Tim Fitzpatrick and Steve Lyle Take Opening Night Wins at Big Diamond in Sportsman and Crate 602 Divisions

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 sportsman feature was a 20 lap green to checkered flag affair with Tim Fitzpatrick taking the season opening win in the sportsman division.

In victory lane Tim Fitzpatrick noted “We got lucky with a good starting spot and the car was fantastic all night.  It’s really a nice way to start the season.  I need a week to recover from the 1^st week of the season.”

The top 5 was rounded out by Doug Hendricks, Mike Schneck, Wayne Witmer and Brandon Edgar.

The sportsman heat races were won by Brandon Edgar and Tim Fitzpatrick.

Doug Hendricks made a late race pass to move into a 2^nd place finish from a 5^th place starting position.  Hendricks made his return to the sportsman division tonight after running modified last season.  Hendricks won the 2019 sportsman championship and moved to the modified division for 2020 but he is now back in the sportsman division looking for another championship in 2021. 

Open Sportsman Feature (20 laps) 4/09/21 –

1.TIM FITZPATRICK, 2. Doug Hendricks, 3. Mike Schneck, 4. Wayne Witmer, 5. Brandon Edgar,  6. Tajae Adams, 7. Mike Toth, 8. Tanner VanDoren, 9. Chuck Eckert, 10. Mike Burrows, 11. Ken Eckert Jr, 12. Matt Clay, 13. Ed Mrochko, 14.Wes Brady

Did Not Start – Dave Dissinger, Nicho Flammer, Chris Brennan, and Chris Seltzer.

The 602 crates had the most spirited race of the night with 3 lead changes and a one lap shootout.  Joel Smith held the lead the 1^st lap only to break in turn 4 and hand the lead back to Danny Buccafusco but his lead was also short lived and by lap 4 Steve Lyle powered into the lead and started to pull away from the field.  In the meantime Doug Snyder picked his way through the field and was a distant 2^nd until lap 14 when he began to close in on Lyle and cut the lead from a straightaway down to around a car length when caution flew on lap 19.  The double fill restart saw contact between the Steve Lyle and Doug Snyder on the front stretch knocking Snyder into the outside wall while Lyle was able to hold on for the win on the opening night of the 2021 season.

In victory lane Steve Lyle noted “Track was good but a bit bumpy in the middle and I was just trying to see straight out there.  Track was heavy tonight and it was just a wide open and hold on night.  We are looking forward to a good season here at Big Diamond.”

Doug Snyder had the best run of his season so far with a 2^nd place finish from a 10^th starting position.  Snyder adds his 2^nd place finish to qualifying for two of the largest STSS fields in recent memory with 75 and 60 cars in attendance and a 9^th place finish at Grandview last week.  Snyder commented “We made up most of our ground on the restarts and passed a lot of cars on the outside.  The car worked really well in traffic.  We made contact with Lyles on the last restart and then I caught the wall.   We’re real happy with a second place finish in our first point race of the year.  Big Diamond will be my weekly home this year and it’s great to get a good start here.”

The top 5 was rounded out by Logan Watt in 3^rd followed by Daryl Dissinger, and Kevin Brady.

The 602 crate heat races were won by Steve Lyle and Doug Snyder.

In only his 3^rd 602 crate start this season; Logan Watt grabbed his best finish this season with a 3^rd place finish and he appears to be poised and ready to make a bid for his first Big Diamond win next week.  Logan will still continue to run 1/4 midgets this year at the national championships in addition to his crate racing.

602 Crate Feature (20 laps) 4/09/21 –

 1. STEVE LYLE, 2. Doug Snyder, 3. Logan Watt, 4. Daryl Dissinger, 5. Kevin Brady, 6. Dakota Kohler, 7. Tyler Peet, 8. Corey Edelman, 9. Scott Kohler, 10. Matt Martino, 11. Ryan Conrad, 12. Danny Buccafusca, 13 Zane Roth, 14. Bobby Kupp, 15. Cody Manmiller, 16. Shon Elk, 17. Anthony Raisner, 18. Hunter Iatalese, 19. Justin Lilick, 20. Robin Wagner, 21. Joel Smith.

Did Not Start – Brandon Firestine and Eric Palmer

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.