News Director 
Story By: BIG DIAMOND SPEEDWAY – MINERSVILLE, PA – The season ending Coalcracker 72 is set to take place this Sunday, September 3rd at Big Diamond Speedway presented by Jack Rich, Inc for the Quandel Concrete 358 Modifieds.
The track’s richest race of the season will have a winner’s share of $15,000 with $600 to take the green. The USS Achey, Inc Crate 602 Sportsman will also be part of Sunday’s action going 25 laps for $1,500.
Completing the racing card will be the Red White and Blue Autos Roadrunners racing 20 laps for $500.
Jack Rich, Inc. is a long-time sponsor of the Coalcracker race and the proud sponsor of the Coalcracker 72. Jack Rich, Inc. is a trusted energy supplier that has served the Schuylkill Valley for over 60 years. Jack Rich, Inc. is a family owned and operated business who understands the necessity of providing a quality product and good value for homes and businesses. Jack Rich, Inc is a supplier of Home Fuel Oil and is the county’s best value for fuel oil and Heating and Air Repair Services. You can reach them at (570) 622-3000 or check out all that Jack Rich, Inc. offers by visiting their website at www.jackrich.com
It has been a great season of racing at Big Diamond with no driver or team being dominant, the competition has been stellar all season long. Current points leader Brett Kressley and Duane Howard lead the way with three wins each with Mike Gular and Anthony Perrego having two wins a piece. Single wins have gone to Louden Reimert, Tim Fitzpatrick, Ryan Watt, Nick Rochinski and Craig Von Dohren.
This year’s Coalcracker 72 has the chance to be the most competitive ever. Brett Kressley is the defending race winner and could be coming off his first ever Big Diamond Modifed title aboard the Kressley Auto and Truck Sales No. 19K. Duane Howard driving the Getz Motorsports No. 15G is the career leader in Coalcracker wins with eight and must be one of the favorites come Sunday as well as Mike Gular who has had a career year in 2023 in wins in the Terry Fastnacht owned No. 2A.
The track’s all-time feature winner Craig Von Dohren and Jeff Strunk who sits third on that list have not had what you would call stellar years at Big Diamond. Von Dohren, who was the opening night winner back in April, has started to show speed in recent weeks as the team is starting to get comfortable after switching to coils this season. Von Dohren looked to be the runaway winner of the Prelude to the Coalcracker race two weeks ago until a broken driveline ended his night. Strunk has shown speed at times this season but just has had no luck to go with it. Nevertheless, Strunk is never one to be counted out when it comes to big money races and would like nothing more than to end the season on a high note at Big Diamond. Von Dohren and Strunk each have four Coalcracker wins.
Never to be counted out are the Big Diamond Friday night regulars, drivers such as former Coalcracker winner Ryan Watt, Rick Laubach, Nick Rochinski, Louden Reimert and Mike Lisowski. All of these drivers have shown that they can get the job done at Big Diamond and a big win in Sunday’s race would just cap off their season in perfect fashion.
In addition to the always strong Big Diamond regulars, there will be a plethora of talented invaders heading to Big Diamond on Sunday to try and steal away the $15K. That contingent will be led by the winner of this years’ Prelude to the Coalcracker race Anthony Perrego. Perrego has made three visits to Big Diamond this season and has posted two wins and an eighth-place finish driving the Vinnie Salerno owned No. 4*. Perrego will look to continue his Big Diamond success. Three-time winner of the Coalcracker 72, Ryan Godown has also made his intentions known that he will be there on Sunday looking for win number four aboard the R&M Motorsports No. 26. Also, former Coalcracker winner Doug Manmiller will be in attendance looking to add to his win total.
Other drivers that have indicated they plan to be at Big Diamond on Sunday include former Big Diamond Modified champions Billy Pauch Jr and Timmy Buckwalter along with Jordan Watson, Jimmy Horton, Jack Butler, Ryan Krachun and Frank Cozze. Also expected to compete in Sunday’s Coalcracker race are current Crate 602 Sportsman drivers Logan Watt and Brendan Edgar.
The modifieds will draw for their heat race position when the sign in on Sunday and they will have a chance to double down on the draw at pit sign. See below for all the details.
Modified Double Down Draw Procedure:
New Double Down Opportunity for Modifieds
– Drivers will have the opportunity to “double down” on their entry by putting up an additional $100 before they draw for their starting spot. Driver will then draw their pill. If the driver “doubled down” and would like to draw again, they can do so at that time, not coming back later. If driver chooses to draw the second pill, they must keep the second pill starting spot. All the proceeds from drivers choosing to take the gamble will go directly into the purse!!
– Any questions or clarifications can be directed at the race director.
Note: If you want to keep the initial pill, you don’t get your money back.
Not to be outdone, the USS Achey, Inc. Crate 602 Sportsman will be racing for some extra cash on Sunday as well. The always competitive Crate 602 division will race 25-laps for a first-place prize of $1,500. Title contenders Jordan Henn, Danny Buccafusca, Logan Watt, Kevin Olenick and Brendan Edgar all have to be considered the odds-on favorites to take home the big check. You can also expect some invaders in the field as they look to steal away the money from the Big Diamond regulars.
Closing out the big show on Sunday will be the super exciting brand of racing that only the Red White and Blue Autos Roadrunners can provide. Sunday, the Roadrunners will race 20 laps for $500 to win.
This will be a draw race for all divisions.
All Modified and Crate teams must fill out an entry for Coalcracker Sunday, forms are available on the Big Diamond website or available at sign in.
