Howard back in victory lane at Big Diamond
Duane Howard is used to winning races at Big Diamond Speedway, after all Howard is the track’s second most winningest driver of all-time. But in recent years the wins have not come so easily for the Oley driver at the Schuylkill County dirt oval. As a matter of fact, you would have to go all the way back to May 29, 2015 to find the last time Howard won in a points paying event at the speedway. Howard did manage to win the track’s biggest race of the year last season when he won the “Coalcracker 72” race in September and Howard was also victorious in this year’s “Money on the Mountain” race back in April but those were not points paying events.
“We had a good night tonight,” said Howard. “The restarts went our way tonight and everything worked out for us. Godown got by me on that one restart when he beat me to the bottom in turn one, but we caught a break when the yellow came back out. Restarts are the key here at Big Diamond and you have to be ready to go when the green flag comes out and if you’re not you won’t win. I was on my restart game tonight and it paid off.”
In the 20-lap U.S.S. Achey sportsman feature it was Doug Hendricks finally able to grab his first victory of the season. Hendricks has been close on a few occasions but has not been able to close the deal until tonight.
Results Savage 61 Night 6/8/2018 The Mattera’s Electrical Modified division was won by Duane Howard followed by Ryan Godown, Shawn Fitzpatrick, Craig VonDohren, Ryan Krachun, Frank Yankowski, Heath Metzger, Ray Swinehart, Kevin Beach, Frank Porreca, Jim Bobbitt, Jimmy Reppert, Grant Hilfiger and Steve Young. Did not finish were Kris Graver, Jeff Strunk, Tim Buckwalter, Ryan Kunkle, Cliff Quinn, Billy Pauch Jr., Billy Lasko, Mike Lisowski, Briggs Danner and Jared Umbenhauer. Did not start was Scott Albert. Did not qualify were Andy Burkhart and John Willman. The modified heats were won by Ryan Godown, Shawn Fitzpatrick and Jeff Strunk. There was no consolation. The U.S.S. Achey Sportsman division was won by Doug Hendricks followed by Wayne Witmer, Craig Whitmoyer, Daryl Dissinger, Alex Yankowski, Nate Klinger, Shawn Light, Dakota Kohler, Tim Fitzpatrick, Jack Butler, Dylan Smith, Ray Woodall Sr., Ken Eckert Jr., Tyler Reber, Mike Schneck, Logen Snyder, Ed Mrochko, Paul Houseknecht and Chris Brennan. Did not finish were Ray Woodall Jr., Dave Dissinger, Kevin Brady and Brian Houseknecht. The sportsman heats were won by Tyler Reber, Daryl Dissinger and Alex Yankowski. No consolation was needed. The Savage 61 Road Runner division was won by Andrew Fayash III followed by Chris Holland, Matt Ney, Mike Reichert, Jim Kost, Shawn Mulhall, Terry Kramer and Shon Elk. Did not finish were Kris Ney, Fred Everly, Cory Lindenmuth and Ray Gara. The road runner heats were won by Andrew Fayash III and Chris Holland. The No Sweat Service Group Street Stock division was won by Elvin Brennan III followed by Eric Tripp, Jeremy Becker, Joey Brennan, Mike Radocha, Kyle Saylor and Kody Sites. Did not finish were Chris Heller, Jesse Krasnitsky, Robin Wagner and Dean Hine. The street stock heats were won by Elvin Brennan III and Kody Sites. The enduro was won by Scott Riggleman followed by Vinnie Wenrich, Seth Reichert, Chris Graver and Scott Lord. Did not finish were Josh Ferraiolo, Jacob Baver and Eric Gabalis.
Action Track USA
With rain falling heavily after the completion of the Junior Slingshot Feature event Championship Energy Action Track USA officials were forced to cancel the remainder of the Glick Fire Equipment First Responders Night on June 3.
Rain hit Action Track USA again on June 10 and postponed Sunday’s race.
On June 3, Aidan Davidson scored the win in the Junior Slingshot Feature event before the rains came.
Junior Slingshot Feature, 15 laps: 1.Aidan Davidson, 2.Shelby McLaughlin, 3.Paulie Hartwig III, 4.Logan Bauman, 5.Tyler Ulsh, 6.James Hendricks, 7.Wyatt Taschler, 8.Payton Nemeth, 9.Makayla Kohler, 10.Morgan LaBuda, 11.Kasey Hufcut, 12.Jax Yohn.