Big Diamond Speedway Closes Month of May with Special Tribute
Story By:SHAWN WOOD / BIG DIAMOND SPEEDWAY MEDIA Photos By:GEORGE STIEGERWALT / RACERSGUIDE.COM
MINERSVILLE, PA. –May 24, 2016- Over the years, Big Diamond Speedway has been blessed to have some of the greatest people in racing grace the track as drivers, car owners, crew chiefs, mechanics or dedicated fans.
On Friday, the speedway will honor their memories with the Mark’s Service Station will present the Gone But Not Forgotten Race.
A list of names appears on a billboard behind the scoring tower for fans to see at the speedway and one of those names is Fran Purcell.
A long-time racer and car owner, Purcell died in November of 2008 and he was remembered in victory lane last Tuesday night by Ryan Watt while celebrating his win in the 50-lap Short Track Super Series Anthracite Assault modified feature.
“It’s a real big thing as I never ran Big Diamond that much and he gave me a shot at it and we got along real well,” Watt said. “Fran was so well known and to be involved with someone who was a big supporter of Big Diamond is really big to me.”
Friday’s race will be the first point race for the CJ’s Tire & Automotive Services 358 modifieds in a month thanks to rain outs.
They’ll be joined on the card by the U.S.S. Achey sportsman, Savage 61 roadrunners, No Sweat Service Group street stocks and the vintage cars.
General admission is $15, $13 for seniors and kids 12-and-under along with active military with a valid ID are free.
The gates opens at 5 with warm ups at 7:45 and racing getting underway at 8:15.
Big Diamond Speedway Points As of May 21
CJ’s Tire & Automotive Services 358 Modifieds: 1. Ryan Godown 837, 2. Billy Pauch Jr. 779, 3. Jeff Strunk 774, 4. Ryan Grim 749, 5. Ray Swinehart 702, 6. Rick Laubach 669, 7. Ryan Watt 659, 8. Duane Howard 653, 9. Brett Kressley 628, 10. Shawn Fitzpatrick 541.
U.S.S. Achey Sportsman: 1. Brandon Grosso 1,466, 2. Tim Fitzpatrick 1,369, 3. Wayne Witmer 1,282, 4. Ray Woodall Jr. 1,182, 5. Doug Hendricks 1,065, 6. Chuck Fayash 993, 7. Matt Clay 972, 8. Ed Mrochko 964, 9. Ray Woodall Sr. 929, 10.Kyle Gruber 888.
Savage 61 roadrunners: 1. Kody Sites 1,133, 2. Andrew Fayash III 1,129, 3. Terry Kramer 996, 4. Tim Fitzpatrick Jr. 972, 5. Jim Kost 972, 6. T.J. Fitzpatrick 904, 7. Steve Gromis 892, 8. Kris Ney 875, 9. Chuck Eckert 854, 10. Devin Trexler 823.
No Sweat Service Group street stocks: 1. Eric Tripp 614, 2. Rich Bossinger 577, 3. Chris Derr 537, 4. Jeremy Becker 505, 5. Jasen Geesaman 480, 6. Leroy Long 460, 7. Bobby Kupp 459, 8. Jim Somers 452, 9. Scott Strickler 438, 10. Elvin Brennan III 404.
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