Craig Von Dohren Wins $10,000 Prelude To The Coalcracker Friday At Big Diamond Speedway
News Director 
Story By: BIG DIAMOND SPEEDWAY – MINERSVILLE, PA – It was another picture-perfect night for racing last night at Big Diamond Speedway as the Insigner Performance Modifieds ran the annual Prelude to the Coalcracker with a $10,000 payday awaiting the winner.
Never one to count out when the big money is on the line, “CVD” Craig Von Dohren dominated the action leading most of the race to take the big check home, but it was not without challenges. Danny Buccafusca continued his recent dominance winning the USS Achey Crate 602 Sportsman feature. The Red White and Blue Autos Roadrunners ran their Crazy 8’s program with feature wins going to Alex Schoffstall (2), Jim Kost and CJ Ferguson.
Scott Albert and Nick Rochinski led the 24-car field to the green. The race did not get off to a good start when third starting Jack Butler made contact with Ken Eckert Jr as the field entered turn two with Butler going around. Eddie Strada with nowhere to go was involved along with Corey Renninger. Butler was able to pit and return but unfortunately for Strada and Renninger their race was over as they went pitside on back of the tow truck. Money in the Mountains winner Ryan Krachun also went to the pits under yellow calling it a night.
It was a complete restart except for the involved cars and when the green was put out, it was Albert leading the way with Mike Lisowski getting by Rochinski and up to second. Lisowski moved past Albert for lead as the field completed lap four. One lap later, Rochinski moved by Albert to take over the runnerup spot. Sixth place starter Craig Von Dohren was quickly making his way towards the top and took third from Albert on lap eight bringing last week’s winner Louden Reimert with him.
Lisowski continued to lead the way as Rochinski and Von Dohren were now battling for second. Von Dohren worked the inside line but crossed up Rochinski on lap 12 and went to the outside thru turns one and two to make the pass. The yellow was put on lap 15 when Tim Fitzpatrick stopped in turn four. The outside lane proved to be the way to go on the restart as Von Dohren had the lead when the field completed lap 16 with Reimert also utilizing the outside to get past Rochinski for third. Reimert continued his march to the front getting past Lisowski for second on lap 19 as Von Dohren continued to lead. Reimert closed the gap between himself and the leader but just did not have enough speed to challenge Big Diamond’s all-time feature winner.
As the field took the crossed flags to signal halfway it was Von Dohren leading Reimert, 12th place starting Brett Kressley, 15th place starter Duane Howard and Lisowski. Lap 32 saw the yellow put out for the third-place runner Kressley who slowed and spun off of the backstretch ending his chances. On the ensuing restart, Von Dohren once again exerted his strength as he continued to lead as Howard worked his way past Reimert for second. Howard was able to stay with Von Dohren for a couple laps but as the laps wound down Von Dohren started to stretch his lead. The final yellow of the race was thrown on lap 44 for the No. 20 of Cole Stangle giving Howard another shot at the leader.
When the green came back out, Von Dohren had no trouble keeping the lead as now second place Howard was forced to hold off the challenges of Billy Pauch Jr. Von Dohren streaked under the checkered flag to take his third win of the season and the $10,000 first place prize. Howard held off Pauch Jr for second with Jeff Strunk and Reimert completed the top five.
“It’s so difficult, in the past the bottom has been good in three and four,” said the victorious Von Dohren with track announcer Barry Angstadt in victory lane. “Tonight, the top was good in (turns) one and two and when you are leading you never know. It felt pretty good up there but I just wasn’t sure so I thought what the hell and see what we got and I guess it worked.”
Danny Buccafusca continued his late dominance of the USS Achey Crate 602 Sportsman division winning his fourth feature out of the last five features run. Just like in the modified race, the sportsman feature got off to an auspicious start when pole sitter Brandon Oleski looped it in turn two causing a big pileup. Oleski who never stopped was given his pole starting spot back for the restart. Oleski led on the complete restart but the 10th place starting Buccafusca was flying through the field and was up to third on lap three. By lap six, Buccafusca was past Oleski and into the lead and takes off.
Behind Buccafusca, the battle for spots second through fith was a heated one with points leader Brandon Edgar, Talan Carter, Logan Watt and Jordan Henn all giving the crowd some great racing action. Edgar was able to establish himself into second and started to close the gap to the leader, but Buccafusca was too far ahead and won going away. Edgar finished second with Talan Carter sneaking by the smoking car of Watt for third. Watt settled for fourth and Henn was fifth.
