STRUNK AND BRIGHTBILL DEFEND THEIR CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH VICTORIES, SITES OPENS UP REGULAR SEASON WITH A WIN

News From BD Raceway , LLC

Big Diamond Raceway

Minersville, Pa

Track Hotline- 570-544-1410

Speedway Office- 570-385-0744

Media Contact: Chris Budihas

chris@racerboymarketing.com

www.bigdiamondraceway.com

Sunday April 19, time TBA – Savage 61 Dodge Nutty Buddy Enduro Series Race #1. 6/8 Cylinder enduro & 4 Cylinder Enduro.

Forestville, PA – April 5, 2009 – Jeff Strunk of Mohnton defended his 358 Modified championship with a 35-lap/$3000 feature victory in Sunday’s regular season opener at Big Diamond Raceway. It was Strunk’s third BDR season opener triumph in the last four seasons. Meanwhile, Strunk’s new 2009 car owner Vince Gagliardo enjoyed his first win of any kind.

Landis C. Deck & Sons sponsored the season’s first points race under beautiful skies and in front of a very supportive crowd. Brad Brightbill of Sinking Springs PA followed up his ’08 Sportsman championship with a 25-lap $1000 main event win. Kody Sites of Hamburg is only beginning his second full year of Wooden Keg Roadrunner competition and has already won four career features. Sites was the 20-lap/$300 feature winner on Sunday evening.

Strunk, a past six-time track champion, started the 35-lap 358 Modified A-Main from the third position via luck of the draw. Strunk wasted no time in working his way to the head of the class. Strunk, 40, found strength in his Squeak Racing Engines powered machine and passed race leader Billy Pauch via the inside groove of the third circuit. Pauch just happens to be driving Strunk’s former ride, the Hyneman #126.

For all intents and purposes, the race for victory had been decided. He withstood a few early race restarts and then set a blistering pace in the events final caution-free thirty laps. Strunk, driving the #41 Teo, set the event’s quickest lap, and placed plenty of space between himself and second place Pauch. With less than ten circuits remining, Strunk negotiated heavy lapped traffic, but still remained in complete control. Strunk patiently worked through the slower traffic and enjoyed a three second lead by race’s end.

“Words can’t describe it “ mentioned Strunk in victory lane after his new team earned their first victory in the season’s first race. “This is really emotional and awesome. I’m really happy for the guys on this team”.

Strunk began competing at Big Diamond in 1988 and won his first career feature exactly one year later. His victory on Sunday was the 38^th of his illustrious career, which ranks third on the track’s all-time winner’s list

Pauch seized the race lead from rookie competitor Kyle Follweiler on lap two. A few turns later, Follweiler made hard contact with the guardrail. He was shaken up but not injured. After Strunk, moved into the lead on lap three, Pauch continued to race from the runner-up position. Pauch finished comfortably in the second spot.

Duane Howard, a four-time feature winner last year, started from nineteenth position. By lap four, he was racing within the top ten. After a few caution stoppages, Howard, of Oley, found himself in the front five just one lap later. After testing Doug Manmiller for many laps, Howard advanced into the third position late in the running. Driving Dick Biever’s #14, Manmiller of Shoemkaersville started tenth and finished fourth. Billy Pauch Jr. of Frenchtown NJ missed an 11 car tangle on lap 5, and quietly worked from his 26^th (last) starting spot to finish fifth.

Rounding out the top ten were returning former track champion Doug Hoffman of Allentown, ’08 opening day winner Ryan Watt (Boyertown), Craig Whitmoyer (Hamburg), Troy Wink (Mohrsville), and Mike Gular (Green Lane).

With 40 cars sigining into the evening’s action, qualifying was a tough chore. BDR’s all-time leading feature winner Craig Von Dohren missed the qualifying cut by just one spot. Former three-time champion Keith Hoffman and ’08 feature winner John Willman were also unable to make the A-main.

Brightbill started fourth in the 26-car Sportsman feature field. The second generation racer quickly throttled his #19 into the runner-up spot on lap four. Brightbill challenged race leader Shane Moser for several circuits. Brightbill executed the pass via the inside groove of lap seven.

