FORESTVILLE — The cars may look the same, but the drivers will be different when Big Diamond Speedway conducts the annual Jack Rich Memorial Coal Cracker 72 for the Mid-Atlantic DIRTcar 358 modifieds tonight.
Matt Sheppard and Mike Gular will pilot the No. 357 team cars fielded by Norm Hansell for the 8:15 p.m. program, which closes the Forestville oval’s season.
For most of 2014, Frank Cozze had driven the lead car for Hansell while Stewart Friesen began the season in the No. 357X.
Instead, Cozze will join 2012-13 track champion Craig Von Dohren in a pair of Eastern Rigging team cars today.
Other drivers expected for today’s Coal Cracker 72 include Billy Pauch Sr., Tommy Scheetz and Danny Johnson.
The Coal Cracker 72 pays $10,000 to the winner of the 72-lap feature of 26 cars. All 72 laps will be green-flag laps, meaning caution laps will not be counted.
At the start of the night, drivers will draw for starting spots and will then redraw for the feature if they finish high enough in the heat races. In addition to Hoosier, the required brand of tires at the track this season, American Racer tires will be permitted.
Only one driver has secured a starting spot in the event. Pottsville’s Shawn Fitzpatrick had won a non-winners’ feature last Friday
night and was scheduled to enter last Sunday’s Coal Cracker 72 program. However, a forecast of rain forced the races’ postponement, first to Monday and then to today.
In addition to the Coal Cracker 72 and a fireworks display, today’s program will include the Coal Cracker 25 for the Savage 61 roadrunners in the first race since Pottsville’s Jeremy Becker clinched the track championship for 2014. The Coal Cracker 25 will pay $300 to the winner.
Fans who still have wristbands from the rained-out Aug. 22 program may bring those to today’s program and pay the difference in the programs’ ticket prices to gain admission. Those with wristbands who cannot attend should send them and return addresses to P.O. Box 671, Minersville, Pa., 17954, to obtain refunds.
Today’s races
Where: Big Diamond Speedway, Forestville
When: 8:15 p.m. Gates open at 5 p.m., warm-ups at 7:45 p.m.
Program: Jack Rich Memorial Coal Cracker 72 (72-lap feature, 10,000-to-win, $700-to-start), Coal Cracker 25 for roadrunners (25-lap feature, $300-to-win) and fireworks
Admission: Grandstand general admission, $25; active military with identification and children ages 12 and under, free. Pit fee is $40 with no license required. Car entry fee is $60.