Gular grabs Big Diamond win

Fighting the weather all night, Big Diamond Speedway persevered and the large crowd of fans on hand were treated to another great night of racing. The always consistent Mike Gular finally was able to grab that elusive victory he was searching for at Big Diamond. Gular had last won at the speedway back in July of 2011. The winged warriors of the United Racing Club opened up their season last night and it was Robbie Stillwaggon standing in victory lane after leading all 25 laps. Second generation driver Cody Manmiller who just moved up from the 600cc modifieds to the crate sportsman division visited victory lane in only his second race at the speedway. Chris Holland was the roadrunner winner with Austin Bellemare winning the Central PA Legends feature.

Eddie Strada and Tim Apgar brought the Insinger Performance Modifieds to the green flag in their 25-lap main event with Strada getting the jump and taking command. Duane Howard starting from the seventh spot started making early moves and was up to fourth by lap six. The first yellow of the race was brought out when the No. 16 of Cory Merkel slowed in turn two.

Strada let the field back to green with Colt Harris, Doug Hendricks, Howard and a hard charging Alex Yankowski all right behind the leader. One lap later the yellow was out again as Yankowksi and Hendricks made contact causing Hendricks to spin. Howard made a sharp right turn to try and avoid the spinning Hendricks and was clipped by another car causing his front end to collapse ending his good run. While all this was going 13th place starter Mike Gular was quietly making his way to the front and when the race restarted found himself in third behind Strada and Yankowski.

Strada maintained his lead on the restart as Yankowski tried to use the outside to get past, coming into turn three Yankowski tried the high side once again and when he did Gular boldly made his move for second before Yankowski could get back down to block. Once in second Gular set his sights on Strada and was right on the open wheel star turned modified drivers back bumper. Strada was looking good and was holding off the veteran Gular when Brett Kressley stopped to bring out the race’s final caution on lap 22.

It was the young Strada versus the veteran Gular on the restart and the veteran didn’t disappoint as he charged around Strada on the restart and was able to get back down low going into turn one to hold off any move Strada was going to try and make. Once in front Gular started to distance himself from Strada who now had to hold off the advances of Yankowski.

Gular streaked under starter Jeff Merkel’s checkered flag for the crowdpleasing win. Yankowski was able to get by Strada for second relegating Strada to third. Tuesday night’s Anthracite Assault winner Billy Pauch jr was fourth with Jeff Strunk making a late charge to finish fifth.

“Strada was really good tonight and I think he’s going to be a problem all year,” said a victorious Gular talking to track announcer Dino Oberto after his big win. “We’ve had a bunch of top fives in the past couple of weeks wherever we went and tonight I wasn’t going to settle for another fifth here tonight. This place has been tough for me and it’s been a long time since I’ve won here. I have thank my car owner Terry (Fasnacht), my crew and all my sponsors. This quarantine deal gave us time to get all of cars done and get everything the way we want it to be and it feels great and it’s showing now.”

The 25-lap URC feature saw Robbie Stillwaggon lead the field to the green flag and immediately jumped out to take charge. The race saw a rash of yellow flags slow down the action throughout but that didn’t phase Stillwaggon one bit as he stayed in front, the race had one long green flag run through the middle with Curt Michael running Stillwaggon down as the two leaders threaded their way through lapped traffic. Michael gave it all he had but no one was going to beat Stillwaggon on this night as he led all 25 laps to take the URC season opener. Michael held off a charging Josh Weller for second followed by Troy Betts and Dallas Schott.