NASCAR
Big Diamond rained out 2003-05-09
Rain stops racing at Big Diamond again. Minersville, PA - May 9 - Wet grounds from storms on throughout the week followed by heavy cloud cover, light rain and forecasts for drizzle and fog throughout the evening forced promoter Fritz Roehrig make ...
Edited: May 11, 2003, 12:05 AM
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Rain stops racing at Big Diamond again.
Minersville, PA - May 9 - Wet grounds from storms on throughout the week followed by heavy cloud cover, light rain and forecasts for drizzle and fog throughout the evening forced promoter Fritz Roehrig make a 2 PM decision to cancel the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified, NASCAR Roadrunner and KARS 358 Sprint races scheduled for Friday night at Big Diamond Raceway.
Racing will continue at Big Diamond Raceway this Friday night May 16 as the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds, ShorTrack Sportsman Modifieds and Roadrunners take charge at the speedway on United Disabilities Services Night.
"There was just no way to get the track prepared for racing," shared Fritz Roehrig. "We've had so much rain over the past week or so that the showers and damp conditions Friday offered no opportunity to dry things out to race. We have many race teams and fans that travel over an hour to attend our races. By canceling the program as soon as we knew we had no hope of racing, we hopefully save people that long trip for nothing." Attention now focuses on this Friday's United Disabilities Services Night. UDS of Lancaster, a non-profit organization dedicated to 'Advancing the Independence of People with Disabilities,' and two-time Daytona ARCA winner, Bobby Gerhart of Lebanon, PA will kickoff a partnership to assist UDS with marketing and fundraising opportunities. United Disabilities Services will be handing out pledge forms for Track the Laps, a fundraiser developed by UDS and Bobby Gerhart Racing to raise money for people with disabilities. Fans can pledge a certain dollar amount per lap for the number of laps Bobby Gerhart completes at the ARCA RE/MAX Giant Food Stores 200 at Pocono Raceway on June 7, 2003. Bobby Gerhart will be on hand for an autograph/meet and greet session and his #5 Bodycote Pontiac will be on display for race fans. United Disabilities Services New Life Assistance Dogs Program will also be featured and race fans will be treated personal service dog demonstrations in the track grandstand pavilion and, if conditions permit, on the track at intermission.
Early season points show feature winners Kevin Hartnett (Perkasie) and Ray Swinehart (Bechtelsville) leading the Big Diamond NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified point standings with 355 points. Just five points back, tied for second, are 1988 and 1989 Big Diamond champion Doug Hoffman (Allentown) and Craig Von Dohren (Barto). Billy Paauch (Frenchtown, NJ) is fifth with 325 followed by Steve Bottcher (Lehighton) with 295, Hartnett's teammate Rick Schaffer (Woxall) with 286, Terry Meitzler (Kutztown) and Kyle Weiss (Hamburg) with 275 and 2000, 2001 and 2002 Big Diamond champ, Keith Hoffman (Whitehall) with 270. The third five includes rookie Shawn Fitzpatrick (Pottsville), Shawn Reimert (Oley), Larry Solomon (Birdsboro), Meme DeSantis (Temple) and Rick Laubach (Richlandtown).
The Sportsman Modified teams have been hit hardest by the bad weather with only one race in the books. Ryan Moyer (Schuylkill Haven) took his first career win in the sportsman modifieds after spending time in the modifieds and limited sprints. He'll look to go two-for-two on Friday but will need to contend with the likes of Billy Moyer (Pine Grove), defending track champion Craig Whitmoyer (Hamburg), Tom Umbenhauer (Richland), Jesse Sterling (Lehighton), Chris Clemens (Coopersburg), Brad Force (Milford, NJ), Luke Wagner (Grantville) and many others including Tom Brennan (Pottsville) who will make his return from the "Injured Reserved List", his recovery now complete from a severely broken leg courtesy of the ice and snow this past winter.
Racing at Big Diamond Raceway this Friday night May 16 for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modifieds, ShorTrack Sportsman Modifieds and Roadrunners will start with the first heat at 8 PM following 7:30 run-in and hot laps. United Disabilities Services activities including the Bobby Gerhart Meet will take place between 6 and 8 PM.
The rained-out KARS Doorways Unlimited 358 Sprint date will not be rescheduled and their next appearance is slated for June 13 as a $1500-to-Win challenge event pitting the PA-based KARS Sprints against the Carolina-based American Outlaw Action Series (AOAS) 360 Sprints. KARS rules will be opened to allow Selinsgrove cars to compete and AOAS rules mirror United Racing Club rules which will open the race to those drivers as well.
For more information on Big Diamond Raceway call (570) 544-6434 or check out the track website, www.bigdiamondraceway.com.
-bdr-
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