FORESTVILLE - Doug Manmiller captured the enthusiasm of the crowd and the thrill of victory as he celebrated Friday night at Big Diamond Speedway.
"Now you've seen how awesome this is, so now we need you to keep coming back," Manmiller said after winning the 358 modified feature on a last-lap pass of Shawn Fitzpatrick.
A packed house witnessed the victory as track owners Jake and Jasmine Smulley presented FANdemonium, which offered free grandstand admission to everyone in attendance. There were tons of giveaways to the fans, almost two dozen cars on display and many other activities that kept the large crowd buzzing all night long.
Fitzpatrick had led most of the 25-lap modified feature after passing pole starter Kevin Albert Jr. on the first lap. The race was nearly caution free, with the only yellow flag coming on Lap 7.
Manmiller, meanwhile, started seventh and slowly moved forward in the field. He passed second-place Albert with five laps to go and continued to gain ground on Fitzpatrick. With two laps to go, he was right on Fitzpatrick's back bumper.
On the final lap, Fitzpatrick went into Turn 1 a little too hot and hopped the cushion, leaving just enough room for Manmiller to squeeze by and go on to win by a little over a car length. The win was the 10th of Manmiller's career at Big Diamond, moving him into a tie with Dave Schoffstall on the all-time win list.
A disappointed Fitzpatrick finished a season-best second, followed by point leader Craig Von Dohren, Jeff Strunk and Albert. Frank Cozze, Meme Desantis, Andy Burkhart, Tim Buckwalter and Rick Laubach rounded out the Top 10. Heat races were won by Albert Jr., Fitzpatrick and Kevin Smith.
In the 20-lap sportsman feature, Jared Umbenhauer of Richland drove Robert Derfler's No. 16D to victory. Umbenhauer stared 11th and worked his way to sixth before a front-stretch crash eliminated many of the top-five cars.
Umbenhauer took the lead on the Lap 13 restart after the caution and drove away to a huge margin of victory, scoring his fourth win of the season at Big Diamond and seventh of his young career.
Mike Glass finished a season-best second, followed by Mike Lisowski, Joe Mooney and Shawn Light. Doug Hendricks was sixth, followed by Andy Cozze, Andrew Fayash III, Kevin Brady and Billy Moyer Jr. Heat races were won by Kevin Beach Jr. and Tim Fitzpatrick.
Marc Berzowski scored his seventh win of the season in the roadrunner division, followed closely by Jeremy Becker. Shon Elk was third, followed by Kyle Killian and Tim Fitzpatrick Jr. Heat races went to T.J. Fitzpatrick and Glenn Rowan.
Racing returns to Big Diamond Speedway on Friday with the modifieds, sportsman, street stocks and Crazy 8's for the fan-favorite roadrunner division.
The Crazy 8's are four eight-lap features, each carrying their own set of points. The entire night is sponsored by Savage 61.
Big Diamond Speedway
Friday's results
MODIFIEDS (25 Laps) - 1. Doug Manmiller, 2. Shawn Fitzpatrick, 3. Craig Von Dohren, 4. Jeff Strunk, 5. Kevin Albert Jr., 6. Frank Cozze, 7. Meme Desantis, 8. Andy Burkhart, 9. Tim Buckwalter, 10. Rick Laubach, 11. Mike Mamanna, 12. Ricky Yetter, 13. Kevin Smith, 14. Dale Hartz, 15. Ryan Watt, 16. Bobby Gunther Walsh, 17. Brad Arnold, 18. Jim Bobbitt Jr., 19. Kyle Borror, 20. Blaine Bracelin, 21. Ron Haring Jr., 22. Ray Swinehart, 23. Nick Desantis, 24. Dave Gerhart. DNS: Dan Hineline.
SPORTSMAN (20 laps) - 1. Jared Umbenhauer, 2. Mike Glass, 3. Mike Lisowski, 4. Joe Mooney, 5. Shawn Light, 6. Doug Hendricks, 7. Andrew Cozze, 8. Andrew Fayash III, 9. Kevin Brady, 10. Billy Moyer Jr., 11. Todd Huffman, 12. Robin Schultz, 13. Jared Seigfried, 14. Tim Fitzpatrick, 15. A.J. Gerhart, 16. Charles Fayash, 17. Kevin Beach Jr., 18. Ray Woodall Jr., 19. Wayne Witmer, 20. Harry Landis, 21. Corey Renninger, 22. Chad Putalavage, 23. Josh Hertzog. DNS: Colt Harris.
ROADRUNNERS (20 laps) - 1. Marc Berzowski, 2. Jeremy Becker, 3. Shon Elk, 4. Kyle Killian, 5. Tim Fitzpatrick Jr., 6. Dave Miller, 7. Terry Kramer Jr., 8. Devin Trexler, 9. Kris Ney, 10. Jim Kost, 11. Joe Kavanaugh, 12. Chris Holland, 13. Jon Schlauch, 14. Connor Horan, 15. Neil Bressler, 16. T.J. Fitzpatrick, 17. Tim Spesak, 18. Glenn Rowan, 19. Chip Kennedy, 20. Kody Sites, 21. Jesse Krasnitsky. DNS: Bruce Ditzler, John Whyne.