(11-1-25) Big Diamond Speedway management is proud to announce two new additions to its race day staff. Speedway owners Jake and Jasmine Smulley have named Gary Lileck of Pine Grove as race director and Kamyrn Knittle from Lehighton as the new chief scorer/handicapper.
Lileck is no stranger when it comes to Big Diamond Speedway as he is a life-long fan and historian of the track. He had also previously worked at Big Diamond in the capacity of race reporter for Area Auto Racing News and the Pottsville Republican newspapers. This past season Lileck returned to filing race reports with the Republican.
“I was really surprised, and it means so much to me to know that Jake (Smulley) had a lot of confidence in me for the race director job and after I thought about it, I felt this was something I really want to do, I’m very excited,” said Lileck.
“I have always said that I became a race fan because of Big Diamond, and I have so many good memories there going back to the 1970s. I was only two years old when I first went there and that was in 1972 when they first opened,” he continued.
“My whole life in general with racing really revolves around that track, it means a lot to me, and I have a lot of passion for Big Diamond Speedway.”
Lileck also serves on the panel of the Coal Region Racing Hall of Fame which honors select individuals who have made a lasting impact in motorsports in Schuylkill County. He has also worked behind the microphone as a track announcer, last year calling the action at Linda’s Speedway in Johnstown.
This will be the first time in his career working as a race director, but he is confidently up to the challenge.
“I have big shoes to fill following Kasea (Bauscher), who did a great job, and I have a lot of respect for him. My focus will be to keep things as good as they were,” said Lileck.
Knittle may be new to Big Diamond Speedway but not when it comes to scoring and handicapping. For the past five years she has worked in that capacity at Evergreen Raceway in St. Johns and handled the same chores at New York’s Shangri-La II Speedway.
And she has had a great mentor as well working under the tutelage of her older sister, Haley Fisher, at Evergreen. Fisher also serves as the chief scorer on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
“I’m excited to be part of the team at Big Diamond Speedway, and I am very grateful to Jake and Jasmine (Smulley) for this opportunity,” said Knittle.
“The racing is so amazing there and for me to now be a part of it, I look forward to being able to do what I do and my experience I feel, will make the job work smoothly once we get started.”
Big Diamond Speedway is set to begin action in 2026 on Friday evening, April 3, with the 54th Season Opener featuring the Quandel Concrete 358 Modifieds racing for a top prize of $4054. The USS Achey Inc., 602 Crate Sportsman will be vying for a winner’s share of $1054 while the Red White and Blue Autos Inc., Roadrunners are set to battle for a $454 first place stake.
An open practice session will take place on the Sunday prior, on March 29, which all divisions are welcome to take part in.