News Director 
Column By: RUSTY RHOADES / RPW – FORESTVILLE, PA – Mother Nature has been pretty unfair to Big Diamond Speedway’s early 2017 schedule. So it was a relief that her good side was on full display Friday, as she provided an absolutely glorious afternoon and evening in the anthracite region for the 358 Modifieds to headline the kickoff to their 46th season of racing at the facility.
When the checkers fell on the 30 lap lid-lifter, Jeff Strunk cruised across the line in dominant fashion and added another tally to his already monstrous section in the Big Diamond history books. He continued his hot start to the season wheeling the potent Glenn Hyneman #126 to collect the $4,000 payday and smile for the cameras.
The random feature redraw for the top 4 in each heat resulted in Shawn Fitzpatrick and Bobby Trapper charged with leading the field to the green. Strunk would start in the 5th position behind a very solid second row consisting of Jared Umbenhauer and Duane Howard. The “Bechtelsville Bullet”, who now calls Boyertown, PA home, immediately let his competitors and the fans know he would be a factor all race long by impressively powering his always sharp Keystone Racing mount into the top two before a single circuit was even completed. Unfortunately for him, the yellow flag was thrown prior to everyone reaching the flagstand for an incident resulting in Justin Grim needing the hook, so a complete restart would be needed.
Fitzpatrick would again take the opening green flag, and the Pottsville resident and long-time fixture in the Big Diamond modified ranks looked very impressive wheeling his familiar T-102 machine out front at a brisk pace. Jared Umbenhauer and Strunk settled in behind him through early laps that were segmented by cautions that saw notables Ryan Godown retiring his Searock 26 and Billy Pauch, Jr. facing the wrong direction out of turn two after a starting spot deep in the pack. Pauch and Duane Howard appeared to have gotten hooked up after solid contact battling through the corner with Jr ending up on the short end when they broke loose. “The Kid’s Kid” was able to refire his Grower’s #15 and tag the back of the pack.
When the field came back to the next green flag restart, it was immediately apparent that one of the best to ever strap in a Mid-Atlantic area modified was in full attack mode and ready to take over another Big Diamond feature event and run away from the rest of the field. . By lap 12 Strunk had the 126 into the runner-up spot and was now all over the rear bumper ot Fitzpatrick. One final caution would be the only brief respite that Fitzpatrick had from Strunk’s relentless pressure, and just before the halfway point, the multi-time track champion succeeded in putting the 126 into the lead.
Once Strunk had seized the point and there was a good amount of open track ahead, he set sail and quickly built up nearly a straightaway advantage. The focus shifted to Fitzpatrick and another track legend now stalking his rear bumper in the 88x of Craig Von Dohren. Another outstanding duel would ensue between these two for the runner up position over the final laps with CVD, who started 11th, able to get next to Fitzpatrick and set the stage for another outstanding and clean side-by-side battle with Fitzpatrick refusing to give in time and time again. Strunk comfortably took the win, and Fitzpatrick’s crowd-pleasing refusal to shy away from the big guns earned him an outstanding 2nd place finish by less than a car length over Von Dohren. Duane Howard and Ryan Watt rounded out the top five, followed by Kevin Beach, Umbenhauer, Rick Laubach, Ryan Krachun and Scott Albert.
After the race, Strunk was quick to credit Glenn Hyneman and his entire Keystone Racing team on the start of their season. “We’re off to a great start and I can’t thank the guys on the team enough. They made some improvements this winter and it’s definitely showing. We are definitely better here, and that was a big part of our goal. We’re looking forward to the rest of the year and keeping everyone’s confidence and morale up with a great year.” Strunk and the Keystone crew are really in a solid groove in all facets early on, claiming three podium finishes at three different tracks and both the big block and small block cars contributing to that podium run.
A jubilant Shawn Fitzpatrick was all smiles as well in the tech shed and loving the performance both he and his T-102 modified gave against some of the best. “For us, second place is a good run. This car was really good. Craig raced me really clean and when you’re racing against guys like him and Jeff, I’m just flattered to be out here being competitive and racing with them, so it was really alot of fun.” The gracious Fitzpatrick added, “We went out there and thought if I could hold on for a top five we would be thrilled, and to finish second to a guy like that is nothing to hold my head down about.”
Big Diamond gets right back to the action on Friday, April 21 with their high profile “Money in the Mountains” Big Block / Small Block Challenge Race featuring a 40 lap feature paying a solid $6,000 to the winner and $400 just to start! The winner also earns a guaranteed starting spot in the Anthracite Assault Short Track Super Series event on June 6.
