pottsville, PA), Lance Hoch (Topton, PA), and Edgar, who slowed seriously on the final lap to lose seven spots. Heat wins went to Hendrick, Biasi and Hoch while Hager was the consolation winner. It took some time but Jason Purcell over took early leader Mike Allar on lap 6 of the 15-lap Roadrunner feature to go on to take his first career win worth $100. Jason Purcell (Pottsville, PA) finished second followed by Dean Ulsh (Auburn, PA), Glenn Rowan (Pottsville, PA), and Marc Berzowski (Minersville, PA). Heat winners were Kirby Schlappich and Dale Hartz (Hamburg, PA). The evening shrouded by threatening skies saw 40 Modifieds, 35 Sportsman and 17 roadrunners on hand. This Friday night's NASCAR card features the Weekly Racing Series Modifieds, the Exide ShorTrack Sportsman and the Accel Roadrunners on J R Trucking Night. But that kicks off three races in 8 days at Big Diamond. On Tuesday night, June 27, at 7:30 Keystone Pretzels presents Pennsylvania Sprint Speedweek at Big Diamond Raceway. The powerful Super Sprints make their return to Big Diamond for only the third time ever. The Sportsman Stock cars will be on the card in a non-NASCAR event which is a qualifier for the rich Quarter Mile Dirt Track Championships at Five Mile Point in Binghamton, NY later this year. In addition to the involvement of series sponsor Keystone Pretzels of Lancaster County, Alexander Pontiac/Buick/Cadillac/GMC of Sunbury and Middleswarth Potato Chips will also be involved in the card. The Alexander dealership will sponsor a heat winners' cash dash while Middleswarth will be giving out bags of Middleswarth Potato Chips to the first 500 fans courtesy of their sprint car drivers Keith Kauffman and Todd Hestor. The third headline of the eight-day period comes on Friday, June 30, at the WRS Modifieds go in a 50-lap feature as part of the annual Georgie Stevenson Memorial. The Exide Sportsman and Accel Roadrunners will also be on the card. For more Big Diamond information call (570) 544-6434 or visit www.bigdiamondraceway.com.

RESULT SUMMARY - BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY - 6/16/00 - TRUE VALUE HARDWARE NIGHT/SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS CONTINGENCY NIGHT.

NASCAR WEEKLY RACING SERIES MODIFIED 25-lap Feature - 1. 9 Jim Hauer, 2. 100 Tom Pompei, 3. 85A Duane Howard, 4. 357 Glenn Strunk, 5. 81 Randy Bailey, 6. 88T Meme DeSantis, 7. 87 Kerry Kratz, 8. 14B Terry Meitzler, 9. 101 Kevin Graver, Jr., 10. W9 Jeff Strunk, 11. 386 Barry Readinger, 12. 4 Todd Bashore, 13. 5 Keith Hoffman, 14. 2T Tracy Readinger, 15. 33 Ray Swinehart, 16. 18C Craig Whitmoyer, 17. 58S Shawn Reimert, 18. 42J Jeff Sechrist, 19. 11X Brian Engle, 20. 21K Kyle Weiss, 21. 102 Tim Fitzpatrick, 22. 2Z Doug Manmiller, 23. 24 Butch Cerullo, 24. 19 Tom Umbenhauer, 25. 27 Bob Ebersole, 26. 027 Bruce Williams, 27. 73 Scott Albert, 28. 1T John Willman.

Heats - 10-laps, 5 Qualify, 4 Handicapped; Consolations - 8-laps, 4 Qualify...

Heat 1: 4 Bashore, 33 Swinehart, 386 B. Readinger, 1T Willman, 27 Ebersole, 05 Guy Keller, 19, 54 Billy Warren 85A Howard, 54X Smokey Warren...

Heat 2: 73 Purcell, 58S Reimert, 102 Fitzpatrick, 5 Hoffman, 027 Williams, 21K Weiss, 18C Whitmoyer, 69T Bob Trapper, Z81 Rich Stankiewicz, 99X Don Keefer...

Heat 3: 357 G. Strunk, 101 Graver, 2Z Manmiller, 81 R. Bailey, W9 J. Strunk, 42J Sechrist, 24 Cerullo, 2T T. Readinger, 131 Barry White, 55 D. Bailey...

