Story By: BIG DIAMOND SPEEDWAY – MINERSVILLE, PA – The month of June didn’t bode well for Big Diamond Speedway with three out of the five races getting rained out but last night the month ended on a strong note with perfect weather and a great crowd on hand as the speedway honored one of their own with the running of the Georgie Stevenson Memorial race for the Quandel Concrete Modifieds and the USS Achey Crate 602 Sportsman. At the end of the night, it was Ryan Watt standing in victory lane winning the $6,000 first place prize for the 358 Modifieds and Jordan Henn taking home the $1,500 check in the Crate Sportsman. Alex Schoffstall became the all-time leading winner in the Red White and Blue Autos Roadrunner division in winning his 26th career feature and Richie Hitzler was the victor in the Xcel 600 Modifieds.
The 40 lap Quandel Concrete Modified feature saw Ryan Watt aboard the Fitzpatrick Racing No. T102, and Nick Rochinski in the Rochniski Racing No. 20 bring the 24-car field to the green flag with Watt getting the initial lead at the start. Watt continued to lead the way over Rochinski and 4th place starter Duane Howard when the first yellow of the race was displayed on lap 10 as Tim Fitzpatrick slowed to a stop trying to enter the pits in turn two.
The restart saw Rochinski get up alongside Watt through turns one and two with slight contact being made as Watt continued to lead. As a result of the contact Rochinski slid back to fourth as Howard and Jared Umbenhauer were able to get by. Watt continued to set the pace as Rochinski worked his way back to third on lap 15. At the halfway point, it was Watt leading Howard, Rochinski, Umbenhauer and Jack Butler.
Watt had opened up a safe lead over Howard but that came to an end as Ken Eckert Jr spun right off the backstretch to bring out the last caution of the race on lap 24. Eckert was able to restart his car and when the racing resumed it was Howard trying his hardest to best Watt on the restart. But it was to no avail as Watt pulled away from the field to open up a ten-car length advantage over Howard. Howard managed to close the gap late in the race as the leader Watt was dealing with lapped traffic. Watt never wavered and streaked under starter Jeff Merkel’s checkered flag for the big win. Howard was a solid second with Umbenhauer, Rochinski and Louden Reimert.
“This is awesome for Shawn, Tim and their dad,” said a happy Watt in victory lane. “They have been coming here a long time and last year, that was our goal to get this car to victory lane and we weren’t able to do it. We had motor issues and other stupid things but we finally got the cars going good and just needed some breaks. Tim had an awesome race here the other week and won. What an awesome race to pick up my first win for the team.”
The USS Achey Crate 602 Sportsman 20-lap feature event saw Matt Martino grab the lead from his second starting spot. A restart on lap five saw Martino and Daryl Dissinger make contact allowing Jordan Henn to go by both of them and take over the top spot. Henn continued to set the pace with Danny Buccafusca in second and reeling in the leader. Lap 16 and Buccafusca is right on Henn’s bumper as the yellow comes out on lap 18. A double file restart with two laps to go gave Buccafusca the shop he needed but Henn was up for the challenge as he held off Buccafusca to take the win. Brandon Edgar, Nick Desantis and Logan Watt completed the top five.
Brennan Chapman went two for one in the closing stages of the Big Creek Concrete Crate 602 Rookie feature as he swept by both then leader Danica Getz and Jax Yohn to win the 15-lap main event. Getz hung for second place over Yohn, Brady Shea & McKenzi Smith.
In the Red White and Blue Autos Roadrunner feature it was Alex Schoffstall winning for the 26th time of his career and making him the all-time leading career Roadrunner feature winner. Schoffstall took the lead after leader Kris Ney and Andrew Fayash made contact with each other on a lap 11 restart and that was the race as Schoffstall was never challenged after that. After your winner Schoffstall, it was Andrew Fayash III, Jim Kost, CJ Ferguson and Chuck Fayash.
Richie Hitzler continued his Big Diamond dominance in the Xcel 600 Modifieds as he took the win over Dylan Cordier, Kenny Harris III, Tiffany Mays and Ron Baer.
Big Diamond “Georgie Stevenson Memorial” Full Results from Friday, June 30th:
Quandel Concrete 358 Modifieds: 1. Ryan Watt 2. Duane Howard 3. Jared Umbenhauer 4. Nick Rochinski 5. Louden Reimert 6. Billy Pauch Jr 7. Jack Butler 8. Frank Cozze 9. Anthony Perrego 10. Justin Grim 11. Jeff Strunk 12. Rick Laubach 13. Doug Smith Jr 14. Bobby Trapper Jr 15. Dave Dissinger 16. Kyle Smith 17. Wayne Witmer 18. Ken Eckert Jr 19. Mike Lisowski 20. Mike Gular 21. Brett Kressley 22. Tim Fitzpatrick 23. Shawn Light 24. Craig Von Dohren
Did Not Qualify: Heath Metzger, Corey Renninger, Scott Albert, Brett Gilmore, Joel Smith, Bryan Rhoads, Mike Behm, Aleia Geisler & Kevin Beach Jr.
