RPW Column: Eddie Strada & Bobby Yeager Ready For 2020 Season At Big Diamond Speedway

RPW Column By: BRAD KEITSOCK / RPW – LAKE ARIEL, PA – Lake Ariel Pa’s Eddie Strada is a ‘jack of all trades’ kind of racer, he likes to race every kind of race car he can.

The 22-year-old Strada has put the pedal to the metal in a few different kinds of racing machines in recent years, winged micro sprints, wingless micro sprints, wingless sprint cars, winged sprint cars.

But thanks to Scranton Pa’s Bobby Yeager, a former racer himself, Strada was given the opportunity last season to strap himself into the type of race car his family roots run deep in, a northeast dirt modified.

Strada’s grandfather, and then father Ed, were both modified racers for decades, mostly on the southern tier of NY racing scene. Both being highly successful in their racing careers.

The opportunity for Strada to now get behind the wheel of a modified came about after Yeager ventured to a local track 2-years-ago and seen Strada race a sprint car that night.

Yeager explained, “I went to the races at a local track the one night, I was watching Eddie out there racing and the kid just looked so smooth in that race, he really impressed me. I then thought this kid would be great in my car.”

“After getting to know Eddie a bit then, the kid is a true class act and a true gentleman, that was big for me, that kind of really sealed the deal to put him in my modified”

So when the 2019 racing came around at the Big Diamond Speedway in Minersville Pa. there came rolling down the ramp from the pits onto the track was Strada behind the wheel of Yeager’s black and white #33 358 modified.

Early season results were positive, Strada was impressive in the modified and Yeager was happy with the results and the way things were going, that was until motor issues side tracked their positive start to the season together.

“We did well I thought last year until we had motor issues with both the motors I have. The one night Eddie raced with an old sealed sportsman motor I had laying around and got a top 10 with it that night.” offered Yeager.

When the gates swing open Friday night April 10th for opening night at the Big Diamond Speedway, both Strada and Yeager will be back at the track some say is nestled in “Gods Country” and both will be looking for some lady luck to be on their side this year.

Strada explained, “I like the challenge of racing different cars, and the new and different ways you set them up with the different technologies today.”

“But honestly, I love running the modified at Big Diamond, I really like the place. And hope to possibly race it other tracks this year also.” offered Strada.

So the Strada/Yeager combination are looking for a little lady luck this season and with that, hopefully, will bring bigger and better results for this duo.

Yeager continued, “I like coming down south to Big Diamond to race. The pay is great, the new clay they put on the track last year there was no dust, and you are racing against some of the best in the business, and thats the only way you are going to get better.”

“As long as there are no major issues with our Hig Fab race car and our Main motors our plan is to be at Big Diamond all season long.” explained Yeager.

Yeager ended, “There might be a Friday or two Eddie might miss because of his racing schedule though, so who knows, maybe I’ll get back behind the wheel those nights (laughs), I’m not totally done racing yet.”

With the racing knowledge, racing skills, and attitude both Yeager and Strada bring to this deal, it’s not hard to see that success is definitely in the near future for both of them.

And ultimately, that would be celebrating together with their race team one Friday night in Big Diamond Speedway’s victory lane.