Tim Buckwalter takes Opening Night Modified Win at Big Diamond

The much anticipated Big Diamond Season opener was delayed one week due to a cold weather cancellation last week but the misty conditions came early and late but couldn’t stop the Big Diamond season from kicking off and getting the points chase for the 2021 season underway.  It was Tim Buckwalter taking the modified win; Tim Fitzpatrick in the sportsmen victory lane and Steve Lyle taking the 602 Crate victory for opening night.

The mist came in to play twice during the night; once delaying hot laps a bit and extending track run-in and then again at the beginning of the modified features.  The modified field made laps under caution while the drivers were polled by the starter whether they wanted to go or not go and the go’s had it so the 2021 racing season went green.  The mist had subsided but the cool conditions kept the track heavy.  One guy that voted go was the pole sitter Tim Buckwalter and it was the right call for the Norm Saxton 23X team as they lead the 25 feature from green to checkered and easily handled a couple of earlier restarts to take the opening night trip to victory lane.

Buckwalter took the win by a comfortable margin of a full straightaway over 2^nd place Alex Yankowski who also ran in 2^nd place from green to checkered flag.

The top 5 was rounded out by Ryan Krachun in 3^rd followed by Duane Howard and Brett Kressley.

In victory lane Buckwalter commented: “We got off to a killer start here last year and then we had the accident at Bridgeport.  This is a good start again this year and it’s easy when you start on the pole.  Before the race they asked me do you like long or short races and starting on the pole and I said I like the payout window.  Tonight I had the driver’s seat starting on the pole and if anyone made a mistake it would be me.  The car got into a rhythm and I was I was able to keep it smooth.”

Next up at Big Diamond Speedway is the “Money in the Mountain” $5,000 to win 40 lap modified race on Friday night April 16 along with a full program of racing starting at 7:45 PM.