Big Diamond Modified Season Opener won by Craig Von Dohren, Austin Bishop wins URC. Hendricks, Geeseman and Chris Holland also victorious
Big Diamond Modified Season Opener won by Craig Von Dohren, Austin Bishop wins URC. Hendricks, Geeseman and Chris Holland also victorious
Story By: Ken Bruce/Big Diamond Speedway
Photos By: Kirsten Snyder/RacersGuide.com
Craig Von Dohren used patience as he grabbed the lead from a strong running Andy Burkhardt on lap 19 to go on and win the 25-lap Insigner Performance Modified feature last night at the Big Diamond Speedway.
Burkhardt and New Egypt invader Danny Bouc brought the field down to starter Jeff Merkel’s green flag to start the 2019 season for the Insigner Performance 358 Modifieds. Burkhardt shot out to the lead with with Bouc falling in line behind him. Jared Umbenhauer was in the move quickly from his fifth starting spot as was Von Dohren from ninth.
Umbenhauer passed Bouc for second as started to set his sights on the leader Burkhardt. Bouc wasn’t giving up and went back by Umbenhauer on lap 8 to regain the runner-up spot. Lap 9 saw the yellow flag displayed as Billy Pauch Jr and Brandon Grosso got together coming out of turn 4. Ryan Godown with nowhere to go was also collected up in the tangle. All drivers managed to continue.
The field went back to green but not for long as the red flag was put out when not one, not two but three cars got upside down in turn three. The modifieds of Gary Hager, Ryan Godown and TJ Lilly all ended up going over with Lilly going over the wall and outside of the track. Thankfully all drivers were ok.
After a lengthy cleanup, the racing was ready to resume. Burkhardt took off at the drop of the green flag to lead the way with Umbenhauer getting by Bouc for second. Von Dohren was now on the move making his way past Bouc for third on lap 12 and quickly moving in on the leaders.
Burkhardt and Umbenhauer were battling hard for the lead as Von Dohren was looming behind trying to formulate his next move. The leaders were both running down low clogging up the bottom leaving the top open for Von Dohren to make his move.
And the driver out of Oley, PA did just that. Lap 18 saw Von Dohren getting by Umbenhauer for second and one lap later he was by Burkhardt for the lead. Once in front it was all CVD as he stormed to his first win of the season at the Speedway. Umbenhauer was able to get by Burkhardt to finish second with Burkhardt ending up third. Bouc finished fourth with modified rookie Alex Yankowski getting by Duane Howard at the line to finish fifth.
“We had a really good car tonight,” said a jubilant Von Dohren standing next to his car while it was going through post-race tech. “This is the same car we used last year. We didn’t get to race it too much last year so after the year we just threw it in the corner and put a cover on it. I was just following the front two around there for a couple laps. I really didn’t want to use the top because the sprint cars seemed to be getting flats running up there, but I sure didn’t want to finish third, so I went for it and once I got by them, I went right back to the bottom. I think if Jared (Umbenhauer) had gotten by the No. 16 first I don’t think I could’ve passed him but he was held up just enough for me to get a run on both of them.”
The URC sprints made their first visit of the year to the speedway and after the 25-lap main event it was Austin Bishop standing in victory lane for his first victory of the season. Bishop was in contention for the win right from the start as he chased down early race leader Robbie Stillwagon and passed him for the lead. Once in front Bishop would go on to hold off a challenge from Chad Layton in the latter stage of the race to go on a record the big win. Layton held off Tyler Ross to finish second. Ryan Stillwagon and Josh Weller completed the top five.
After finishing third in the season opener last Friday night, veteran sportsman driver Doug Hendricks was determined get that first win of the season under his belt this past Friday in the USS Achey Sportsman division. Dave Dissinger took the lead early on from his pole starting spot the fourth place starting Hendricks immediately starting to challenge for the lead on lap two. On lap four, it was Hendricks going past Dissinger fo the lead. The “Hook” Craig Whitmoyer was working his way through the field and was up to the runner-up position on lap eight. Whitmoyer who finished second on opening night was determined to get by Hendricks for the win. The two veterans battled hard for the remaining lap running side by side multiple times, but it was Hendricks holding off Whitmoyer fo the win. Dave Dissinger would finish third followed by Shawn Light and Brandon Edgar.