The event’s opening eight laps and final fourteen circuits were completed without a caution. Brightbill, a winner of four features last season, placed plenty of space between himself and the competition as the event drew to a close. Brightbill held nearly a full straightaway advantage and just reached lapped traffic when the checkered flag waved.

It was Brightbill’s eighth career victory in a Sportsman. Brightbill picked up his first career BDR win back in 2005 , and has been a top force since that time. Grant Hilfiger of Canadensis made his second straight start and the invading driver picked up an impressive runner-up finish. Hilfiger started sixteenth and worked into second on lap fifteen, where he remained.

Bound Brook NJ’s Rich Scagliotta followed up his solid performance in the previous week’s Coalcracker race with another top five effort. Scagliotta ran within the top five during a better portion of the contest and finished third. John Stangle of Neshanic Station NJ raced in the second position for a while. He settled for a fourth place effort. Mike Loney of Taylor started fifteenth and drove to a final finish of fifth.

Mike Radocha Sr. led the opening four laps of the Roadrunner feature before Chris Holland took control. Sites had started from the eleventh position. After following Holland for several circuits, Sites seized the top spot on lap eleven. Sites withstood a restart with three laps remaining and throttled his quick #95K Monte Carlo to a victory.

Jeremy Becker (Pottsville) started ninth and gained second on lap 17. Holland, a second generation driver from Pine Grove, finished third. Defending co-champion Kevin Olenick of Forestville was involved in an accident with four laps complete. He pitted, returned, and rallied to a fourth place result. Marc Berzowski of Branchdale began from tenth and eventually rounded out the top five.

The Big Diamond Raceway will be closed this weekend in observation of the Easter Holiday. The next show is scheduled for Friday April 17, featuring a three-division program of 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, and Roadrunners. Gates open at 5PM and qualifying begins at 7:45PM. Adult general admission is $12.

Sunday September 19 is race #1 of the Savage 61 Dodge Nutty Buddy Enduro Series. A Four Cylinder (Small Car) Enduro and a Six/Eight Cylinder Big Car Enduro will be contested. Looking ahead to Sunday April 26, the Super DirtCar Series returns to the Coal Region, the Spring Fever 75-lap Big Block Modified race.

The Big Diamond Raceway is a 3/8 mile clay oval speedway located in Forestville PA just northwest of Minersville PA. For directions, news, and updates visit the track’s website at www.bigdiamondraceway.com

QUALIFYING - HEAT ONE: 1) Ryan Watt, 2) Jordan Umbenhauer, 3) Kyle Weiss, 4) Doug Hoffman, 5) Gary Hager. HEAT TWO: 1) Jeff Strunk, 2) Mike Gular, 3) David Van Horn Jr., 4) Doug Manmiller, 5) Meme DeSantis. HEAT THREE: 1) Billy Pauch, 2) Kyle Follweiler, 3) Ryan Godown, 4) Ray Swinehart, 5) Duane Howard. HEAT FOUR: 1) Shawn Fitzpatrick, 2) Joey Grammes, 3) Earl Paules, 4) Rick Laubach, 5) Richie Pratt Jr. CONSI ONE: 1) Kevin Albert Jr., 2) Craig Whitmoyer, 3) Troy Wink. CONSI TWO: 1) Danny Hieber, 2) Sean Merkel, 3) Billy Pauch Jr.

35-LAP 358 MODIFIED FEATURE: 1) #41-Jeff Strunk, 2) #126-Billy Pauch, 3) #4-Duane Howard, 4) #14-Doug Manmiller, 5) #8P-Billy Pauch Jr., 6) #357-Doug Hoffman, 7) #6-Ryan Watt, 8) #99-Craig Whitmoyer, 9) #44M-Troy Wink, 10) #53-Mike Gular, 11) #11-Sean Merkel, 12) #T102-Shawn Fitzpatrick, 13) #542-Rick Laubach, 14) #5-Joey Grammes, 15) #19-Jordan Umbenhauer, 16) #3A-Kevin Albert Jr., 17) #4E-Earl Paules, 18) #107-Danny Hieber, 19) #11D-Richie Pratt Jr., 20) #R1-Ryan Godown, 21) #88D-Meme DeSantis, 22) #33-Ray Swinehart, 23) #71-David Van Horn Jr., 24) #21K-Kyle Weiss, 25) #44-Gary Hager, 26) #42-Kyle Follweiler.