Heat 4: 11X Engle, 100 Pompei, 9 Hauer, 14B Meitzler, 87 Kratz, 88T DeSantis, 23 Ryan Moyer, 21T Jason Andrews, 3X Ron Mawson, Jr., 85 Ron Haring...

Consolation 1: 19 Umbenhauer, 85A Howard, 21K Weiss, 18C Whitmoyer, 69T Trapper, Z81 Rich Stankiewicz, 99X Keefer, 05 Keller, 54 B. Warren, 54 S. Warren...

Consolation 2: 88T DeSantis, 24 Cerullo, 2T T. Readinger, 42J Sechrist, 23 Moyer, 21T Andrews, 3X Mawson, 131 White, 85 D. Bailey (sub for Haring), 55 D. Bailey (scratched).

NASCAR EXIDE SHORTRACK SPORTSMAN 20-lap Feature - 1. 44 Gary Hager, 2. 26 Tom Brennan, 3. B1 Joe Biasi, 4. 102 Shawn Fitzpatrick, 5. 16 Kyle Strickler, 6. 002 Ed Scott, 7. 114 Terry Bensinger, 8. 25 John Deatrich, Jr., 9. 35 Lance Hoch, 10. 57 Donn Edgar, 11. 13 Lenny Leinbold, Jr., 12. 3X John Patchoski, 13. 39 Tom Cremer, 14. 17 Billy Moyer, Jr., 15. 19 Brent Boyer, 16. 55X John Heckler, 17. 8 Brad Force, 18. 7 Rick Hendricks, 19. 3L Laudan Seigfried, 20. 72 Jeff Ebersole, 21. 1L Ryan Bauer, 22. 611 Brad Grim, 23. 3 Luke Wagner, 24. 21S Steve Symons, 25. 7JR Jim Reppert, 26. 28 Tom Solderich.

Heats - 8-laps, 6 Qualify, 5 Handicapped; Consi - 8-laps, 8 Qualify...

Heat 1: 7 Hendricks, 26 Brennan, 39 Cremer, 25 Deatrich, 13 Leibold, 55X Heckler, 7JR Reppert, 44 Hager, 09 Jim Payne, 1L Bauer, 39X Jeff Geake, 88T Todd Lagler...

Heat 2: B1 Biasi, 16 Strickler, 3L Seigfried, 3X Patchoski, 3 Wagner, 21S Symons, 55 Darren Dreher, 19 Boyer, 28 Solderich, 76 Mike Hallowell, 24 Tom Miller, 87 Andy Burkhart...

Heat 3: 35 Hoch, 114 Bensinger, 57 Edgar, 72 J. Ebersole, 102 S. Fitzpatrick, 611 Grim, 17 B. Moyer, 002 Scott, 77 Jeff Graby, 8 Force, 55M Brian Rehbein...

Consi: 44 Hager, 7JR Reppert, 002 Scott, 17 B. Moyer, 28 Solderich, 19 Boyer, 1L Bauer, 8 Force, 77 Graby, 24 T. Miller, 09 Payne, 55M Rehbein, 55 Dreher, 88T Lagler, 76 Hallowell, 87 Burkhart, 39X Geake.

NASCAR ACCEL ROADRUNNER 15-lap Feature - 1. 18 Jason Oswald, 2. 93 Jason Purcell, 3. Dean Ulsh, 4. 00 Glenn Rowan, 5. 25M Marc Berzowski, 6. 24 Chris Evitts, 7. 7 Steve Fessler, 8. 22 Mike Allar, 9. 8M Ken Eckert, Jr., 10. 3D Robert Fretz, 11. 69M Marty Purcell, 12. 77X Kirby Schlappich, 13. 5 John Ulsh, 14. 51W Marley Whitcomb, 15. 117 Marty Shappell, 16. 15 Dale Hartz, 17. 38 John Oswald.

Heats - All Qualify, Top 7 Handicapped...

Heat 1: 77X Schlappich, 25M Berzowski, 93 J. Purcell, 00 Rowan, 51W Whitcomb, 69M M. Purcell, 3D Fretz, 38 Jo. Oswald, 7 Fessler...

Heat 2: 15 Hartz, 18 Ja. Oswald, 25 Evitts, 22 Allar, 117 Shappell, 3 D. Ulsh, 5 J. Ulsh, 8M K. Eckert.