Season Opener; March 31; Stevenson Memorial, July 7; Coalcracker, Sept. 2
Story By: SHAWN T. WOOD / BIG DIAMOND SPEEDWAY MEDIA
Photos By: GEORGE STEIGERWALT / RACERSGUIDE.COM
MINERSVILLE, PA. – November 27, 2016- The countdown is on. In just four months race cars will be back on the track at Big Diamond Speedway with an open practice on Saturday, March 25, in preparation for the 2017 season as promoter Jake Smulley released the track’s tentative schedule today.
A total of 25 race nights will take place at the 3/8th’s-mile coal region oval from Friday, March 31, to Sunday, Sept. 3. The tentative schedule is listed at the end of the release.
Smulley also released the ticket pricing for the 2017 season with a season pass and a reserved seat selling for $330. Reserved seats are $30 each while reserved parking is $25 per spot.
Interested parties can send a check made payable to Big Diamond Speedway and mail to P.O. Box 671 Minersville, PA 17954. If you have any questions, you can send an email to smulleyracing@gmail.com
Reserved pit parking spots are available for $90 and teams can call 570-527-3168 for availability.
The unofficial kickoff to the 2017 season takes place on Monday, March 6, at the Schuylkill Mall in Frackville with the annual mall show. The event runs through Friday, March 10.
The open practice on March 25 is for any car with a roll cage. It will also be the first of several Enduro Dash 50 events for the season.
The 46th annual season opener is Friday, March 31, with a $4,000 payday awaiting the winner of the 30-lap Steel & Metal Service Center 358 modified feature. It is one of several big paydays for the track’s headline division.
On April 7, the Money in the Mountains Big Block-Small Block Challenge returns with the 40-lap feature paying $6,000 to win. The event will also be a Short Track Super Series qualifier.
The George-Georgie Stevenson Memorial on July 7 pays $4,000 to win for the 358 modified 30-lap feature while the Prelude to the Coalcracker 40 on Friday, Aug. 25, pays $4,600 to win.
The prestigious season-ending Jack Rich, Inc., Coalcracker 72 takes place on Sunday, Sept. 3. The 72-lap feature for the 358 modifieds pays $10,000 to win.
The lone midweek show of the year is Tuesday, June 13, for Brett Deyo’s Short Track Supper Series. The 50-lap feature pays $5,000 to win.
The U.S.S. Achey sportsman will have two big events on the 2017 calendar with the running of the Fayash Memorial on Friday, Aug. 11, and the Coalcracker 40 on Friday, Sept. 1. The
30-lap Fayash Memorial pays $1,570 to win while the Coalcracker 40 pays $1,600 to win and $150 to take the green.
The Savage 61 roadrunner division takes center stage on Friday, June 9, with the Roadrunner Back Yard Brawl 25. The feature will pay $661 to win.
The No Sweat Service Group Street Stocks Summer Shootout is slated for June 30. The full-fender division will race 30 laps for a $1,081 payday.
The always popular ‘Pack the track night’ will be held on Friday, Aug. 4.
Non-wing sprint car racing will make its return to Big Diamond for the first time in several years on April 28 when the United Racing Company holds its first-ever wingless night at the speedway. The 360 sprint-car touring series return on June 23 for a regular show with wings.
The ever-popular American Racing Drivers Club midgets will have two appearances at the track this year on May 19 and July 21.
The Mid-Atlantic Sprint Car Series 305 sprint cars make its debut at the speedway on June 2 while the Vintage Cars have five dates on the calendar.
The speedway would like to thank the following divisions sponsors for the upcoming season: Steel & Metal Service (358 modifieds); USS Achey (sportsman); Savage 61 (roadrunners) and No Sweat Service Group (street stocks).
For the latest information, be sure to like the Big Diamond Speedway Facebook page; www.facebook.com/Bigdiamondspeedway and on Twitter, @BigDSpdwy.
2017 Tentative Schedule
Monday, March 6 thru Friday, March 10
Race car show at the Schuylkill Mall
Saturday, March 25 2:00 p.m.
Open practice. Any car with a roll cage welcome to attend. Enduro Dash 50. Rain date is Sunday, March 26 2:00 p.m.
Friday, March 31
46th Annual Season Opener. Modified 30, $4,000 to win, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Street Stocks. Rain date is 4-7.
Friday, April 7
Money in the Mountains Big Block-Small Block Challenge, Modified 40, $6,000 to win, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Street Stocks. Short Track Super Series Qualifier. Rain date is 4-14.
Friday, April 14
Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Street Stocks.
Friday, April 21
Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Street Stocks.
Friday, April 28,
Steel & Metal Service Center Night.
Modifieds, Wingless URC Sprint Cars, Roadrunners, Vintage Cars. Rain date for URC is 5-12.
Friday, May 5
Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Street Stocks.
Friday, May 12,
Red White & Blue Autos Night.
Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Enduro Dash 50.
Friday, May 19
ARDC Midgets, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Street Stocks, Vintage Cars.
Friday, May 26
Mark’s Service Center Night. Gone But Not Forgotten Memorial.
Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Street Stocks.
Friday, June 2
Mid-Atlantic Sprint Car Series, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Street Stocks, Vintage Cars.
Friday, June 9
Savage 61 Night.
Roadrunner Back Yard Brawl 25, $661 to win, Modifieds, Sportsman, Street Stocks.
Tuesday, June 13
Short Track Super Series.
Modified 50, $5,000 to win, Sportsman, Roadrunners. Rain date is 6-20.
Friday, June 16
Sportsman, Roadrunners, Street Stocks, Vintage Cars. Kim’s Kreations Mechanics Race.
Friday, June 23
Schuylkill Mall Night.
Modifieds, URC Sprint Cars, Roadrunners, Enduro Dash 50.
Friday, June 30
Jasen’s Automotive Night.
Street Stock Summer Shootout 30, $1,081 to win.
Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners. Rain date 7-28.
Friday, July 7
B&H Landscaping Night. Stevenson Memorial.
Modified 30, $4,000 to win, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Street Stocks, Fireworks.
Rain date is 7-14.
Friday, July 14
Insinger Performance Night.
Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners. Match Races for Sportsman & Roadrunners.
Friday, July 21
ARDC Midgets, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Street Stocks, Vintage Cars.
Friday, July 28
No Sweat Service Group Night.
Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Street Stocks.
Friday, August 4
Pack The Track Night. Hunt The Giant Night.
Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Modified Match Races.
Friday, August 11
Sportsman Fayash Memorial 30, $1,570 to win, Modifieds, Roadrunners, Street Stocks. Pink Out.
Friday, August 18
Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Street Stocks, Enduro Dash 50, Kim’s Kreations Powder Puff.
Friday, August 25
Prelude to The Coalcracker.
Modified 40, $4,600 to win, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Street Stocks.
Friday, September 1
Leindecker Race Engines Night.
Sportsman Coalcracker 40, $1,600 to win, $150 to take the green, Roadrunners, Street Stocks, Vintage Cars. Modified Non Winners Race.
Sunday, September 3
Jack Rich Inc. Night.
Modified Coalcracker 72, $10,000 to win, Roadrunners, Street Stocks, Fireworks.
Rain Date is Monday, September 4.
