Big Diamond Set For 47th Season Opener This Friday, April 13th
Story By: KENNETH BRUCE / BIG DIAMOND SPEEDWAY – MINERSVILLE, PA – With a long awaited favorable forecast predicted for this Friday, all systems are go for Big Diamond Speedway to open their 47th season of competition on Friday, April 13th. It will be Schaeffer Motorsports night at the track nestled up in “God’s Country” when the roar of the engines finally come to life in 2018.
Headlining the big show on opening night will be the Mattera’s Electrical & General Contracting mighty 358 Modifieds as they take part in 30-lap feature event paying a cool $4000 first place prize. Last year’s point champion Craig Von Dohren will lead a strong contingent of drivers into battle all looking for big payout. Former track champions Ryan Godown, Billy Pauch Jr, Rick Laubach, Jeff Strunk and Duane Howard will also be in attendance competing for the top honors. A strong field of Big Diamond Speedway regulars like Scott Albert, Brett Kressley, Kevin Beach Jr, Shawn Fitzpatrick among others will also look to have their say in who takes home the big money. The hottest Modified driver in the area Ryan Watt will also be in action on Friday night looking to make take his home his third checkered flag of the young season. Watt who is coming off two big money wins at the Georgetown and Bridgeport Speedways in recent weeks will be looking to add to that total this Friday at Big Diamond.
Not to be outdone on Friday night, a strong field of USS Achey Sportsman cars is expected on hand to compete in their 20-lap feature event paying $1000 to the winner. A complete program of Savage 61 Roadrunners and No Sweat Service Group Street Stocks will round out the Friday night action. All feature events will have a 24-car starting field.
Gates open at 5:30 on Friday with warmups hitting the track at 7:30 to begin the night’s action. General admission for Friday night is $20 with kids 12 and under free. Active military with ID are free.
After Friday’s night opener, all eyes will look ahead to the annual “Money in the Mountains” race set to take place on Friday night April 20th. It will be “No Sweat Service Group” night as the speedway plays host to the annual Big Block / Small Block challenge event. The 40-lap feature event will pay $6000 to the winner with a stellar field of Modifieds expected to challenge for the big money. A full program of Sportsman, Street Stocks and Roadrunners will also take part to complete the nightly card.
To complete the month of April, the track will be action on Friday night April 27th with a regular show for the Modifieds, Sportsman and Roadrunners. The 600 Modifieds will also be in action with the Street Stocks being given the night off.