Big Diamond Speedway has, like most area tracks, struggled to get in an evening of racing due to so many weather-related
issues that have plagued much of the 2025 season.
But despite another Friday with threatening skies, promoters Jake and Jasmine Smulley pressed on, determined not to cancel again after losing six races already and by 11:00 pm when the final checkered flag waved, all eight scheduled features were in the books and without a moment to spare as rain eventually did start to fall thereafter.
And on Shop 61/Fayash Memorial Night, it would be a night of firsts as four different drivers in the respective Modified classes all won their first Big Diamond Speedway features.
Tyler Dippel of Wallkill, NY made a thrilling late race pass to capture top honors in the Quandel Concrete 358 Modifieds.
The USS Achey Inc., 602 Crate Sportsman ran a pair of features that included the April 4 rain-postponed Thaw Brawl and with only one lap to go, Addison Meitzler of Kempton went into the lead and on to his first Big Diamond checkered flag.
In the regularly scheduled Sportsman feature Nick Hamm of Nanticoke was able to lead all 20 circuits and take a well-earned career first victory and likewise in the Big Creek Concrete Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman Payton Renninger from Pottsville graced Victory Lane for her first ever feature win.
The Red White and Blue Autos Inc. Roadrunners competed in the Crazy 8s, consisting of four intense eight-lap races. Victors included Matt Ney from Gordon, Jarod Bassininsky from Schuylkill Haven, and the Fayash’s-Andrew III from Mary D and Chuck from Tamaqua.
At the start of the 358 Modified main pole sitter Mike Burrows took command from the get-go and soon had his hands full as two-time defending champ Brett Kressley as well as Dippel continually applied heavy pressure on him. Kressley and Dippel were often engaged in close side-by-side racing while keeping close reach of Burrows.
Unfortunately for Kressley, his night ended unexpectedly when he pulled off with only four laps remaining. With Dippel now in the runner-up spot he not only reeled in Burrows but drew even with him through the first two corners amid just three laps to go. Working the inside lane, Dippel was able to exert the power needed to put his Rochinski Enterprises No. 20R out ahead and hold on over the final trips around the 3/8-mile oval and garner his first win here since an Xcel 600 Modified verdict 10 years ago.
Burrows did an outstanding job of holding the lead before settling for a well-run second place. Similarly, Doug Smith Jr., had hovered behind the front runners all race long and took third while Jeff Strunk and Kevin Beach, rounded out the top five.
It may have taken two-and-a-half months, but the rain postponed Thaw Brawl for the 602 Crate Sportsman from Opening Night on April 4 finally got run and it was quite the sizzler as the race ran nonstop. Pole sitter Dakota Kohler took command from the outset and soon
was having to fend off strong running Teague Miller. With only a few laps remaining though, Miller got out of line which opened the door for Meitzler. Upon receiving the white flag, Meitzler was glued to Kohler’s rear bumper. As the pair entered turn one, he then dove underneath Kohler and as they sped down the back straight, he had eked his way to the lead and clung to it just enough as he took the exciting verdict by a mere .083-seconds.
In the regular 20-lapper Hamm was the pole sitter and wasted little time in taking charge of the race. Hot on his heels was Trevor Bixler
who was trying every possible angle to get around but despite his ongoing efforts Hamm never wavered. Late into the affair Mike Schneck Jr., and Jordon Henn were able to maneuver into second and third respectively after Bixler lost a few spots while negotiating his way through turns three and four. And, although the much more experienced Scheck and Henn were in hot pursuit, the upstart Hamm was not to be denied as he handled them perfectly in winning his career-first victory.
Payton Renninger has been around the sport of auto racing her entire life, most of that time watching her dad, Corey. But when Big Diamond introduced the Rookie Sportsman division, she felt that was her opportunity to follow in her dad’s tire tracks and begin her career.
With no prior experience she made her debut last season, gradually learning each time she competed. When 2025 rolled around you can see that her confidence level had gotten better and on Friday night it reached its peak as she went out and assertively led all 15 laps en route to her first ever main event triumph. Dawcin Davis is getting closer to his initial win also, turning in another steady run after scoring his third runner-up in four starts.
The four Roadrunner Crazy 8s did not disappoint and as expected each of the short-distance jaunts gave fans plenty of exciting action. Amazingly in the first feature the lead changed hands four times with Ney taking the top spot with two laps to go and holding on for his first win in five years over Alex Schofstall. Bassininsky was able to stay out-front for all eight laps in the second main and held off point leader Kris Ney to become the first repeat winner of the year. In the third feature Jonathan Trumbo led the first three laps before A. Fayash III hustled into the top spot and went on the collect his 25th career victory which moved him into a tie with Dave Miller for third on the all-time Roadrunner winners list. In the finale the race came down to a family duel between C. Fayash and his nephew A. Fayash. And a restart with one to go had the race up for grabs and when it resumed, they both sprinted side-by-side until reaching midway down the back straight were C. Fayash took the reigns and held on for his first win of the season.