Rivalry expected at East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals
A fierce rivalry is expected at the second annual East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals, December 13-15 at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, NJ.
Stars of the Central PA Posse Sprint circuit, Dirt Modified and Midget Car competitors want nothing more than to show up the 600cc Micro Sprint regulars at their own game. Drivers who compete weekly on pavement speedways want to show the dirt drivers they can slide around and go fast on a tacky clay oval. The 120 drivers that have entered from 11 different states each want to prove they are the best.
The First Dirt Nationals was won by 36-year-old Staten Island, NY resident Whitey Kidd, III, a Micro Sprint regular. Kidd came from deep in the starting field to make a late race pass for the lead on Midget Car/ Micro standout Alex Bright of Collegeville, PA. Brian Carber of New Holland, Pa., a Sprint Car/ Micro Star, came from fifth to third on the final lap last year.
Tim Buckwalter of Douglassville, PA, a full-time racer in USAC Sprints, Dirt Modifieds, SpeedSTRs and Micros, finished fourth last year. Austin Quick of Etters, PA, who works full-time in Micro Sprint racing, finished fifth.
To win the top prize of
$5,000 last year, Kidd threw caution to the winds to make a brazen outside move on Bright, who had led most of the race.
Kidd’s returning for what he hopes is a second career highlight victory, but the competition will be tougher than ever.
A two-car team entered by Tom Fraschetta will be composed of two heavyweights, Lincoln Speedway 410 Sprint champion Brian Montieth of Phoenixville, PA and dirt Modified Super Star Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, NY.
Montieth just missed qualifying for last year’s event, but added experience in a Micro Sprint he should be a contender for the win. Rudolph, fresh off finishing second in the Super DIRTcar big-block Modified series points and winning two other track championships will also rely on his indoor race experience. Rudolph has won three Indoor Racing Series championships in TQ Midget competition on the concrete floor of arenas including one in Trenton.
Lucas Wolfe, 2018 Williams Grove Speedway 410 Sprint champion has also filed an entry. The Mechanicsburg, PA driver will be part of the team entered by Lou Cicconi, Jr. of Aston, PA., who himself will suit up for the event. Scott Kreutter, a Sprint Car regular from Buffalo, NY who won an Indoor Race on the concrete floor in Allentown, Pa. last year, is also entered in a Trey Hoddick No. 49.
Dirt Late Model and Modified rising star Mike Maresca of Potsdam, NY, one of racing’s busiest drivers, is also entered after a strong first ever start in a 600 Micro last year.
With the 2019 racing season right around the corner, Big Diamond Speedway owner and promoter Jake Smulley is in the Christmas spirit early offering up some big money for the season opener along with the annual “Money in the Mountains” race next April.
A couple of early season practices scheduled for Sunday March 31st (1:00pm) and on Friday April 5th (7pm) will feature open practice.
Then on Friday night April 12th the action will get hot and heavy for the 48th season opener as the track presents “Schaeffer’s Motorsports” night as all divisions take to the track to get the 2019 season going in earnest. The opener will be highlighted with the mighty 358 Modifieds competing in a 30-lap, $4000 to win main event. Last year’s winner on opening night Billy Pauch Jr will be back to defend his opening night win along with rest of the Big Diamond modified aces. Former Big Diamond Modified track champion Rick Laubach will be returning this season as a track regular along with 2019 newcomers Frank Cozze, Matt Stangle and Kyle Merkel along with a host of expected invaders. You can bet the perennial track powerhouses Duane Howard, Craig Von Dohren, Jeff Strunk and Ryan Godown will have their hands full in 2019 to continue their track dominance.
The Sportsman Modifieds will also be taking part in some big money as they will run a 20-lap feature event paying a cool
$1000 to the winner. Last year’s opening night winner fourteen-year-old Alex Yankowski is expected to make the move to the 358 Modifieds this season leaving the door wide open for a new face to grace victory lane at night’s end. The always exciting Street Stocks and Road Runners will also be a part of the opening night card as they battle door to door for first-place honors.
Following the big opening night show, promoter Smulley has upped the ante this season for the track’s annual “Money in the Mountains” show scheduled for Friday night April 19th. The winner of this year’s 60-lap feature event will take home a whopping $10,000 for their efforts. It will be “Fire Management Control of Pennsylvania” night at the speedway as a plethora of expected modified invaders should be on hand to try and take home the big check. The winner of this year’s MITM race will also receive a guaranteed starting spot in the June 4th, Short Track Super Series “Anthracite Assault”.
The race teams along with the fans will notice a couple of major changes this season when they pull through the gates and the racing gets under way for 2019. You can also look for the Big Diamond booth at the 2019 Motorsports Racecar and Trade Show in Oaks, PA to get all the information on the upcoming season.
Season Passes, reserved seating, pit licenses and reserved pit parking are on sale now. Please visit the track’s website www. bigdspeedway.net for up to the minute information regarding the speedway.