(10-20-26) What do winning drivers in the USS Achey Inc. 602 Crate Sportsman division at Big Diamond Speedway such as Jax Yohn, McKenzi Smith, Brennan Champman, Kevin Fitzpatrick and Bryce Bashore all have in common?
They all began as regulars in the Big Creek Concrete Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman class before advancing in their careers.
And, when the 2027 season commences in April, it will mark the fifth year of the division and returning as the official class sponsor is Big Creek Concrete of Kresgeville.
For over 20 years, Big Creek Concrete has been the preferred family owned and operated concrete contractor. They provide quality workmanship in both residential and commercial jobs.
Introduced in 2023, the Big Creek Concrete Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman Division at Big Diamond Speedway has fulfilled its purpose: nurturing young talent and providing a steppingstone to the higher levels of dirt Modified racing. The very first winner was Bashore on April 7 of that year.
“You have to get the younger kids in this racing gig or else we’re not going to have racing. You can’t just throw 14/15-year-olds into the regular 602 Crates, you would just be throwing them to the wolves, so I feel you need a steppingstone with what they have there in the Rookie division,” said Butch Getz, President of Big Creek Concrete.
The class does not run heats rather a 15-lap feature only. There are no points kept, and they draw for starting spots apart from the previous week’s winner who will start at the rear for the upcoming race. After earning three wins drivers must then move on.
“I watched that Fitzpatrick kid this year and he won the first three races in a row and then moved up to the regular Crate division and did very well there. But that’s what it’s there for, to get your feet wet and then move up when you’re ready.”
By backing the division Getz is committed to helping young racers develop into skilled drivers. He says his sponsorship of the class is less about promoting his company and more about giving up-and-coming racers a division dedicated to learning their craft.
“I’m not doing this for my business. I’m doing it for the younger kids,” he noted.
The Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman class also holds a lasting memory for Getz. His daughter, Danica, competed and made history in the division’s final race of 2023, becoming the first female driver to win a Modified feature at Big Diamond. Brittany Edgar and McKenzi Smith rounded out the top three, marking another first for the track: an all-female sweep of the podium.
“I loved it when she (Danica) raced and other them myself winning my first Modified feature that was tops. I watched McKenzi Smith move up to and she’s doing very well now racing in the 358 Modifieds,” said Getz.
Big Diamond Speedway is very appreciative to have Getz and Big Creek Concrete return in support of the Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman class.
They are located at PO Box 576, Kresgeville. You can reach them at 610-657-7015 or by email at brgetz@ptd.net There website is https://bigcreekconcreteinc.com/index.html
Big Diamond Speedway kicks off the 2027 season on Friday, April 9 with the “Thaw Brawl.” The BQ Concrete 358 Modifieds will be racing for $5055-to-win, USS Achey Inc. 602 Crate Sportsman battling for $1055-to-win, the Keystone Sport Compact Series racing for $555-to-win plus the Big Creek Concrete Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman are part of the action.