KEITH HOFFMAN WINS 30TH ANNUAL STEVENSON MEMORIAL RACE AT BIG DIAMOND, JARED UMBENHAUER AND MARC BERZOWSKI ALSO VICTORIOUS

Forestville, PA - July 3, 2009 - Keith Hoffman of Whitehall powered to a convincing feature win in Friday's 40-lap Philly Pretzel Factory Georgie Stevenson Memorial Race at Big Diamond Raceway. Hoffman's triumph, his first at BDR since September 30, 2007, was worth $4000. Hoffman became the ninth different points race winner in nine completed races.

     Meanwhile, teenager Jared Umbenhauer of Richland recorded his first ever 25-lap Sportsman feature win (worth $800) and Marc Berzowski of Branchdale grabbed his first 15-lap Wooden Keg Roadrunner main event victory ($250) since July 13, 2001.

     After suffering four rain-outs in the previous five events, BDR survived this week (despite some pre-race rain) and is looking forward to the upcoming weekend. 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, and Roadrunners will compete on Friday July 10 at 7:45PM, and the Nutty Buddy Enduro Series takes center stage on Sunday July 12 at 5:00PM.

     Hoffman worked his way into the front five early and grabbed the runner-up spot behind early leader AJ DeSantis on the event's second circuit. Rick Laubach (started eighth) passed Hoffman on the tenth lap and temporarily stormed past DeSantis on an apparent lap 11 restart. The caution had waved prior to the lap's completion, however, and DeSantis remained up front.

     The ensuing restart found DeSantis in control and Hoffman regaining the runner-up spot from Laubach. Hoffman, driving Moose Eisenhard's recently purchased #77 Teo, raced alongside of DeSantis as the pair swept down the backstretch of lap 13. Hoffman emerged into the front position, racing into the third corner.

     Hoffman, 41, captured his 35th careeer BDR win and fourth overall triumph in the Georgie Stevenson Memorial. Hoffman, a former three-time track champion, held off past six-time point king Jeff Strunk (Mohnton) for the win. Strunk, driving Vince Gagliardo's #41 Teo. started 13th and moved into the runner-up position on lap 15. Strunk stayed within reasonable distance of Hoffman, but was forced to settle for second.

     Ryan Godown (Ringoes NJ) began from 12th and captured the third spot in an exciting wheel-to-wheel pass over Laubach (Hellertown) at the race's conclusion. Doug Manmiller (Shoemakersville) quietly worked through the field from his eleventh starting spot and finished fifth.

     Sean Merkel (Gilbertsville) rebounded from a pair of earlier incidents to finish in sixth. Ray Swinehart (Bechtelsville) narrowly nipped Joey Grammes (Lehighton) for the seventh spot. Colt Harris (Mahanoy City) rebounded from some recent tough luck for a ninth place finish and second generation racer Jordan Umbenhauer (Richland) rounded out the top ten.

      Meanwhile, Jordan's younger brother Jared Umbenhauer led all 25-laps of the Sportsman main event. Umbenhauer, driving the Janicelli #32s made no mistakes en route his first ever BDR victory. Umbenhauer had just begun his Sportsman career in 2008.

     Restarts would test Umbenhauer's patience, however, he remained up front throughout the event's entire context. In a wide-opem season, Umbenhauer became the ninth different victorious driver in nine point races held.

     Pete Phillips Jr. (Lebanon) started from the pole, fell back to fourth on the opening lap, but worked his way back into the runner-up spot on lap 22. Billy Moyer Jr. (Pine Grove) ran within the top five during all 25-alps and finished third. Andy Fayash Jr. (Mary D) was up to the second spot for a while, but ended up in fourth. Previous race winner, Tom Brennan (Pottsville) drove from 17th to fifth.

     Joe Kavanaugh led the opening lap of the 15-lap Roadrunner main event. Berzowski powered his Monte Carlo #66K into the lead on lap two. Berzowski masterfully held off a strong back of victory hungry racers while he continued to pace the field.