In the Savage 61 Road Runner division it was Chris Holland winning a hard-fought battle with Matt Ney to take the win. Holland would take the lead on lap two and hold off challenges from Shon Elk early and Matt Ney late to win the 20-lap feature event. Matt Ney would finish second with Shawn Mulhall, Jim Kost and Shon Elk the top five.
Jason Geeseman would take the lead from Kody Sites on an early race restart and would go on to dominate the 20-lap Eash’s Towing and Recovery Street Stock feature event. Once in front Geeseman was never challenged and took the win over Jeff Hagg, Jeremy Becker, Elvin Brennan and Eric Tripp.
Next up on the schedule at Big Diamond is the annual “Money in the Mountains” race for the modifieds. This year’s race will be run over 60-laps paying $10,000 to the winner. The race will be run under the rules of the STSS with no sail panels.
Full Results from Friday 5/24/19 Meet and Greet Night
Insinger Performance Modifieds – The feature was won by Craig Von Dohren and followed by Jared Umbenhauer, Andy Burkhart, Danny Bouc, Alex Yankowski, Duane Howard, Rick Laubach, Brett Kressley, Shawn Fitzpatrick, Ryan Krachun, Matt Stangle, Billy Pauch Jr, Eddie Strada, Billy Osmun, Briggs Danner, Brandon Grosso, John Willman, Frank Cozze, Kevin Beach Jr, TJ Lilly, Gary Hager, Dale Hartz, Ryan Godown and Jeff Strunk.
Did Not Qualify – Frank Yankowski, Kyle Merkel, Chris Graver, Mike Lisowski, Cliff Quinn, Nick Rochinski, Cale Ross, Scott Albert, Justin Grim, Jimmy Reppert, Billy Lasko, Bob Trapper Sr, Dan Hineline, Tim Apgar, Jim Bobbitt and Bobby Gunther Walsh.
Modified heat races were won by Billy Pauch Jr, Danny Bouc, Frank Cozze and Duane Howard.
Capitol Renegade United Racing Club 360 Sprint Cars – The feature was won by Austin Bishop and followed by Chad Layton, Tyler Ross, Ryan Stillwagon, Josh Weller, Adam Carberry, Ed Aikens, Troy Betts, Jordan Thomas, Jason Clauss, Jimmy Stitzel, Jake Hummel, Joe Kata, Jason Schultz, Curt Michael, Robbie Stillwagon, Jason Cherry, Jake Elliott, Jonathan Swanson, Ryan Quackenbush, and Lance Moss.
Did Not Start – Austin Moss.
URC heat races were won by Jason Schultz, Robbie Stillwagon and Ryan Stillwagon.
USS Achey Sportsman – The feature was won by Doug Hendricks and followed by Craig Whitmoyer, Dave Dissinger, Shawn Light, Brandon Edgar, Mike Burrows, Ray Woodall, Wayne Witmer, Tim Fitzpatrick, Dylan Smith, Joe Toth, Dakota Kohler, Matt Clay, Dylan Hoch, Ryan Higgs, Joel Smith, Tyler Reber, Blake Reber, Mike Schneck, Justin Grosso, Jeremy Hertzog, Glenn Rowan, Daryl Dissinger and Chris Brennan.
Did Not Qualify – Mike Toth, Ryan Kunkle, Ed Mrochko, and Kenny Eckert.
Sportsman Heats were won by Dave Dissinger, Doug Hendricks and Brandon Edgar.
Eash’s Towing & Salvage Street Stocks – The feature was won by Jasen Geesaman and followed by Jeff Haag, Jeremy Becker, Elvin Brennan III, Eric Tripp, Dean Hine, Kody Sites, Ryan Smith, Kyle Saylor, Bobby Kupp, and John McGeoy.
The Street Stock heat was won by Kody Sites.
Savage 61 Roadrunners – The feature was won by Chris Holland and followed by Matt Ney, Shawn Mulhall, Jim Kost, Shon Elk, Kyle Dice, Tonya Lance, Cory Lindenmuth, Kris Ney, and Fred Everly.
The Roadrunner heat was won by Shawn Mulhal
