Throughout the season at Big Diamond Speedway, perennial veteran Jeff Strunk of Boyertown has produced steady and consistent runs, which is typical of the seven-time track champion when it comes to getting around the 3/8-mile dirt oval in the Quandel Concrete 358 Modified division.
Missing though among his slew of top finishes he’s produced thus far has been a victory, but that was checked off on Friday evening when he drove his Norm Hansell owned No. 357 to a big $7000 win on Topless Night.
Strunk, who started 10th, took control of the race after a lap 15 restart, at the time unseating Mike Burrows for the lead. Afterwards he had no problem in fending off Duane Howard en route to his 61st career track decision.
“I can’t thank Norm (Hansell) and all my guys enough who have been working really hard and sticking with it. We’re having a good year here so far and there’s no better night to win here then when the big money is on the line,” said Strunk.
“Thanks to Jake (Smulley/promoter) for the kind of money he puts up for these types of races and I appreciate that.”
At the start of the 30-lap race, Burrows quickly overtook pole sitter Corey Renninger from his outside front row slot and confidently took command of the lead. Strunk in the meantime was making haste as he picked off several cars over the first four laps through feisty moves as well as a few restarts and in short order had become a factor for the lead.
Following one such restart, Strunk, who was lined up in fourth alongside Dan Hineline and directly behind Burrows and Renninger, went into a scintillating three-wide battle with the front pair as they headed into the first two corners.
Strunk planted himself between both and as the trio began to exit turn 2, Renninger, who was on the bottom lane, unfortunately spun which initiated another yellow flag but also placed Strunk up to second.
On that reset Burrows was surrounded by some heavy company with not only Strunk to his inside but behind him sat Brett Kressley and Howard. Yet despite that he would continue to maintain his lead against the bevy of strong combatants, mainly that of Strunk.
At the halfway point the action slowed when Mike Gular came to a halt. It would be on that restart in which Strunk was able to strike at the lead, outgunning Burrows and along came Howard.
“I was just being a little cautious there and Mike (Burrows) has come a long way fast and he’s a good racer and up to that point before we got by him, he ran a good race,” said Strunk.
“I was just biding my time and didn’t want to screw up being on the front row and risk being passed by one of those guys behind us. We picked the right lane and got a good restart and that was the whole key to the race because whoever got there first was going to be tough to pass.”
Subsequently the two icons would run 1-2 with Strunk holding a firm, two car lengths margin of victory over Howard en route to the rewarding payday. And, with it being Topless Night in which all Modified classes raced without their roof decks on, Strunk noted what a unique concept it is and a little different from most nights.
“We came here with the basically the same setup as we do every week. If anything, it’s just a little different with the lighting for us drivers. It’s something that’s a little different and I enjoy it, and I hope the fans do to and it’s something we don’t do anywhere else,” explained Strunk, who has moved up to second in the standings following his win.
Point leader Louden Reimert continued on his rock-solid season as journeyed from 15th to third. Kressley held on for fourth while Mike Lisowski registered his first top five, coming home in fifth.
After a hiatus from driving over the past several years, Lehighton’s Kevin Smith has returned to action this season running with the USS Achey Inc., 602 Crate Sportsman and ever since getting back behind the wheel he’s displayed good speed while contending several times for a win and Friday night was another of those challenging moments only this time it would be victorious.
Smith drove from fifth to second within short order of the start and at that point was honed on leader McKenzie Smith. Also running close in the action were Dakota Kohler and Matt Martino.
As M. Smith led the way, K. Smith followed closely behind her. Despite continuous pressure, she did not retreat and maintained her focus throughout, managing the ongoing tension. And as those two fought their battle for the lead, Kohler and Martino were doing much the same for third spot while keeping within close reach of the leaders.
The race’s only caution waved with five laps to go when Tyler Vidal stopped just inside the racing surface on the front straight. The ensuing restart would become the deciding factor when K. Smith was able to get a good launch which propelled him to the lead. Steadily over the remaining laps he stayed spot on and went on to win for the first time in 11 years.
“It’s great and this has been something I’ve been wanting to do again and to now capitalize on it all is what it’s all about,” said K. Smith, who’s only other win was in a 358 Modified. He also became the seventh different winner in as many races this year.
