News Director 
Story By: BIG DIAMOND SPEEDWAY – MINERSVILLE, PA – With the 2022 season at Big Diamond Speedway starting to wind down, that can only mean one thing! It’s time for the big money shows.
This Friday night at Big Diamond Speedway the annual “Prelude to the Coalcracker” race will take place for the Insigner Performance Modifieds. This year’s race will be a 50-lap contest paying the winner a very cool $10,000 to win.
The USS Achey Crate 602 Modifieds are also on the racing card for Friday night as are the Red White and Blue Autos Roadrunners who will compete in their annual “Crazy 8’s” feature format.
Just like in 2021, the battle for the track championship in the Insigner Performance Modified division will be coming down to the final race as Brett Kressley and Duane Howard keep trading places at the top of the standings. After last Friday night, Kressley has retaken the lead with Howard only 30 points in arrears. Friday night’s “Prelude to the Coalcracker” race will pay show-up points only for the Modifieds ensuring the fans that the points title will be decided on Championship Night August 26th.
But before that all happens, the Insigner Performance Modifieds will compete for a huge first-place prize of $10,000 this Friday night. Jeff Strunk has won the past two “Prelude to the Coalcracker” races in 2020 and 2021 with Ryan Godown being the winner back in 2019. This seasons big winners Brett Kressley, Duane Howard and Craig Von Dohren will all be there to duke it out for the big money. Jeff Strunk who was the opening night winner this season will also be looking to get back into victory lane and win his third prelude race in a row. Louden Reimert who won his first ever Big Diamond modified race last Friday night is coming off a big weekend where the Oley, PA driver won two races and it starting to come into his own. Other single time winners this season, Nick Rochinski and Rick Laubach who is showing a return to form at Big Diamond as of lately cannot be ignored also. You can also expect some non-regulars to show up and compete for the big money. Former Big Diamond track champions Billy Pauch Jr and Timmy Buckwalter have indicated they will be in attendance on Friday night. There is a chance that previous Prelude to the Coalcracker and former track champion Ryan Godown will be making his way to Schuylkill County in search of the big bucks on Friday night.
*The “Prelude to the Coalcracker” this Friday night will be an open draw race with 25 show up points being awarded to all competitors.
This Friday’s USS Achey Crate 602 Sportsman race will be a regular handicapped event. The top three in points consisting of Brandon Edgar, Danny Buccafusca and Logan Watt all experienced troubles last week being involved in one or more of the numerous yellows. Edgar was able to bounce back for a fifth-place finish which solidified his points lead. Jordan Henn who has shown speed all season was finally able to put his No. 4R in victory lane and win his first ever Big Diamond Crate 602 feature race.
The door-to-door racing that is provided weekly in the Red White and Blue Autos Roadrunner division will be on full display as the division competes in not just one but four feature races as part of their “Crazy 8’s” night. They will race in four eight lap feature events in which each race will feature separate points. These four races will go a long way to determine who the 2022 champion will be as Mike Reichert and Alex Schoffstall battle it out. Currently Reichert is the leader with Schoffstall not far behind.
Pit gates will open this Friday at 5:00 pm with Grandstand gates opening at 5:30 pm
Pit passes are $35 for Big Diamond Speedway members. Non-member pit passes are $40.
Warmups get underway at 7:15 PM with racing starting at 7:45 PM.
General admission on Friday night will be $28, Seniors $26, Kids under 16 are free.
