FORESTVILLE — Big Diamond Speedway 358 modified driver Kyle Follweiler has undergone the biggest of emotional ranges this weekend.
One day after Follweiler claimed his first Big Diamond feature win since 2009, the Slatington driver’s grandfather, Raymond “Jack” Follweiler, 78, died Saturday at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.
The elder Follweiler was stricken Friday night while watching Kyle win the second of two 358 modified features Friday night, Big Diamond officials reported.
The medical emergency in the grandstand at Big Diamond produced a red flag condition with one lap remaining to treat the elder Follweiler and then transport him to the hospital.
When the red flag ended, race leader Meme DeSantis’ car failed to start and had to be pushed to the pits.
DeSantis’ departure put Kyle Follweiler in the lead and he held off Billy Pauch Jr. over the final lap to win the 25-lap race.
The win was Follweiler’s second of his Big Diamond career and first since Aug. 14, 2009, during Follweiler’s rookie season.
Big Diamond officials said Saturday the elder Follweiler had learned his grandson won the race.
In the opening 358 modified feature, Oley’s Craig Von Dohren, who held the lead on June 12 when rain suspended the 25-lap race, completed his run to the checkered flag when the race resumed.
The victory at Big Diamond was his 80th, which tops the win list. It was his first win at Big Diamond since Aug. 16, 2013.
During the night in 2009 that Kyle Follweiler got his first win, Nazareth’s Mike Mammana and Forestville’s Elvin Brennan III had won the sportsman and roadrunner features, respectively.
The same thing happened Friday night. Mammana won his second straight sportsman A-main while Brennan earned his second roadrunner victory of the season.
Lebanon’s Jasen Geesaman won the street stock feature for the points leader’s fifth victory in seven features this season.
In the resumption of the June 12 358 modified feature, Von Dohren, driving Steve Searock’s No. 26, held off Pauch for the win. Rick Laubach, John Willman and track points leader Duane Howard completed the top five.
In the second 358 modified feature, Pauch placed second for the second straight feature and grabbed the division’s points lead. Willman, Jared Umbenhauer and Colt Harris completed the top five.
Justin Grim won his division-leading sixth heat race. Scott Albert and Follweiler also won 358 modified heats.
For the second straight week, Mammana led every lap of the 20-lap sportsman feature. Brett Kressley placed second ahead of A.J. Gerhart, Doug Hendricks and Tim Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick and Mammana, who leads all Big Diamond drivers with seven heat wins, took qualifying races.
Geesaman took the lead from Jeremy Becker on the fourth lap of the 20-lap street stock feature and never looked back. Rich Bossinger was second ahead of Mike Radocha, Becker and Dan Jensen.
Geesaman and Bossinger won heats.
Brennan jumped to the lead from the front row in the roadrunner feature and held off T.J. Fitzpatrick for the victory. Chris Holland, points leader Jim Kost and Devin Trexler completed the top five.
The roadrunner heats were won by T.J. Fitzpatrick and Kris Ney.
Big Diamond will host the ARDC midgets next Friday as the headline division. They will be joined in the 8:15 p.m. program by the sportsmen, roadrunners, street stocks and 600cc modifieds. Children’s Big Wheel races are also scheduled.
Big Diamond Speedway Friday’s results
358 modifieds (25 laps, resumption of June 12 rained-out feature after 4 laps) —1. Craig Von Dohren, 2. Billy Pauch Jr., 3. Rick Laubach, 4. John Willman, 5. Duane Howard, 6. Jared Umbenhauer, 7. Meme DeSantis, 8. Justin Grim, 9. Colt Harris, 10. Shawn Fitzpatrick, 11. Bobby Gunther Walsh, 12. Kevin Beach Jr., 13. Paul Moyer, 14. Kyle Follweiler, 15. Scott Albert, 16. Jim Bobbitt Jr., 17. Joe Mooney, 18. Mario Dinatale, 19. Heath Metzger, 20. Andy Burkhart.
358 modifieds (25 laps, July 10 feature) —1. Follweiler, 2. Pauch, 3. Willman, 4. Umbenhauer, 5. Harris, 6. Burkhart, 7. Ray Swinehart, 8. Von Dohren, 9. Metzger, 10. Fitzpatrick, 11. Grim, 12. DeSantis, 13. Albert, 14. Beach, 15. Laubach, 16. Kent Reinert, 17. Howard, 18. Walsh, 19. Ron Haring Jr., 20. Moyer, 21. Bobbitt. DNS — Mooney.
Sportsmen (20 laps) —1. Mike Mammana, 2. