Jared Umbenhauer wins a thriller on opening night at Big Diamond Speedway before a standing room only crowd
Big Diamond PR 06/13/20
Track Promoter – Jake and Jasmine Smulley
Track website – www.bigdspeedway.net
To say that last night’s season opener at Big Diamond Speedway was a success would be a gross understatement. With picture perfect weather and being the first weekly track on the PA / NJ circuit to return to action after the COVID-19 restrictions the script had been written. With the grandstands and the pits both packed with cars and people, it was just up to the racing action to make the night an overwhelming success and believe me the racing action was spectacular.
If you were there in person or tuned into the dirttrackdigest.tv pay per view you were not disappointed. A perfectly prepared race track allowed for multiple lanes of racing action that led to one of the best battles ever seen in the Insigner Performance modified division as Jared Umbenhauer held off the hard charges of his idol and close friend Craig Von Dohren in the 30-lap main event and take home the $4000 winners share of the purse.
“I can’t believe this! I just beat the best driver ever here at Big Diamond,” said an obviously excited winner in victory lane. “This car was just right, I kept switching my lanes up to try and mess with his head a little bit but he knows what he is doing out there and I just kept riding and riding and we got it! I can’t believe this, we drew good all night and it was all up to me at the end”
New Egypt Speedway regular Cale Ross brought the 24-car field to the green to kickoff the 2020 season and jumped to the early lead with Umbenhauer and Von Dohren making early race moves to track down the leader. Lap two saw the yellow come out for the first time with a multi-car tangle in turn four slowing the action involving Billy Pauch Jr, Dominick Buffalino, Frank Cozze, Doug Manmiller and rookie Doug Hendricks whose car seemed to get the worst end of the deal. With the exception of Hendricks all cars were able to continue.
Back to racing and it was once again Ross leading the way with a strong running Umbenhauer lurking right behind. Lap six saw Umbenhauer charge by Ross for the lead with Von Dohren also getting by and dropping Ross back to third. Von Dohren was flying high on the outside and on lap nine powered by Umbenhauer to take over the top spot. While the top two were battling for the lead a hard charging Jeff Strunk moved by Ross to take over the third position with Mike Gular right on his heels also getting by Ross.
Lap 17 would see the last yellow of the race displayed as a strong running Matt Stangle slowed with smoke trailing his No. 6. As the field charged to green on the restart, Umbenhauer used the outside lane to perfection as he was able to power by Von Dohren to take the lead back.
“After Craig got by me, I just followed him for awhile to see where the groove was up top,” as Umbenhauer explained his winning move. “On the restart, I just threw it in there going into (turns) one and two and it stuck. After that I switched my lanes up and here I am. This is unbelievable, this place is packed turn to turn and I can’t thank everyone coming out tonight to see some great dirt track racing.”
The veteran Von Dohren was not ready to give up the chase just yet as he hounded Umbenhauer each lap using the entire speedway but Umbenhauer wasn’t to be denied on this night and was able to hold off Von Dohren to take the crowd pleasing win. Strunk held on for third as he had a left front tire going flat with a strong running Doug Manmiller finishing fourth and Mike Gular completing the top five. Finishing sixth through tenth were Louden Reimert, Timmy Buckwalter, Cale Ross, Richie Pratt Jr. and Rick Laubach.
The USS Achey open sportsman feature was a fast-paced affair as invader Brad Brightbill took home the honors in the 20-lap main event and taking the $1000 first place prize. Teenager Cole Stangle led the field to the green and immediately jumped to the lead with the sixth starting Brightbill immediately on the charge. As field completed lap two Stangle was still in front with Brightbill now up to sixth. An early race caution slowed the race with Stangle continuing to lead the way on the restart. Lap seven saw Brightbill move by Stangle to take over the top spot. With no remaining cautions, Brightbill surged out to a big lead. Tenth place starting Wayne Witmer was making his way towards the front and was able to also get by Stangle to move into second but Brightbill was in another zipcode at this point and took the big win. Witmer, Stangle, Jim Houseworth and Ken Eckert Jr rounding out the top five.
The Heller’s Gas street stock ran their 20-lap feature event with Jason Gessaman picking up where he left off in 2019 and returning to the winner’s circle. Geesaman took the lead from then leader Eric Tripp on lap three and was never headed the rest of the way. While Geesaman was opening his big lead, Tripp and Ryan Smith battled hard for the runnerup spot with Smith winning the battle. At the end it was Geesaman, Smith, Tripp, Kody Sites and Kyle Saylor the top five.
