[DiamondDog]

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Thursday June 5, 7:30PM – Seltzer Insurance Group Presents Wingless USAC Sprints and ARDC Midgets.
Friday June 6, 7:45PM – Seltzer Insurance Group Presents 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners, Xcel 600 Modifieds.
Friday June 13, 7:45PM – National Earth Services Night. 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners.
Sunday June 15, 5:00PM – Nutty Buddy Enduro Series Race #2.
Friday June 20, 7:45PM – 358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Roadrunners. Give a Pint Night Blood Drive presented by Bashore Trucking, 3:00PM to 7:30PM.
Wednesday June 25, 7:00PM – World Of Outlaw Late Models.


WINGLESS SPRINTS AND MIDGETS RETURN TO BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY ON JUNE 5…By Gary Lileck


Forestville, PA – June 1, 2008 – In just a few days, the USAC National Sprint Car Tour makes their long awaited return to the Big Diamond Raceway. USAC originally introduced its talent to the Coal Region in 2007. Results proved to be extremely favorable and the popular wingless-style Sprint-car division will reappear at BDR this Thursday June 5.


Drivers from at least nine different states are expected to enter the confines of Big Diamond. Invaders will face the challenge of a locally based team with a proven BDR competitor behind the wheel.


The ZEMCO Tool and Die #1 Sprint-car based out of the Tower City PA area will take part in this event. Team patriarch John Zemaitis drove a Small Block Modified at Big Diamond back in the 70s, and has owned cars that competed at the speedway during past years. His driver for this Thursday evening is none other than Frenchtown NJ’s Billy Pauch. Billy has won five 358 Modified features and two Big Block Modified main events during the course of his BDR career. Pauch made his first Modified start of the season on May 23 and finished second.


Johnny Heydenreich of Bloomsburg PA likewise shares some past BDR experience. As a matter of fact, Heydenreich competed regularly on the track’s older one/third mile oval configuration. Heydenreich drove car #555, primarily in 1979, and later competed in the #73J Modified. Since that time, he has become nationally known in the wingless sprint and midget-car ranks.


Levi Jones of Olney IL leads a talented list of drivers into town. Jones drives the Bass Pro Shops #20 machine owned by current NASCAR star Tony Stewart. Tracy Hines of Newcastle IN will strap behind the wheel of Stewart’s second car. Fellow NASCAR driver and recent winner Kasey Kahne plans to field a pair of cars as well. Brad Sweet of Grass Valley CA and Brady Bacon of Broken Arrow OK will steer the Mopar powered machines.


Other entries include: Hunter Schuerenberg of Sikeston MO, Shane Kottle of Kokomo IN, Daron Clayton of Sikeston MO, Chris Windom of Canton IL, Chad Boat of Phoenix AZ, Brady Short of Bedford IN, Josh Spencer of Kokomo IN, Darren Hagen of Riverside CA, Jerry Coons Jr. of Tucson AZ, Damian Gardner of Concord CA, Robert Bailou of Camby IN, Dustin Morgan of Owassa OK, Brett Mellenberndt of Sioux Falls SD, Thomas Meseraule of San Jose CA, Brad Kuhn of Avon IN, and Cole Whitt of Alpine CA.


The ARDC Midgets will join the USAC Sprinters in an exciting non-winged open cockpit card. ARDC visited Big Diamond for an event in 1975. Thirty years later (2005) ARDC came back to BDR and has been competing for selected events throughout the following years. This Thursday night marks the first of four scheduled ’08 appearances for ARDC.


Brett Arndt, 24, of Topton PA currently leads the ARDC point standings behind the wheel of car #46. Past BDR winners Frank Polimeda, 30, of Ft. Lee NJ and Randy Monroe Jr., 17, of Hampton VA round out the current top three in points. BDR 358 Modified competitor Billy Pauch Jr. of Frenchtown NJ will be ready to defend the home turf. Pauch, 20, drives the Two Dogs Racing #49 Spike Chassis. There may be some surprise invaders joining the ARDC roster for this event.


Advance tickets remain available at a price of $25 a piece and credit card orders may still be placed until June 4 by calling Mystic Screen Printing at 570-628-3520. An advance ticket will allow spectators into the stands at 3:00PM. Regular ticket gates open at 4:00PM. Pit admission for this event is $25 for BDR and USAC membership holders and $35 for others.


Thursday’s time schedule finds a driver’s meeting at 6:00PM, practice at 7:00PM and qualifying begins at 7:30PM. The USAC Sprint-car feature goes a distance of 30-laps and pays $4000 to the winning driver.


For directions, news, and other important information remember to visit the speedway’s official website located at www.bigdiamondraceway.com