The Red White and Blue Autos Roadrunners ran the fan favorite Crazy Eight’s program which consisted of four 8-lap features with each feature scored separately towards the track championship. Feature #1 saw Jim Kost hold off the challenges of Alex Schoffstall for the win with CJ Ferguson, Glenn Rowan and points leader Mike Reichert the top five. Feature #2 had the years leading feature winner Alex Schoffstall passing TJ Fitzpatrick late to pick up the win. Top five were Schoffstall, Fitzpatrick, Chuck Fayash, Dave Schultz and Terry Kramer. Feature #3 had CJ Ferguson win his first ever Roadrunner feature holding off Dave Schultz, Alex Schoffstall, Mike Reichert and Chuck Fayash. Feature #4 saw Glenn “Buckshot” Rowan lead the way with Chuck Fayash, Mike Reichert and Alex Schoffstall all in the battle. Fayash made contact with Rowan bringing out the yellow with Fayash put to the rear. Alex Shoffstall inherited the lead to win over Jim Kost, Dave Daubert, Terry Kramer, Dave Daubert and Chuck Fayash
Full results from August 19th, 2022 (Prelude to the Coalcracker)
Insigner Performance Modifieds: 1. Craig Von Dohren 2. Duane Howard 3. Billy Pauch Jr 4. Jeff Strunk 5. Louden Reimert 6. Rick Laubach 7. Timmy Buckwalter 8. Nick Rochinski 9. Mike Lisowski 10. Alex Yankowski 11. Jack Butler 12. Scott Albert 13. Ken Eckert Jr 14. Dave Hunt 15. Heath Metzger 16. Cole Stangle 17. Brett Kressley 18. Wayne Witmer 19. Ryan Watt 20. Kevin Beach Jr 21. Tim Fitzpatrick 22. Eddie Strada 23. Corey Renninger 24. Ryan Krachun DNQ: Frank Cozze, Cliff Quinn, Shawn Light, Tim Apgar, Bobby Trapper Jr & Dan Hineline
Modified Heat Winners: Louden Reimert, Billy Pauch Jr, Scott Albert & Jack Butler
Modified Consi Winner: Jeff Strunk
Dog Pound Bonuses: $150 Halfway Leader – Craig Von Dohren / $200 Hard Luck Award – Dan Hineline
Modified Penske Shocks Gift Certificate Winners: Craig Von Dohren ($100), Duane Howard ($75) & Billy Pauch Jr ($50)
Modified Top Ten in Points: 1. Brett Kressley 1607 2. Duane Howard 1577 3. Craig Von Dohren 1522 4. Nick Rochinski 1445 5. Louden Reimert 1428 6. Mike Lisowski 1079 7. Rick Laubach 1008 8. Eddie Strada 992 9. Kevin Beach Jr 975 10. Ryan Watt 921
Savage 61 Crate 602 Sportsman: 1. Danny Buccafusca 2. Brandon Edgar 3. Talan Carter 4. Logan Watt 5. Jordan Henn 6. Daryl Dissinger 7. Kyle Kania 8. Skylar Sheriff 9. Kevin Borden 10. Nick Desantis 11. Brandon Oleski 12. Eric Kocher 13. Xavier Sprague 14. Kevin Olenick 15. Chad Putalavage 16. John McGoey 17. Shon Elk 18. Kaitlyn Bailey 19. Alex Bartorillo 20. Kevin Kaplafka 21. Mike Schneck Jr 22. Matt Yoder 23. Jim Houseworth DNS: Brandon Fireston DNQ: Tyler Vidal & Danica Getz
Crate Sportsman 602 Heat Winners: Matt Yoder, Kyle Kania & Logan Watt
Crate Sportsman 602 Consi Winners: Mike Schneck Jr
Crate 602 Penske Shocks Gift Certificate Winners: Danny Buccafusca ($100), Brendan Edgar ($75) & Talan Carter ($50)
Crate Sportsman Top Ten in Points: 1. Brandon Edgar 2346 2. Danny Buccafusca 2174 3. Logan Watt 1914 4. Kyle Kania 1675 5. Talan Carter 1570 6. Kevin Olenoick 1544 7. Matt Yoder 1529 8. Daryl Dissinger 1228 9. Mike Schneck Jr 1104 10. Jordan Henn 1087
Red White and Blue Autos Roadrunners: Crazy Eight Feature #1 – 1. Jim Kost 2. Alex Schoffstall 3. CJ Ferguson 4. Glenn Rowan 5. Mike Reichert 6. TJ Fitzpatrick 7. Seth Reichert 8. Chuck Fayash 9. Tod Roth Jr 10. Dave Schultz 11. Terry Kramer 12. Kyle Wingle 13. Dave Daubert 14. Auston Schultz 15. Damion Dusheck 16. Tonya Lance 17. Ray Gara 18. Samantha Zipp
Crazy Eight Feature #2 – 1. Alex Schoffstall 2. TJ Fitzpatrick 3. Chuck Fayash 4. Dave Schultz 5. Terry Kramer 6. CJ Ferguson 7. Kyle Wingle 8. Damion Dusheck 9. Dave Daubert 10. Austin Schultz 11. Mike Reichert 12. Tonya Lance 13. Tod Roth Jr 14. Ray Gara 15. Samantha Zipp 16. Glenn Rowan 17. Jim Kost
Crazy Eight Feature #3 – 1. CJ Ferguson 2. Dave Schultz 3. Alex Schoffstall 4. Mike Reichert 5. Chuck Fayash 6. Terry Kramer 7. Glenn Rowan 8. Kyle Wingle 9. Dave Daubert 10. Tonya Lance 11. Samantha Zipp 12. Seth Reichert 13. Jim Kost 14. Damon Duscheck 15. TJ Fitzpatrick 16. Austin Schultz 17. Tod Roth Jr
Crazy Eight Feature #4 – 1. Alex Schoffstall 2. Jim Kost 3. Terry Kramer 4. Dave Daubert 5. Chuck Fayash 6. Kyle Wingle 7. Tonya Lance 8. Seth Reichert 9. Samantha Zipp 10. Mike Reichert 11. Glenn Rowan 12. Dave Schultz 13. CJ Ferguson 14. Tod Roth Jr.
Roadrunner Top Ten in Points: 1. Alex Schoffstall 3195 2. Mike Reichert 3015 3. Chuck Fayash 2501 4. Jim Kost 2295 5. CJ Ferguson 2229 6. Dave Schultz 1812 7. Tod Roth Jr 1710 8. Glenn Rowan 1636 9. Tonya Lance 1630 10. Jaron Bassininsky 1529