Modified Heat Winners: Frank Cozze, Jack Butler, Ryan Watt & Louden Reimert
Modified Consi Winner: Mike Gular
Penske Racing Shocks Certificate Winners: Ryan Watt ($100), Duane Howard ($75) & Jared Umbenhauer ($50)
Big Diamond Dog Pound Hard Luck Award: Aleia Geisler ($300)
358 Modified Points: 1. Brett Kressley 1225 2. Jeff Strunk 1137 3. Duane Howard 1115 4. Mike Gular 1088 5. Rick Laubach 1083 6. Louden Reimert 1023 7. Craig Von Dohren 920 8. Nick Rochinski 908 9. Mike Lisowski 883 10. Ryan Watt 803
USS Achey Inc Crate 602 Sportsman: 1. Jordan Henn 2. Danny Buccafusca 3. Brandon Edgar 4. Nick Desantis 5. Logan Watt 6. Matt Yoder 7. Talan Carter 8. Daryl Dissinger 9. Ray Swinehart 10. Kevin Olenick 11. Mike Schneck Jr 12. John McGeoy 13. Kevin Kaplafka 14. Bobby Kupp 15. Marty Shappell 16. Matt Martino 17. Xavier Sprague 18. Glenn Rowan 19. Tyler Vidal 20. Kaitlyn Bailer 21. Nathan Mohr 22. Mia Guy 23. Brandon Firestone 24. Mike Loney
Did Not Qualify: Dirk Rimrott, Lew Moore & Chad Putalavage
Crate 602 Sportsman Heat Winners: Nick Desantis, Daryl Dissinger & Jordan Henn
Crate 602 Sportsman Consi Winner: Ray Swinehart
Penske Racing Shocks Certificate Winners: Jordan Henn ($100), Danny Buccafusca ($75) & Brandon Edgar ($50)
Big Diamond Dog Pound Hard Luck Award: Chad Putulavage ($200)
Crate 602 Sportsman Points: 1. Jordan Henn 1211 2. Logan Watt 1158 3. Kevin Olenick 996 4. Danny Buccafusca 986 5. Mike Schneck Jr 955 6. Matt Yoder 930 7. Brandon Edgar 923 8. Nick Desantis 888 9. Mike Loney 833 10. Talan Carter 800
Big Creek Concrete Crate 602 Rookie: 1. Brennan Chapman 2. Danica Getz 3. Jax Yohn 4. Brady Shea 5. McKenzi Smith 6. Alex Bartorillo 7. Bryce Bashore 8. Giani Ely 9. Dave McElroy
Big Diamond Dog Pound Hard Luck Award: Brady Shea ($50)
Red White and Blue Autos Roadrunners: 1. Alex Schoffstall 2. Andrew Fayash III 3. Jim Kost 4. CJ Ferguson 5. Chuck Fayash 6. Kris Ney 7. Tonya Lance 8. Josh Harris 9. TJ Fitzpatrick
Roadrunner Heat Winner: Kris Ney
Big Diamond Dog Pound Hard Luck Award: Jim Kost ($100)
Roadrunner Points: 1. Alex Schoffstall 1617 2. Chuck Fayash 1570 3. Kris Ney 1508 4. CJ Ferguson 1404 5. Jim Kost 1280
Xcel Chassis 600 Modifieds: 1. Richie Hitzler 2. Dylan Cooper 3. Kenny Harris III 4. Tiffany Mays 5. Ron Baer 6. Doug Newbigging 7. Shon Dove 8. Robbie Singley 9. Ray Gradwell 10. Justin Maylath 11. Geoffrey Sutton 12. Jerry Krietz 13. Tommy Martocci 14. Andy Hendricks 15. Logan Knauss 16. Chris Frable 17. Ed Hollenbach 18. Tyler Fronina 19. Bryce Smith 20. Chad Kreiser 21. Josh Ohlinger 22. Korey Inglin 23. Riley Garmen 24. Chris Smith 25. Ryan Sheetz 26. Gerry Bressler
Xcell 600 Modified Heat Winners: Ray Gradwell, Kenny Harris III & Richie Hitzler