     Berzowski, who returned to full-time BDR activity last year, stormed to his first win of the season, becoming the eighth different winner out of nine point events this season. Two-time winner Elvin Brennan III (Forestville) finished a close second with third generation talent Kody Sites (Hamburg) in tow for third. Joe Hendricks (Auburn) worked his way through the field after a few pit stops to take fourth over recent newcomer Nate Klinger (Mahanoy City).

GEORGIE STEVENSON MEMORIAL NOTS: A great crowd assembled for Friday's 30th annual running of the GSM. The drivers took a collection for the Memorial Fund at intermission, raising $1713.61, and the evening's 50/50 winner dontaed his entire earnings (over $1000) to the fund, as well.

     Fans and drivers were left seeing the dreaded color yellow after the completion of Friday's events. The 358 Modified feature contained 12, the Sportsman race saw 11 and the Roadrunners had 6 total cautions.

     Former GSM winners Craig Von Dohren and Duane Howard were involved in a turn four crash after one lap had been completed. Both drivers were eliminated early. Ryan Watt had an impresive third place effort running strong until 19-laps had been completed and his HP Motorsports-6 went up in smoke.

     358 Modified qualifying heat winners were: Craig Whitmoyer, Sean Merkel, Duane Howard, and Meme DeSantis, while Dale Hartz and Jordan Umbenhauer won the B-Mains. Sportsman qualifying heats went to Ryan Moyer, Andy Fayash Jr., Jared Umbenhauer, and Billy Moyer Jr. Mike Loney was the B-Main winner. Ryan Olenick and Joe Hendricks split the Roadrunner heat wins.

     For more information on the speedway, visit the official website located at www.bigdiamondraceway.com.  

BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY RESULTS FRIDAY JULY 3, 2009 - Philly Pretzel Factory Georgie Stevenson Memorial

SPORTSMAN FEATURE (25-LAPS): 1) 32s-Jared Umbenhauer, 2) 27-Pete Phillips Jr., 3) 17-Billy Moyer Jr., 4) 45x-Andy Fayash Jr., 5) 26-Tom Brennan, 6) 19-Brad Brightbill, 7) 72-Ray Woodall Jr., 8) 24H-Justin Andrews, 9) 2T-Mike Taylor, 10) 17D-Mike Loney, 11) T102-Tim Fitzpatrick, 12) 17x-Kevin Beach Jr., 13) 520-Sammy Troup, 14) 32-Kevin Reese, 15) 83-Jeremy Hertzog, 16) 1-Josh Biever, 17) 35-Ebby Ridge, 18) x5-Daryl Dissinger, 19) 31-Harry Landis, 20) 5-Ryan Moyer, 21) 7-Kevin Smith, 22) 09-Jimmy Payne, 23) 15-Mike Lisowski Jr., 24) M7-Shane Moser, 25) 429-Bill Shire, 26) 5D-Jordan Dreher. LAP LEADERS: J. Umbenhauer (1-25). DNQ: Earl Mace, Mike Mammana, Jason James, Kevin Brady, Patrick Cozze, Ray Woodall Sr., Corey Renninger, Brett Kressley, Troy Gibson, Bobby Yeager.

WOODEN KEG RODARUNNER FEATURE (15-LAPS): 1) 66K-Marc Berzowski, 2) 555-Elvin Brennan III, 3) 95K-Kody Sites, 4) 11x-Joe Hendricks, 5) 4-Nate Klinger, 6) 8-Davey Nester, 7) 98-Chip Kennedy, 8) 97-Jeremy Becker, 9) 450-Kevin Olenick, 10) 16D-Rob Derfler, 11) 17-Bud Vidal, 12) 00-Glenn Rowan, 13) 102-TJ Fitzpatrick, 14) 105-Joey Brennan, 15) 55C-Larry Carmen, 16) 550-Joe Kavanaugh, 17) 22E-Ed Bartlett, 18) 8c-Chris Holland, 19) 32-Phillip May, 20) z71-Joey Zvorsky, 22) 22G-Steve Gromis, 23) 23-Ed Kuperavage, 24) 45-Ryan Olenick, 25) 61s-Chuck Detweiler, 26) 2-Gary Willard Jr. LAP LEADERS: J. Kavanaugh (1), Marc Berzowski (2-15)