Bouc $10,000 richer after winning the Jack Rich, Inc Coalcracker
Danny Bouc $10,000 richer after winning the Jack Rich, Inc Coalcracker 72. Alex Yankowski wins the sportsman feature and takes home the track championship.
Story By: Ken Bruce/Big Diamond Speedway
Photos By: Kirsten Snyder/RacersGuide.com
A strong field of 358 Modifieds were on hand Sunday night at the Big Diamond Speedway as Jack Rich, Inc presented the annual Coalcracker 72. When it was all said and done it was invader Danny Bouc taking home the big $10,000 first place prize.
“Man, I had to really work for that one” mentioned a very happy Bouc in victory lane. “The track was really hammer down up top and that’s me and once I got out front I knew I had to just hit my marks and I knew it was going to be tough for them guys to get around me. That trophy is pretty cool, but the check is what I really want so I can pay some bills.”
14-year-old USS Achey Sportsman champion Alex Yankowski brought the field down for the green flag and immediately darted out to the lead. The youngster in his first ever 358 modified race at the speedway looked like a veteran as he easily sped off to an early advantage. The first yellow of the race was thrown on lap six for Alex’s cousin Frank Yankowski stopped to halt the action.
When the green was back out Yankowski jumped back to the lead with former Coalcracker winner Ryan Godown now on the move and up to fourth. The young driver continued to lead the way and had opened up his lead when Brett Kressley spun in turn two to bring out the second stoppage of the race on lap 18.
Back to green and once again Yankowski easily jumped to the lead as a heated battle for second was going between the #27 of David Hunt and the #32 of Bouc. Lap after lap Bouc hounded Hunt and finally was able to wrestle second away just past the 20-lap mark. Gary Hager brought out another yellow flag on lap 23 to bunch the field back up.
After fighting off challengers on the previous restarts the young Yankowki finally succeeded the lead on this restart to Bouc as Godown made is way to third past Hunt. Billy Pauch Jr, Craig Von Dohren and 2018 track champion Duane Howard were now in the mix as they converged on the leaders. Lap 24 saw the fourth place running Hunt have troubles as he started to slide back through the field eventually bringing out the yellow as he headed to the pits.
The race would get one more lap in the books before Jared Umbenhauer went off the back stretch slowing the pace once again but not before Godown passed Yankowski for second. Bouc held the point on the restart as Godown was starting to pressure the young driver out of Pipersville, PA for the lead. Bouc would get a small advantage over Godown but as the laps clicked off Godown seemed to be running down the leader. The mandatary fuel break stopped the race on lap 40 giving all the drivers a chance to get out of the cars and take a breath to get ready for the last 32 circuits. The running order at the fuel break saw Bouc leading the way with Godown, Pauch Jr, Yankowski and Howard the top five.
When the race resumed it was Bouc once again taking command as he opened up a small advantage over Godown. Von Dohren was now into fifth and starting to make his move as he worked his way past Howard setting his sights on Pauch Jr. The next stoppage was on lap 57 as Strunk slowed to bring out the yellow as he headed for the pits.
The restart is where Godown made his move as he pulled up alongside Bouc coming out of four but Bouc never wavered and held off the veteran going into turn one to keep the lead. Von Dohren who had gotten by Pauch Jr was now putting the pressure on Godown and at one point slid under him only to have Godown cross back over to take the spot back. This was exactly what Bouc wanted to see as he was able to open up a small lead while they battled it out for second behind him. The last yellow of the race was thrown on lap 57 when the fourth-place car of Pauch Jr stopped in turn two with an apparent flat tire.
Bouc would have to have the restart of his life as now he had the track’s big three in Godown, Von Dohren and Howard all right behind him. However, Bouc was not fazed and hit the restart perfectly to grab the lead once again with Godown directly behind him just waiting for a mistake. It did not happen as Bouc hit his marks to perfection each and every lap to stay in front and take the biggest win of his career. Godown drove a great race to finish second with Mike Gular who pitted after the fuel break to replace a leaking left rear tire making a remarkable comeback to finish third just getting by Howard on the last lap. Howard finished fourth with Ryan Krachun in fifth. David Hunt crossed the finish line in fifth but was scored a lap down from earlier. Craig Von Dohren had multiple issues in the last few laps going over the cushion a couple times and even almost going flipping to finish out of the top ten.
“After the night we had last night (at New Egypt) this is just awesome” cited Bouc. “This is exactly what we needed, I’ve been up since 7:30am this morning hammering away on this car after last night. It was a great race, Ryan (Godown) is tough wherever we go, he ran me clean and I knew I had to hit my marks to keep him behind me. I couldn’t have done any of this without my crew and my sponsors and I can’t thank them enough.”
