FORESTVILLE — Big Diamond Speedway’s affiliation with DIRTcar as its sanctioning body for the 358 modifieds has lasted one season.
In the wake of reports that a race independent of DIRTcar sanction was on the 2015 schedule and so threatened the relationship between the organization and speedway officials, promoter Jake Smulley announced Tuesday the track will return to independent status this season.
“It is unfortunate the way things ended with DIRTcar,” Smulley said in a Facebook post. “We feel it is in the best interest of our fans and competitors to return to being independent. This is the first of many steps to correct and make the ’15 season monumental.”
The end of the contract with DIRTcar arose after Smulley announced plans to conduct a race, the Anthracite Assault II, sponsored by Brett Deyo. That Short Track Super Series event slated for Tuesday, May 5, will replace the scheduled Super DIRTcar Series big-block modified event on Big Diamond’s original schedule. The series was scheduled to compete at the Forestville oval last season, but it was rained out.
The Anthracite Assault II program will offer North and South Region points in Deyo’s series. The first Anthracite Assault was held in 2011.
The end of the DIRTcar
contract also means the end of the track’s tie to Hoosier tires, which were mandated for most of the 2014 season at Big Diamond.
Instead, the track will permit American Racer tires in 2015.
“The Hoosier DIRTcar-mandated tires just didn’t work on our surface,” Smulley said in the post. “Many racers have struggled in 2014 on the Hoosier tires. Our racers are excited that American Racers will make a return to the speedway.”
Any track-stamped tire will be accepted next season with only a compound rule, tires of accepted hardness, in effect. The street stocks will continue to use Hoosier tires.
In addition, Sunoco Race Fuel will continue to be the fuel supplier for the track.
The track will open its 2015 schedule with a practice session — open to any race car with a roll cage — at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 15.
Big Diamond’s season opener will begin at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 22, with a card of 358 modifieds, sportsmen, roadrunners and street stocks.
The defending track champions are Quakertown’s Rick Laubach in 358 modifieds, Pine Grove’s Wayne Witmer in sportsmen and Pottsville’s Jeremy Becker in roadrunners.
Drivers, owners and fans with questions about the new status for Big Diamond in 2015 may contact Jamie Weaknecht at (610) 349-5413.
