Spring weather seems to be just around the corner in northeast Pennsylvania as the calendar is now under 30 days until the first race of the 2016 season for the CJ's Tire & Automotive Services 358 modifieds in the 45th annual opener on Sunday, March 20.
The 30-lap feature will pay $4,000 to win and $300 to take the green. The U.S.S. Achey Sportsman will be in action with a 20-lap feature paying $1,000 to win while the Savage 61 roadrunners will round out the three-division show.
The gates will open at 11 a.m. on March 20 with racing getting underway at 2 p.m.
Before the first green flag of the season waves, fans can get an up-close and personal look at the cars who will compete on Friday nights starting February 29 as the speedway will hold its annual mall show at the Schuylkill Mall in Frackville.
The show runs through March 4 and teams are encouraged to visit the track’s web site at www.bigdspeedway.com where they can find the car show forms to fill out.
On Friday, March 4, beginning at 6 p.m., there will be a free lunch and crafts for kids at the center court in the mall. Kids will be able to design their own wooden cars, paint them and race them.
At 7 p.m., driver interviews will take place until 7:30 when the Kids Big Wheel Racing contest will be held in the space to the right of Gertrude Hawk canadies.
Driver interviews will start back up after the big wheel race. Also on the docket on Friday night will be the awards ceremony and the tire changing competition. Pit license and season passes will also be available for purchase.
The Big Diamond Speedway Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/bigdspeedway) continues to be a great source for fans to see which drivers are going to call the track home on Friday nights. In the past few weeks, confirmation of Jimmy Reppert, Ryan Watt, Doug Manmiller, John Willman, Billy Pauch, Jr., and Duane Howard have been posted on the page.
The track will hold an open practice on March 13 at 2 p.m. for any car with a roll cage. An Enduro 60 will take place also that day.
The first Friday night race of the season takes place on April 1 on U.S.S. Achey Night. The Money in the Mountains Modified 40 pays $5,000 to win and $400 to take the green. The street stocks, Savage 61 roadrunners and 600 modifieds round out the card. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. on April 1 with racing slated to get underway at 8:15 p.m.