“These cars are just so even and when the track is good like it is tonight you really have to be on your game and that’s what it proved to be. I want to thank Keith and Dave Hoffman for the guidance and all the help and advice they’ve given me and this one’s for everybody who helps on the car.”
K. Smith also noted that when the only restart of the race took place, he knew it was his only chance to get by the strong running M. Smith.
“We got past halfway and I kind of thought that she would have to mess up and I would need to be close in order to make my move and there was a couple times we were there but it I just wasn’t close enough to make it happen,” he said.
“When that caution came out with five (laps) to go I knew that was my chance and I felt at that point that it was go or finish second. She didn’t make any mistakes and ran a great race.”
On the final lap Martino, who had snagged third from Kohler on lap 16, eked by M. Smith at the line to get the runner-up spot. For K. Smith it marked a career best finish to date since becoming a regular with the division. Kohler settled for fourth with Mike Schneck Jr., rounding out the top five.
In the Red White and Blue Roadrunner feature Alex Schoffstall of Llewellyn proved once more why he stands as one of the premier racers of all-time with the full-fender cars.
The race would see the first 19 laps go caution free which in turn became a thrilling fast-paced affair in the process and Schoffstall displaying his keen prowess over that span.
Joe Bassininsky took the lead from Eric Buchinski on lap two and then was in a constant struggle to keep it as he had to turn back an onslaught from the likes of Jarod Bassininsky, Andrew Fayash III and then Schoffstall.
When Schoffstall got up to second place, which was on lap 13, he wasn’t content to settle there and began baring down on Bassininsky. Within the next two circuits all that insistence paid off as he did a pick and pass for the lead with five laps to go.
Schoffstall wasn’t home free yet though as the only caution of the race would come with one lap remaining. The restart would be no problem though for the hot-shoe as he was quick to re-fire and raced to his unprecedented 36th track victory.
Chuck Fayash came on strong in the final start as he zipped by Bassininsky for the runner-up spot. Seth Reichert and Fayash III completed the top five.
In the Big Creek Concrete Rooke 602 Crate Sportsman feature Hunter Bowers of Minersville took the lead from start and never looked as he scored a rousing second win of the year ahead of Mason Harakel and Payton Renninger.
358 Modified feature finish (25 laps): 1. Jeff Strunk, 2. Duane Howard, 3. Louden Reimert, 4. Brett Kressley, 5. Mike Lisowski, 6. Ryan Watt, 7. Tyler Dippel, 8. Kevin Olenick, 9. Tim Fitzpatrick, 10. Jack Butler, 11. Kevin Beach Jr., 12. Michael Burrows, 13. Brandon Edgar, 14. Logan Watt, 15. Mike Gular, 16. Jax Yohn, 17. Rick Laubach, 18. Ken Eckert Jr., 19. Corey Renninger, 20. Dan Hineline, 21. Wayne Witmer, 22. Ron Haring Jr. DNS: Cliff Quinn, Craig Von Dohren
602 Crate Sportsman feature finish (20 laps): 1. Kevin Smith, 2. Matt Martino, 3. McKenzi Smith, 4. Dakota Kohler, 5. Mike Schneck Jr., 6. Jordan Henn, 7. Nate Brinker, 8. Ralph Mele, 9. Alex Bartorillo, 10. Reice Widger, 11. Dylan Cappel, 12. Richie Hitzler, 13. John McGeoy, 14. Tyler Vidal, 15. Brennan Chapman, 16. Ed Mrochko, 17. Jim O’Hara, 18. Teague Miller
Roadrunners feature finish (20 laps): 1. Alex Schoffstall, 2. Chuck Fayash, 3. Joe Bassininsky, 4. Mike Reichert, 5. Andrew Fayash III, 6. Jim Kost, 7. Jarod Bassininsky, 8. Joey Brennan, 9. Andrew Buchinski, 10. Eric Buchinski, 11. Johnathan Trumbo
Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman feature finish (20 laps): 1. Hunter Bowers, 2. Mason Harakel, 3. Payton Renninger, 4. Dennis Graber, 5. Miles Green, 6. Dawcin Davis, 7. Sven Olson