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BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY’S first Tuesday night open practice of the season found 52 cars and teams on hand, many preparing for big events to be held at Big Diamond Raceway over the next month and a half.

Among the 52 cars on hand were thirteen sportsman modifieds, eleven modifieds, eight roadrunners, five enduro dash cars, three street/pro stocks, three 358 sprint cars, two 410 sprint cars, two late models, two big block modifieds, a 360 sprint car, a pure stock, and a 600cc micro sprint. The practice session got underway at 7:15 PM and continued until 10 o’clock.

This weekend the United Racing Club sprint cars will make their first of two appearances at Big Diamond in 2004 on Friday evening. The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds and Roadrunners will also be on the special card. Leading the URC charge will be the current top ten in points, Curt Michael (Ocean View, DE), Dave Ely (West Lawn), Dave McGough (Sassamansville), Sean Michael (Allentown), Kevin Welsh (Far Hills, NJ), Brian Seidel (Allentown), Bill Brian Jr. (Ephrata), Mike Haggenbottom (Levittown), Randy West (Allentown) and Chris Coyle (Wilmington, DE). Former Pennsylvania 410 Sprint star and current USCS 360 Sprint champion, Kenny Adams (Malabar, FL) has announced he will also be on hand to challenge the top ten as well as other stars among the list of URC regulars like Pete Green (Weissport), Kramer Williamson (Palmyra), Scott Pursell (Frenchtown, NJ), Ed Aikin (Lincoln University), Cliff Brian (Ephrata), Gary Gollub (Mohnton), and Ashley Partlett (Wye Mills, MD).

Big Diamond Raceway will be racing twice over the Memorial Day weekend, kicking things off with a three division NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series card featuring the Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds and Roadrunners at 8 PM on Friday, May 28. The action really heats up two nights later on Sunday, May 30, at 7 PM with the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified Triple-20s.

This Sunday NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series event will not only feature three 20-lap Modified features. It will also include feature events for the Sportsman Modifieds and Roadrunners as well as Powder Puff features for the Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds and Roadrunners to yield a total of 8 FEATURE EVENTS. Heats and consolations will be run for the Modifieds only. The fact that this event is held on a Sunday may permit numerous invaders to show up to take on the Big Diamond regulars.

The top ten in Sportsman Modified points will be pre-qualified for their portion on the May 30 event. Two, 10-lap qualifiers will provide 12 more starters. A means for providing three additional starters is yet to be determined to yield a minimum 25-car starting field. The roadrunners and powder puff classes will be competing in features only. The only other recent Big Diamond powder puff event was a big hit in the Fall of 2002.

Specials coming up at Big Diamond include over the coming months, drawing cars to the open practice, include the KARS 358/360 Sprint Challenge on June 11, the Advance Auto Parts Down, Dirty and Wild DIRT Big Block Modified 100 on June 16 and the PA Sprint Speedweek 410 Sprint and KARS 358 Sprint show on June 29.

KEITH KAUFFMAN served notice to the World of
Outlaws that he remains a threat to win any race he enters at Williams Grove
Speedway.
   The Man from Mifflintown beat the rain and the competition as he won the
25-lap sprint car feature Friday night and dialed-in a new car for this week's
Outlaw invasion.
   Kauffman took the lead at the start and was well ahead of a frightening
backstretch altercation between Todd Hestor and Mark Smith, who were
racing for second on lap two. Hestor, who cartwheeled down the backstretch,
was transported to a local hospital after complaining of back pain.
   Following the restart Kauffman remained in control despite the best efforts
of Lance Dewease to run him down. Kauffman was flawless in traffic, however,
and rolled to his 48th career victory at Williams Grove Speedway.
   Kauffman, 53, who will be inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in a
few weeks, earned $3000 for his performance.
   Dewease settled for second after starting sixth.
   Fred Rahmer charged from his tenth starting spot to claim third. Greg
Hodnett maintained his lead in the Cindy Rowe Auto Glass point standings
with a fourth place finish. Todd Shaffer came from eleventh starting spot
to complete the top five.
   Don Kreitz, Jr., Jeff Shepard, Doug Esh, Mike Erdley and Chad Layton
rounded out the top ten.
   Sprint heats were won by Layton, Cris Eash and Mark Coldren.
   Hestor set fast time in qualifying with a lap of 16.42.
   The limited (358 c.i.) feature was rained out and will be made up on
June 4.
   Limited heats went to Timmy Long, Stan Fleming, Kyle Purks and Dave
Neuman. Consolation races were won bg Ryan Bohlke and Nate Snyder.
   Williams Grove Speedway plays host to the Cleveland Brothers World of Outlaws on Friday (May 28th) and then the Outlaws head to Hagerstown, MD Speedway for a Saturday show and on to Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, PA for a Sunday show that will be a doubleheader with the DIRT Southeast Series Big Block Modifieds at 7:30 p.m.

