FORESTVILLE — Big Diamond Speedway will conduct its final program of the 2014 season tonight and one driver has a spot guaranteed in the biggest 358 modified race of the track’s season.
Pottsville’s Shawn Fitzpatrick won a race of seven cars Friday night to earn a berth in today’s Jack Rich Memorial Coal Cracker 72, the main event in the 8:15 p.m. program. There were 30 cars eligible to compete in the 20-lap, non-winners race, but only seven participated.
The winner of today’s 72-lap feature will win $10,000.
Fitzpatrick earned a guaranteed payout of at least $700 by winning Friday’s race.
With two laps remaining, Kyle Follweiler grabbed the lead entering the first turn, but his car bobbled, enabling both Fitzpatrick and Kyle Borror to catch up. The resulting contact of the three cars put Fitzpatrick in the lead to stay.
In other action Friday, Pottsville’s Jeremy Becker notched the 2014 roadrunner track championship by winning the 20-lap feature that completed the rained-out program from Aug. 24. Becker took the lead from Chris Holland on the seventh lap and led the rest of the distance. Tom Hablett, T.J. Fitzpatrick and Shon Elk rounded out the top five.
Clay Butler won the Coal Cracker 40 for sportsmen and its $1,600 purse. Butler took the lead to stay when race leader Brett Kressley’s car broke with 10 laps left.
Doug Hendricks, Butler and Steve Searock IV won sportsman heats.
Hanover’s Rick Weaver won the 20-lap enduro dash which ended the program.
Big Diamond Speedway
Friday’s results
358 modifieds (Non-winners, 20 laps) — 1. Shawn Fitzpatrick, 2. Kyle Borror, 3. Lou Cicconi, 4. Scott Albert, 5. Paul Moyer, 6. Kyle Follweiler, 7. Bobby Gunther Walsh
Sportsmen (Coal Cracker 40, 40 laps) — 1. Clay Butler ($1,600), 2. Tim Fitzpatrick, 3. Steve Searock IV, 4. Kevin Beach Jr., 5. Mike Lisowski, 6. Wayne Witmer, 7. Shawn Light, 8. Harry Landis, 9. Billy Moyer Jr., 10. Charles Webber, 11. Brett Kressley, 12. Chad Putalavage, 13. Todd Huffman, 14. Brad Brightbill, 15. Doug Hendricks, 16. Ray Woodall Sr., 17. Mike Glass, 18. Josh Hertzog, 19. Charles Fayash, 20. A.J. Gerhart, 21. Ray Woodall Jr., 22. Marc Berzowski, 23. J.R. Fulper. DNS — Mark Behm
Roadrunners (20 laps) — 1. Jeremy Becker, 2. Chris Holland, 3. Tom Hablett, 4. T.J. Fitzpatrick, 5. Shon Elk, 6. Andrew Fayash III, 7. Tim Fitzpatrick Jr,. 8. Jesse Krasnitsky, 9. Terry Kramer Jr., 10. Joe Kavanaugh, 11. Jason Brown, 12. Elvin Brennan III, 13. Jim Kost, 14. Kyle Wingle, 15. Jon Schlauch, 16. Greg Zelinsky, 17. John Whyne, 18. Jared Seigfried, 19. Kris Ney, 20. Devin Trexler, 21. Bill Wingle Jr., 22. Bruce Ditzler
Outlaw Enduros (20 laps) — 1. Rick Weaver, 2. Kevin Holland, 3. Keith Ramer, 4. Tyler Lucas, 5. Chuck Eckert, 6. Matt Lawrence, 7. Willie Metz, 8. Joel Matter, 9. Bobby Eckert, 10. Chuck Detweiler, 11. Gary Grim, 12. Robert Wellman, 13. Chris Angstadt, 14. Scott Lord, 15. Ralph Bankes
Today’s races
Where: Big Diamond Speedway, Forestville
When: 8:15 p.m. Gates open at 4 p.m. Warmups at 7:45 p.m.
Program: Jack Rich Memorial Coal Cracker 72 for Mid-Atlantic DIRTcar 358 modifieds (72-lap feature, $10,000-to-win, $700-to-start), Coal Cracker 25 for Savage 61 roadrunners (25-lap feature, $300-to-win) and fireworks.
Admission: Adult grandstand admission, $25; Active military (with identification) and children ages 12-and-under, free. Pit admission is $40 while car entry fee is $60.