DID NOT QUALIFY: Ricky Yetter, Dale Hartz, Jonathan Kumernitsky, Steve Weikel, Tommy Sheetz Jr., Danny Nicholas, Joe Masiado, Craig Von Dohren, John Willman, AJ DeSantis, Gary Wagner Jr., Colt Harris, Dan Hineline, Keith Hoffman

QUALIFYING - HEAT ONE: 1) John Stangle, 2) Kevin Beach, 3) Kirby Sites, 4) Mike Lisowski Jr., 5) Paul Kline. HEAT TWO: 1) Rich Scagliotta, 2) Tom Brennan, 3) Kevin Smith, 4) Andy Fayash Jr., 5) Marc Herman. HEAT THREE: 1) Billy Moyer Jr., 2) Mike Loney, 3) Brad Brightbill, 4) Tim Fitzpatrick, 5) Mike Taylor. HEAT FOUR: 1) Grant Hilfiger, 2) Tim Apgar, 3) Shane Moser, 4) Mike Mammana, 5) Ray Woodall Jr. CONSI ONE: 1) Roy Wiest, 2) Daryl Dissinger, 3) Bob Lineman Jr. CONSI TWO: 1) Jared Umbenhauer, 2) Josh Biever, 3) Kevin Brady.

25-LAP SPORTSMAN FEATURE: 1) #19-Brad Brightbill, 2) #78-Grant Hilfiger, 3) #8T-Rich Scagliotta, 4) #6-John Stangle, 5) #17D-Mike Loney, 6) #7-Kevin Smith, 7) #71-Mike Mammana, 8) #USA1-Bob Lineman Jr., 9) #17X-Kevin Beach Jr., 10) #14-Paul Kline, 11) #32s-Jared Umbenhauer, 12) #17-Billy Moyer Jr., 13) #72K-Ray Woodall Jr., 14) #123-Roy Wiest, 15) #2T-Mike Taylor, 16) #98-Tim Apgar, 17) #x5-Daryl Dissinger, 18) #15-Mike Lisowski Jr., 19) #M7-Shane Moser, 20) #45X-Andy Fayash Jr., 21) #T102-Tim Fitzpatrick, 22) #21K-Kirby Sites, 23) #26-Tom Brennan, 24) #3H-Marc Herman, 25) #0-Kevin Brady, 26) #1-Josh Biever.

DID NOT QUALIFY: Jordan Dreher, Greg Weiland, Brett Kressley, Jason James, Shawn Horning, Ryan Moyer, Kevin Reese, Bill Shire, Sammy Troup, Pete Phillips Jr., Corey Renninger, Ebby Ridge.

QUALIFYING - HEAT ONE: 1) Chris Holland, 2) Mike Radocha Sr., 3) Kevin Olenick, 4) Marc Berzowski, 5) Toby Chase, 6) Davey Nester. HEAT TWO: 1) Kody Sites, 2) Jeremy Becker, 3) Elvin Brennan III, 4) Steve Gromis, 5) Joe Hendricks, 6) Joey Zvorsky.

20-LAP WOODEN KEG ROADRUNNER FEATURE: 1) #95K-Kody Sites, 2) #97-Jeremy Becker, 3) #8c-Chris Holland, 4) #450-Kevin Olenick, 5) #66K-Marc Berzowski, 6) #z71-Joey Zvorsky, 7) #454-Mike Radocha Sr., 8) #88-Toby Chase, 9) #2-Gary Willard Jr., 10) #102-TJ Fitzpatrick, 11) #22G-Steve Gromis, 12) #105-Joe Brennan, 13) #98-Chip Kennedy, 14) #16D-Rob Derfler, 15) #17-Bud Vidal, 16) #8-Davey Nester, 17) #11X-Joe Hendricks, 18) #101-Gary Renninger, 19) #61s-Christian Donati, 20) #CR7-David Kalbach, 21) #550-Joe Kavanaugh, 22) #23-Ed Kuperavage, 23) #555-Elvin Brennan III, 24) #909-Neil Bressler.