AT BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY on Friday night Doug Hoffman won his third feature of the season in the Dennis Eisenhard owned Kerry Hertzog Auto Sales Ford powered #77. Keith Hoffman was second. The season at the Minersville, PA oval has pretty much been a battle between the Hoffman brothers for all their events.

Curt Michael won his third URC Sprint feature of the season with Kevin Welsh second. And it was Kevin Holland winning his third Roadrunner feature of the season THERE WAS A LARGE CROWD on hand at Clinton County Speedway on Friday night as it was Pack the Track Night with Free General Admission for all fans. Alan Cole won the sprint car feature while Dale Schweikart took the 358 Late Model feature, Cliff Berry was tops in the Pro Stocks and David Fink won the Enduro division main event.

Friday night racing at Clinton County Speedway includes the sprints, 358 late models, pro stocks and Enduro cars with racing starting at 7:30 p.m.

LINCOLN SPEEDWAY saw Greg Hodnett win the 410-sprint car feature picking up $2,500. Cris Eash took second followed by Doug Esh. Point leader Fred Rahmer had a rough night and did not finish being credited with a 17th place finish.

Aaron Long won the 358 sprint car feature, a 20 lapper, leading 19 of the 20 laps. And Mike Walls became the first three-time winner in the Thundercar competition.

GARY BEWARD was able to snatch the $1,000 Ink Spot Printing Pro Stock Championship over a strong field of pro stocks at Selinsgrove Speedway on Saturday night. Nate Snyder picked up his first career win in the 25 lap sprint car main event while Chris Wilkinson recorded his first win of the season with the Late Models in a 20 lapper. Brad Mitch won a close roadrunner feature.

Selinsgrove Speedway will present the 24th annual Housing Products, Inc. Jack Gunn Memorial for sprint cars on Saturday, May 29th at 7 p.m. The late models, pro stocks and roadrunners will also see action.

Former track announcer Dick Crownover will return to Selinsgrove Speedway on June 6th to be part of the 3rd Annual Middleswarth Potato Chips Jan Opperman Memorial as part of the Susquehanna Valley 410 Sprint Series. Crownover retired as track announcer in 1983 but will share memories of his days on the microphone calling the action when Jan Opperman was blistering the Selinsgrove track.

A debilitating crash in a United Racing Club sanctioned track at Jennerstown, PA Speedway was the end of the road for Opperman. He succumbed to the injuries on Septmber 14, 1997 after a long struggle being tended to by his parents in Florida during the final years.

MR EXCITEMENT (no not Jimmy Spencer) Todd Shaffer won the Sprint Car feature at Port Royal Speedway on Saturday night coming from 9th starting spot to claim the win in the 25 lap feature.

In the 20-lap Ramsey’s Car Wash/AB Auto Glass Late Model feature event Steve Campbell won while Bill Powell edging out Scott Bargo in the chase for the checkered flag in the 15 lap feature for the Pro Stocks. The Powder Puff event was won by Kelly Warmagaris.

There will be two racing programs at Port Royal Speedway this Memorial Day weekend with Sprints, Late Models, Pro Stocks and 4-Cylinder Stock Cars in action on Saturday night at 7 p.m. On Monday, May 31st, 1 p.m. the KARS 358 sprints will join the 410 sprints and 4 cylinder stock cars.

TOM MYERS AND ROY DEESE JR. were winners in the Saturday night twin 20-lap features for the Late Models at Hagerstown Speedway. Pete Weaver won the Late Model Sportsman feature while Mike Warrenfeltz was tops in the Pure Stocks.

World of Outlaw sprint cars will be in action on Saturday night with the Late Models starting at 7:30 p.m.

THREE FEATURES were the attraction at Grandview Speedway on Saturday night with Meme DeSantis and Jon Kellner Sr. winning the two 30-lappers for the NASCAR Modifieds. The most thrilling show of the night was the first 30-lapper when DeSantis came from 22nd to finish 2nd taking that position in the fourth turn of the final lap after a side-by-side battle with Rick Schaffer and Jeff Strunk.

Lee Miller got his first career Grandview Late Model victory in the 20-lap main event.

A busy weekend of racing at Grandview Speedway this Memorial Day weekend when Rossi Welding Night is presented on Saturday starting at 7 p.m. There will be two 20-lap features for the Late Models and a 30-lapper for the Modifieds tops the night. Fans are asked to show up in Patriotic attire with the best appearing man and woman earn a ride in the two seat modified and have their photo taken in victory lane.

On Sunday night, 7:30 p.m. BPG Racing/Chad Sinon Motorsports sponsors the World of Outlaws/Dirt Motorsports Southeast Series Big Block Modified doubleheader.

ERNIE SAXTON can be contacted at Esaxton144@aol.com.