Big Diamond Raceway – April 18, 2010

REICHERT, HOLLAND, AND KARPULK SCORE ENDURO VICTORIES SUNDAY AT BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY

(Track Press Release by Gary Lileck) Forestville, PA – April 18, 2010 – The Dan Drobnick Welding Enduro Series held its first race of the season Sunday at Big Diamond Raceway. Mike Reichert of New Ringgold picked up his fourth career 6/8 Cylinder 100-lap victory while second generation racer Chris Holland of Pine Grove won his second straight 4 Cylinder 100-lap enduro (dating back to the final race of last season – October 3). Shannon Karpulk of Pottsville won the 40-lap Ladies Race in her first ever appearance on the Big Diamond clay.

April 18, 2010 Video Highlights

Order the complete race night DVD at the GSP Shop or get it at the track!

6/8 Cylinder Enduro Highlights

M. Reichert started outside pole in the 30-car field. Tenth starter Jeremy Krausss and Chris Reichert, from eighth, each took shots at the lead with M. Reichert during the event’s opening half. With 49 laps showing on the scoreboard, M. Reichert pulled back into the race lead and remained there throughout the contest’s duration.

One of the veteran competitors at the speedway, M. Reichert was the 1995 Roadrunner track champion. After several years away from the sport, he returned to the enduro class in 2004. Since that time, Mike has been a strong contender, although he struggled with a heartbreaking season in 2009. A new paint scheme on car #63 brought along some good luck, and M. Reichert captured the season opening victory.

Krauss (Mertztown) moved into thte 6/8 cylinder class mid-way through last season and has been strong since that time. He finished second after a nice battle with third place finisher Phil Levering (Parkerford), who was driving the same 1975 Pontiac Lemans that he raced in 1999 as a Roadrunner at the speedway. C. Reichert (Orwigsburg) was the final car to finish on the lead lap, grabbing fourth in the end. Mike Naftzinger (Auburn) had his work cut out for him, starting from the 29th position, and finished in fifth.

Tyler Stump and Chris Holland set a blistering pace in the 4 cylinder enduro race. Stump took the lead on lap 19, and set the event’s quickest time. Later, Holland blasted ahead of Stump for the lead on lap 84. Stump took the front spot with five laps remaining, but Holland stole the show with a dramatic late race pass, grabbing the lead and win. It was Holland’s fourth career victory, which ranks first on the 4 cylinder all-time winner’s list.

Stump (Mertzotown), who races the only VW GTI in the Enduro series, finished a close second while Greg Zelinsky (Pine Grove) was really charging from his 25th starting spot, finishing in third. Tom Kemmerer (Fleetwood) showed smoke earlier in the race but held on to finish fourth. Former winner Tony Wetzel (Fleetwood) started and finished in the fifth position.

Dennis Quinn took a hard shot into the turns one and two tire wall on the opening lap, which brought out the red flag. Quinn, who was making his first ever BDR start, was uninjured in the accident.

The Ladies Race found Karpulk holding off Shirley Clark (Pine Grove) to the score the victory behind the wheel of Marty Purcell’s #69M. Eva Wilson (Pottsville) was the third and final car to finish on the lead lap. Jody Brensinger (Orwigsburg) made hard contact with the wall early in the event and held on to finish fourth. Pam Holland (Pine Grove) rounded out the front five.

After Mother Nature invaded Forestville PA this past Friday, Big Diamond Raceway returns to action with a three division card of 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, and Roadrunners. Gates open at 5:00PM and qualifying begins promptly at 7:45PM. Visit the track’s official website at www.bigdiamondraceway.com for speedway updates, directions, and all important information.

BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY COMPLETE RESULTS – SUNDAY APRIL 18, 2010

6/8 CYLINDER ENDURO (100-LAPS): 1) 63-Mike Reichert, 2) 111-Jeremy Krauss, 3) 39-Phil Levering, 4) 1c-Chris Reichert, 5) 777-Mike Naftzinger, 6) 8-Jason Brown, 7) 310-Bill Stockert, 8) 01-Kerry Fritz, 9) 51-Brad Krause, 10) 7-Mike Fiskaldo, 11) 11J-Bill Wingle Jr., 12) 007-Mike Allar, 13) 27-Chuck Long, 14) 349-Adam Dietzel, 15) 69M-Marty Purcell, 16) 3-Jamie Naftzinger, 17) 95-Scott Lord, 18) 17R-Tim Fitzpatrick Jr., 19) 37-Shannon Weidler, 20) 11K-Kyle Wingle, 21) 992-Terry Kramer Jr., 22) 86-Kevin Martin, 23) 404-Steve Smulley, 24) 73-Aaron Bowman, 25) 84-Ralph Bankes III, 26) 70-Chuck Detweiler, 27) 29-Troy Miller, 28) 10x-Shon Elk, 29) 703-Rick Wilson, 30) 16-Terry Kennedy.

4 CYLINDER ENDURO (100-LAPS): 1) 8c-Chris Holland, 2) 14-Tyler Stump, 3) 16z-Greg Zelinsky, 4) 58-Tom Kemmerer, 5) 27x-Tony Wetzel, 6) 49-Clay Wollyung, 7) 4-Steve Stump, 8) 85-Wayne Krauss, 9) 14K-Keith Staller, 10) 35-Lance Hoch, 11) 13z-Adam Zimmerman, 12) 94B-Scott Barry, 13) 56-Jake Brensinger, 14) 11K-Brad Killian, 15) 16-Bill McGrane, 16) 2-Mike Donati, 17) 88-Tylor Swingle, 18) 18c-Chris Natale, 19) 15-Earl Eichert Sr., 20) 19-Frank Peters, 21 ) 91-Earl Eichert Jr., 22) 32-Jack Wilver, 23) 70-Paul Noll, 24) 42-Brent Adams, 25) 72-Todd Morgan, 26) 4K-Kyle Killian, 27) 1-Scott Peters, 28) 127-Gary Grim, 29) 41-Curt Breinich, 30) 15K-Jesse Kimmel, 31) 90x-Joel Matter, 32) 44-Kevan Schaeffer, 33) 263-Dennis Quinn.

6/8 CYLINDER LADIES RACE (40-LAPS): 1) 69M-Shannon Karpulk, 2) 8c-Shirley Clark, 3) 824-Eva Wilson, 4) 23-Jody Brensinger, 5) 66-Pam Holland, 6) 88-Karen Chase.