(7-12-26) This coming Friday evening, July 17, Big Diamond Speedway begins the second half of the 2026 season with Limited Late Models returning for the “Double B” Bob Bowers Memorial with the winner’s share being $1750 and $150 to take the green.
Along with the Limited Late Models will be the BQ Concrete 358 Modifieds, USS Achey Inc. 602 Crate Sportsman and Red White and Blue Autos Inc. Roadrunners.
Back on May 8 the Limited Late Models made a return to the track for the first time in four seasons and the feature was a thriller as George Dixon Jr., held off Andrew Yoder right down to the wire.
And in an impressive display of speed that night, 15 cars bettered the previous track record, with Lane Snook leading the way by setting a new mark of 15.337 seconds.
The race is being held in memory of Bob Bowers who was better known as “Double B.”
Bob was a 1965 graduate of Cass Township High School where he excelled in football and baseball.
After high school, he entered into the US Army and upon completion of service, worked highway construction for several years before founding R. Bowers Trucking & Excavating and the anthracite mining companies BBZ Research, Lone Eagle Coal Company and the Olde Buck Run Coal Company in the Buck Run area where he successfully mined coal for decades before retiring from the mining business.
He continued with R. Bowers Trucking & Excavating where he was affectionately known by his CB handle “Double B”.
Bob was also a huge “car guy.” From the day he turned 16 you could always find him driving way too fast behind the wheel of one of his many Corvettes, mostly in “Bobby Bowers Blue” or turning laps at Big Diamond Speedway in one of his Late Models and it is fitting that is the division which will be running that night.
Even after his racing career ended, Bob remained drawn to fast cars and horsepower. He spent many Friday nights at the track with his family, cheering on his favorites such as Craig Von Dohren, Jesse Krasnitsky and Alex Schoffstall.
Bob was one of the hardest working men you would find, and he had a heart of gold. He would gladly help anyone in need, even if it meant putting himself out to do so.
Of all Bob’s qualities and accomplishments, nothing meant more to him than his children and grandchildren. From tee ball through high school sports, he rarely missed a game or practice and often gave his time as a coach. Bob was more than a devoted father, grandfather and husband, he was a genuinely good person with countless friends, many of them lifelong.
General admission is $25, kids 6 -10 are $10 and under 6 free. Pit admission is $35 for members and $45 non-members. Pits open at 5:00 pm and grandstands at 5:30 pm. Hot laps will begin at 6:45 pm with racing to follow.
In other track related news starting this Friday the 602 Crate Sportsman will have “Delaware” double file restarts. The leader will have their own line while second place will have lane choice (inside or outside), and the rest of the field will fall in line in the positions they are scored in.
Also, last week’s Living Legends Night that was rained-out out had been rescheduled to Friday, August 14.