Steve Drevicki Wins the USAC Wingless Sprint Feature at Big Diamond Speedway; Wayne Witmer Victorious in Sportsman Feature.

Story By: KENNETH BRUCE / BIG DIAMOND SPEEDWAY – POTTSVILLE, PA – After five weeks of cancellations Big Diamond Speedway was finally able to get a full night of racing in the books on Eash’s Towing and Recovery/Youth Group night. Once again though Mother Nature tried to derail the night’s activities when a hard rain hit the speedway around an hour or so before the racing was to begin. But the track persevered and continues on with the night’s racing and the large crowd on hand was able to witness a night of great competitive racing.

With the Modifieds being given the night off, the headline class on this night were the USAC wingless 360 sprint cars making the first of three appearances at the track in 2019.

Timmy Buckwalter brought field to green and jumped to the lead at the start. Buckwalter continued to lead when the red flag was brought out on lap 4 when a multi car tangle took place in turn 2 resulting in the No. 74 of JR Berry flipping. All drivers were ok. During the red flag, the leader Buckwalter had a right rear tire go flat forcing him to the pits for a new tire.

Tyler Brehm inherited the lead at this point with 8th place starting Steve Drevicki on the move moving up to 2nd and quickly pressuring the leader Brehm. Drevicki made his move and on lap 8 was the new leader.

Once in front, Drevicki would never be headed as Chandler Leiby and Eddie Strada tried their best to put pressure on the leader.

The race would be slowed by on lap 19 when the yellow came out giving the field another chance at Drevicki on the restart. Drevicki was up to the challenge and held off Leiby and Strada to take the win. Chris Allen would finish 4th with Buckwalter coming back from his flat tire to complete the top five.

The USS Achey Sportsman cars were finally able to get a race in the books and standing in victory lane after 20 laps was veteran Wayne Witmer.

Starting on the outside pole, Witmer jumped to the lead over polesitter Dakota Kohler at the drop of the green. Sixth place starter Craig Whitmoyer and 13th place starter Doug Hendricks were on the move early and were running 2nd and 3rd by lap 8 and applying pressure to the leader Witmer.

Those three drivers would hook up and run the balance of the race nose to tail with Whitmoyer getting alongside Witmer on numerous occasions with Hendricks right begin the lead duo just waiting for an opportunity to pounce.

Witmer, Whitmoyer and Hendricks would run this way the rest of the race with Witmer holding on to take the win. Whitmoyer held off Hendricks for 2nd with Hendricks having to settle for third. Michael Burrows and Tim Fitzpatrick rounded out the top five.

In the Savage 61 Road Runners feature event it was Matt Ney taking win number one of the season after a barn burner of a race between himself and Shawn Mulhall. Ney and Mulhall battled from the halfway mark to the finish with Ney holding Mulhall off for win number one of the year.

Kody Sites opens up the Eash’s Towing & Recovery Street Stock season with a trip to victory lane. Jason Geeseman would grab the lead at the drop of the green flag and looked like he had the field covered only to have disaster strike on lap four as his No. 81 broke while leading. Jeremy Becker assumed the lead at this point until Kody Sites made his move on the restart to take over command. Chris Derr would pressure Sites the remainder of the race but ultimately finish second as Sites held on for the win. Kyle Saylor, Jeff Haag and Bobby Krupp would complete the top five.

In the 600cc Modifieds, it was Cody Manmiller taking his second win in a row in that division after Tyler James ran out of fuel coming to the checkered flag. Ray Gradwell, Ryan Stoner, Ty Hoke and Brianna James were your top five.

Results 5/17/2019 – Youth Group Night/Eash’s Towing & Recovery Night

Roadrunners – The feature was won by Kris Ney and followed by Shawn Mulhall, Matt Ney, Chris Holland, Terry Kramer, Shon Elk, Fred Everly, Kyle Wingle, Tonya Lance, Jim Kost, Cory Lindenmuth, and Hunter Whitcomb.

Roadrunner heat races were won by Chris Holland and Kris Ney.

Street Stocks – The feature was won by Kody Sites and followed by Chris Derr, Kyle Saylor, Jeff Haag, Bobby Kupp, Eric Tripp, Butch Heisel, Robin Wagner, Dean Hine, John McGoey, Jeremy Becker, Elvin Brennan III, Mike Radocha Sr, Jasen Geesaman, Ryan Smith, and Mike Radocha Jr.

Murphy Fabrication Hard Charger Award – Kody Sites

Did Not Start – Chris Heller and John Snesavage

Street Stock heat races were won by Jasen Geesaman and Chris Derr.

Sportsman – The feature was won by Wayne Witmer and followed by Craig Whitmoyer, Doug Hendricks, Mike Burrows, Tim Fitzpatrick, Ryan Kunkle, Dylan Hoch, Dave Dissinger, Nate Klinger, Dakota Kohler, Shawn Light, Matt Clay, Tyler Reber, Kyle Brady, Ed Mrochko, Jeremy Hertzog, Kenny Eckert, Blake Reber, Dylan Smith, Nathan Mohr, Mike Schneck, and Gary Grim.

Did Not Start – Cole Stangle.

Sportsman heat races were won by Daryl Dissinger, Dakota Kohler and Wayne Witmer.

USAC 360 Wingless – The feature was won by Steve Drevicki and followed by Chandler Leiby, Eddie Strada, Chris Allen, Tim Buckwalter, Connor Leoffler, Ryan Quackenbush, Carmen Perrigo, Bill Unglert, Joey Biasi, Tyler Brehm, Mike Thompson, John Stehman, Zach Burd, Steve Surniak, Kyle Lick, Johnny Petrozelle, JR Berry, Eric Jennings and Mark Bitner.

Did Not Qualify – Heidi Hedin, John Swanson, David Swanson, Larry Drake, Jake Winters and Jason Cherry.

USAC heat races were won by Eddie Strada, Steve Drevicki, Chandler Leiby and Tim Buckwalter.

600 Modifieds – The feature was won by Cody Manmiller and followed by Ray Gradwell, Ryan Stoner, Ty Hoke, Brianna James, Geoffrey Sutton, Mike McLaughlin, Jason Mills, Keith Inglin, Heath Machamer, Shawna Schibilia, Grant Schibilia, Bruce Mills, Sam Sciccitano, Tyler James, Richie Hitzler, Hunter Diehl, Travis Fichter, Steve Sterner, Brian Blankenbiller, Mady Pacheco, and Korey Inglin.

The 600 Modified heat races were won by Cody Manmiller and Ray Gradwell.