In the 20-lap USS Achey Sportsman feature it was once again young Alex Yankowsk putting his stamp on the track championship by winning the race and the 2018 points title. Brandon Kohler jumped to the lead at the start from his outside pole starting spot with Yankowski on the move early from his ninth starting spot and already into the top five before lap six could be completed. Yankowski’s march didn’t stop there as he was up to second when the first yellow of race came out on lap nine.
Yankowski quickly took the lead on the restart from Kohler. Craig Whitmoyer is now up to second when the yellow appears once again to slow the pace with Kris Lillick and Doug Hendricks making up the second row. On the restart Hendricks gets into the wheel of Whitmoyer causing Whitmoyer to break and bring out another yellow. Under track rules since it was determined that Hendricks initiated the contact and Whitmoyer wasn’t able to continue, Hendricks was done for the race.
It was Yankowski large and in charge on the restart as he sped off to build up safe lead over Lillick who was now in second. Yankowski held court through one more restart to capture the win and justify his championship season. Lillick crossed the line in second spot but was disqualified after the race for an illegal carberator. Cale Ross finished third with Wayne Witmer, Ray Woodhall and Tim Fitzpatrick rounding out the top five.
In the 20-lap Savage 61 Road Runner feature it was Shon Elk leading lap one. Elk continued to show the way with Mike Reicher and Jim Kost starting to apply the pressure to the leader. Elk held the lead through a couple of restarts until lap eleven when Reichert get by to lead the way. Kris Ney was now on the move in the late stages as he moved into the top three. The last stoppage of the race came on lap 18 setting up a two-lap shootout for the win. Kris Ney powers by Reichert on the restart to take the lead and the win. Reichert would end up second with Chris Holland in third. Matt Ney and Terry Kramer complete the top five.
The 20-lap Excel 600 cc Modified was one by DJ Hunt over Sam Scicchitano, Geoffrey Sutton Hunter Deihl and Korey Inglin.
Short results Jack Rich Coalcracker 9/2/18
The Jack Rich Coalcracker 72 was won by Danny Bouc followed by Ryan Godown, Mike Gular, Duane Howard, Ryan Krachun, Ryan Watt, Tim Buckwalter, Shawn Fitzpatrick, Louden Reimert, Rick Laubach, John Willman, Craig VonDohren, Scott Albert, Alex Yankowski and David Hunt. Did not finish were Billy Pauch Jr, Jeff Strunk, Mike Lisowski, Brett Kressley, Brian Papiez, Jared Umbenhauer, Gary Hager, Wade Hendrickson and Frank Yankowski. Did not qualify were Skylar Sheriff, Kevin Beach, Wayne Witmer, Cliff Quinn, Brandon Grosso, Meme DeSantis, Matt Stangle, Brad Arnold, Heath Metzger, Bobby Gunther Walsh and Dan Hineline.
The modified heats were won by Duane Howard, Craig Von Dohren, Ryan Watt, and Rick Laubach. The consolation races were won by Brett Kressley and Scott Albert.
The U.S.S. Achey final points race was won by champion Alex Yankowski followed by Cale Ross, Wayne Witmer, Ray Woodall, Tim Fitzpatrick, Kody Sites, Mike Schneck, Ed Mrochko, Gary Grim, Marty Resnick and Chris Brennan. Did not finish were Daryl Dissinger, Jeremy Hertzog, Craig Whitmoyer, David Burns, Doug Hendricks, Ryan Godown Jr, Nate Klinger, Dakota Kohler and Shawn Light. Did not start was Blake Reber and disqualified was Kris Lilick.
The sportsman heats were won by Doug Hendricks and Alex Yankowski.
The Savage 61 Road Runner division was won by Kris Ney followed by Mike Reichert, Chris Holland, Matt Ney, Terry Kramer Jr, Fred Everly, Shon Elk and Joey Brennan. Did not finish were Jim Kost, Nate Hill, Kyle Dice, Cory Lindenmuth and Shawn Mulhall.
The Excel 600 modified division was won by DJ Hunt followed by Sam Scicchitano, Geoffrey Sutton, Hunter Deihl, Korey Inglin, Gabby Meixell, Dakota Kohler, Ray Gradwell, Steve Sterner, Madyson Pachinko, Grant Schibilia and Shawna Schibilia. Did not finish were Travis Fichter, Keith Inglin, Brian Blankenbiller and Richie Hitzler.
