DUANE HOWARD SCORES SECOND BIG DIAMOND FEATURE WIN OF THE SEASON AFTER APPARENT WINNER IS DISQUALIFIED IN POST RACE TECH

Forestville, PA - August 21, 2009 - Duane Howard of Oley made a miraculous charge through the field, finishing a hard earned second in Friday's 25-lap 358 Modified feature at Big Diamond Raceway. When apparent race winner Dan Hineline's car failed post race tech, however, Howard then celebrated his second feature win of the season, extending his points lead by a few markers.

     The Sportsman division has seen another different winner in 2009. Jason James of Mohrsville became the 15th face in victory lane this season aboard his #73 machine. James raced a few times last year, and is competing in his first full season of competition in 2009. Jeremy Becker of Pottsville quickly gained command of the 15-lap Wooden Keg Roadrunner feature and grabbed his second win of the season.

     Earlier in the day, a thunderstorm nailed Schuylkill County with tremendous force. A few hours later, the skies cleared and Big Diamond presented a complete three division card of racing sponsored by Rausch Creek (Tremont). Rausch Creek Off-Road Park had several of their 4 X 4 machines on display throughout the evening. Track officials kept the show moving along smoothly, and the entire program was completed a few minutes past 10PM.

     Twenty-four cars took the 358 Modified feature's opening green flag, with Ricky Yetter powering to the front. Yetter led the opening 12 laps, which were completed without a caution flag. Craig Von Dohren's machine went around after 12 circuits had been completed, which regrouped the field.

     The evening's nastiest accident took place on the restart. After the field raced through the first three corners, the sixth place car of Shawn Fitzpatrick went around and the field was sent scrambling. With nowhere to go third generation racer Billy Pauch Jr. was sent barrel rolling, which brought out the red flag. No injuries were reported in the crash that involved numerous cars, who either wrecked or were held up in the racing groove.

     When racing went back to green conditions on lap 13, Dan Hineline tossed his machine to the outside and worked ahead of Yetter for the race lead. Hineline and Yetter remained in the top two through a couple of restarts. With only five laps remaining, Yetter's machine went around and was tagged by Meme DeSantis (4th) and John Willman (5th) who each had no place to go. Colt Harris (3rd) was placed to the rear of the field by track officials, called on triggering the incident. This would drastically change the front five running order.

     Hineline led Mike Gular and Duane Howard to the restart green. On the high side, Howard powered ahead of Gular with 23 laps showing on the scoreboard. Howard closed on the race leader, but remained in the runner-up spot as the checkered flag fell upon the field. Hineline (1st) and Gular (3rd) each failed post race tech, however, with carburetor issues.

     Howard, a past six-time track champion, captured his 63rd career BDR win and his tenth top five finish of the sesaon. David Van Horn Jr. (Phillipsburg NJ) was shuffled into the runner-up position, after starting from eighth. Van Horn had entered the top five on lap 21. Ryan Godown (Ringoes NJ) was running fifth earlier, fell back a few spots, and recovered for a third place effort. Rick Laubach (Hellertown) continued his impressive count of eight top five finishes since May 25, finishing fourth. Defending champion Jeff Strunk (Mohnton) originally started 16th and ended up in fifth.

     Jason James claimed his first Sportsman qualifying heat win of the season in early action. Later, James aligned from the inside pole position and went on to lead all 20-laps of the main event. After an opening lap yellow flag, laps 2 through 18 were scored without the appearance of a caution flag. James led accomplished Sportsman veteran Greg Weiland throughout that entire distance. A crash in the fourth turn, involving the defedning champ Brad Brightbill and current standings leader Kevin Beach among others, brought out the second and final caution.

     During the final two laps, James made no mistakes and became the eighth different BDR first time winner of 2009 in the Sportsman class. Weiland (Port Carbon) experienced a variety of bad luck recently and rebounded for a season's best finish of second. Second year racer Mike Lisowski Jr. (Minersville) applied the pressure to Weiland at times but settled for third. After a close battle for the fourth position, Daryl Dissinger (Harrisburg) finished in the spot and May 15 winner Mike Loney (Taylor) filled out the front five.

     Ed Kuperavage led the opening three circuits of the 15-lap Roadrunner feature. He slid a little out of shape in the second turn of lap four and Jeremy Becker (who started fourth) pounced on the opportunity. Becker became the race leader and eventually opened a comfortable margin over his competition. Becker, riding in his sixth season of Roadrunner activity, would grab BDR career win #4 by a half straightaway.

     Defending co-champion Joe Hendricks (Auburn) moved into the runner-up position on lap 12 and finished in the spot. Tom Hablett (Schuylkill Haven), the 2007 point champ, narrowly edged three-time winner Kody Sites (Hamburg) at the stripe to finish third. Toby Chase (Bernville) cruised into the fifth spot during the race's closing moments.

     Friday August 28 is Wink Motorsports Night and the final point show for the 2009 season. Champions will be crowned in the speedway's primary three divisions, 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, and Roadrunners. Gates open at 5:00PM, with warm-ups taking place at 7:15PM. Qualifying begins promptly at 7:45PM. Adult general admission is $12.

     In two weeks, the annual Coalcracker weekend (sponsored by the Schuylkill County NAPA Stores) takes place. The sixth annual Sportsman Coalcracker 50 is slated for Friday September 4 along with the Penske Shocks non-winners race and Roadrunners. The 29th presentation of the 358 Modified Coalcracker 100 will be decided on Sunday September 6. The Coalcracker races have been a tradition at the speedway since 1979. 

     Big Diamond Raceway is a three-eighth's mile clay oval speedway located just outside of Minersville PA. For complete information on the track, visit their website located at www.bigidiamondraceway.com.