The Red White and Blue Autos Roadrunner division completed the night’s action and they did not disappoint as Kevin Holland and rookie driver Alex Schofstall put on a show for the fans as they ran side by side for most of the race with Holland coming out on top in another amazing race. After Holland and Schofstall it was Terry Kramer, Shawn Mulhall and Ronny Suhr, Jr. the top five.
The Big Diamond Speedway returns to action on Tuesday June 16th as the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Siries powered by Sunoco visits the speedway for the annual “Anthracite Assault”. Following Tuesday’s action, the track returns to life on Friday June 19th as the URC Sprint cars open their 2020 season along with the 358 Modifieds.
Full Results 6/12/2020 – Season Opener
Insinger Performance 358 Modifieds – The feature was won by Jared Umbenhauer and followed by Craig VonDohren, Jeff Strunk, Doug Manmiller, Mike Gular, Louden Reimert, Timmy Buckwalter, Cale Ross, Richie Pratt Jr, Rick Laubach, Brett Kressley, Mike Lisowski, Dominick Buffalino, Billy Pauch Jr, Alex Yankowski, Kevin Graver Jr, Kris Graver, Kevin Beach Jr, Duane Howard, Matt Stangle, Jordan Henn, Craig Whitmoyer, Frank Cozze and Doug Hendricks.
Did Not Qualify – Ryan Grim, TJ Lilly, Shawn Fitzpatrick, Cory Merkel, Tim Apgar, Ron Haring Jr, Alan Barker, Frank Yankowski, Nick Rochinski, Eddie Strada, Colt Harris, and Steve Davis.
Modified Heat Races were won by Cale Ross, Jared Umbenhauer, Frank Cozze and Doug Hendricks.
Modified Consi Races were Timmy Buckwalter and Rick Laubach.
U.S.S. Achey, Inc. Open Sportsman – The feature was won by Brad Brightbill and followed by Wayne Witmer, Cole Stangle, Jim Housworth, Ken Eckert Jr, David Burns, Brandon Edgar, Daryl Dissinger, Brad Arnold, Kenny Bock, Dylan Hoch, Tim Fitzpatrick, Will Dupree, Howie Finch, Dean Bachman, Blake Reber, Nate Klinger, Mike Burrows, Steve Desmylk, Corey Edelman, Michael Toth, Steve Young, Dakota Kohler and Scott Kohler.
Did Not Qualify – Ryan Conrad, Brandon Auman, Kevin Brady, Ed Mrochko, Joey Vaccaro, Danny Buccafusca, Marty Resnick, Eric Kocher, Parker Guldin, Mike Toth, Mark Gaugler, Tom Schneck, Mike Schneck, Chuck Eckert, Cody Manmiller, Glenn Rowan, Tyler Reber, Gary Grim, Matt Clay, BJ Joly, Kris Ney, Cole Youse.
Open Sportsman Heat Races were won by Steve Young, Dean Bachman, Kenny Bock and Brandon Edgar.
Open Sportsman Consi Races were won by Dylan Hoch and Howie Finch.
Heller’s Gas Street Stocks – The feature was won by Jasen Geesaman and followed by Ryan Smith, Jeff Haag, Kody Sites, Kyle Saylor, Eric Tripp, Marc Berzowski, Brandon Moser, Chris Heller, AJ Stroup, John McGeoy, John Snesavage, Butch Heisel, Chris Derr and Dan Hoffman.
The Street Stock Heat Races were won by Jasen Geesaman and Kody Sites.
Murhpy’s Fabrication Hard Charger Award – Chris Heller.
Red, White & Blue Auto’s Roadrunners – The feature was won by Kevin Holland and followed by Alex Schoffstall, Terry Kramer, Shawn Mulhall, Ronny Suhr Jr, Chris Reichert, Kyle Wingle, Ronny Suhr Sr, Tonya Lance, Jesse Krasnitsky, Cory Lindenmuth, Jim Kost, TJ Fitzpatrick, Mike Reichert, Matt Ney, Tod Roth Sr, Chris Holland, Jason Kintzer and Alex Ditzler.
The Roadrunner Heat Races were won by Jim Kost and Kevin Holland.
