Anytime a driver can log a few extra laps on a track, the information which they can relay to the crew can prove to be crucial to a season’s point battle or as one of the biggest races of the year is almost at hand.
That’s the case this Friday at Big Diamond Speedway as the track plays host to the Prelude to the Coalcracker.
An open draw will be used for the CJ’s Tire & Automotive Services 358 modifieds as the 30-lap feature pays $4,000 to win and $400 to take the green. Big Diamond Speedway 358 teams will receive 50 show-up points on Friday.
There’s lots of fun and activities for adults and children on Friday as Jimmy Reppert Racing presents Hunt The Giant Night.com Night. Activities, including free ice cream, get underway at 6:30 with live music starting at 7.
If needed, Friday’s race carries with it an Aug. 19 rain date. The U.S.S. Achey sportsman and Savage 61 roadrunners round out the three-division racing card.
The track will hold the modified challenge races on Friday with a different twist to them. Fans can go to the Big Diamond Speedway facebook page; www.facebook.com/Bigdiamondspeeday and the 10 modified drivers with the most votes on the post will participate in the challenge. The voting ends on Thursday.
Adults will have the chance to win VIP seating for the night while kids will have the chance to win a trip to victory lane to have their picture taken with the modified winner.
Kevin Beach Jr., and his team will sponsor its third annual bike give away on Friday. One boy and one girl from the age group of: up to 3; 4-6; and 7-10, will win a bike based on a coloring contest. Kids can pick up the coloring packet at the speedway.
Craig VonDohren scored his fourth win of the year last week and became the first 358 modified driver to win a feature event in consecutive weeks. VonDohren trails Ryan Godown by 184 points heading into Friday.
The battle is tight within the top five as Duane Howard, who sits third in the points, leads Jeff Strunk by 30 markers while Rick Laubach is a point behind Strunk and 31 points behind Howard. Rounding out the top 10 are Ryan Watt, Ryan Grim, Kevin Beach Jr., Brett Kressley and Ray Swinehart.
Godown is the defending winner of the Prelude to the Coalcracker and the Coalcracker race.
Ray Woodall, Jr., trails Brandon Grasso by 86 points in the sportsman division while Andy Fayash III’s lead over Steve Gromis in the roadrunners is 397 points. Eric Tripp leads Rich Bossinger by 96 points in the No Sweat Service Group street stocks.
Coming up on Aug., 19, the track will hold a ‘pink out’ for Breast Cancer Awareness night as the Andy Fayash Memorial sportsman 30 takes place that evening along with the 358 modifieds, roadrunners and street stocks.
The Fayash Memorial for the sportsman will pay $1,570 to win the 30-lap feature and $157 to take the green.
