(7-20-26) Racing history is about to be made this coming Friday evening, July 24 at Big Diamond Speedway on Durdach Bros. Inc., Night and fans will surely not want to miss out on.
When the green flag drops on the 25-lap BQ Concrete 358 Modified main, it will mark the 1000th feature with Modifieds as the headline division.
Earl “Drick” Hendricks won the track’s Grand Opening on Friday, August 27, 1972, becoming the first of 136 different drivers to capture a headline Modified feature at the famed Schuylkill County dirt oval, which is operated under the leadership of Jake and Jasmine Smulley.
Since that inaugural race, Big Diamond Speedway’s Modified division has featured a remarkable lineup of talent. Local standouts and nationally recognized drivers alike have found their way to Victory Lane, while many others who never captured a feature win still helped shape the speedway’s storied Modified history.
Some of the landmark Modified races include May 28, 1978, when Rick Russell won the 100th feature. On July 22, 1983, Tom Mayberry became the 200th feature winner. Number 300 took place on June 3, 1988, with Rick Schaffer the victor. Five years later on May 28, 1993, would see Kenny Brightbill scoring the 400th division feature win.
The milestone 500th Modified main would go to Craig Von Dohren on July 17, 1998. Von Dohren would go on to capture the 600th feature also on May 28, 2004. The latter would mark the 50th of his track record 106 Modified wins.
No account of these historical statistics would be complete without nine-time track champion Duane Howard. On May 26, 2009, Howard added his name to the record book by winning Big Diamond Speedway’s 700th Modified feature event.
Billy Pauch Jr. etched his name into the same record books when he won the 800th race on June 27, 2014, and Jeff Strunk took the 900th feature back on May 21, 2021.
Along with the Modifieds this Friday will be the USS Achey Inc. 602 Crate Sportsman, Red White and Blue Autos Inc. Roadrunner and the Infinite Solutions Keystone Sport Compact Series.
Durdach Bros. Inc. are the regional distributor of Miller/Coors products, along with a wide selection of other domestic, craft, and imported beverages. Representatives will be on hand with a display at the grandstand entrance from 5:30 p.m. until the end of hot laps. Fans can receive a complimentary koozie (while supplies last), enter raffles for two separate prizes, and have a chance to score some Miller Lite swag.
General admission is $20, kids 10-15 are $10 and under 9 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.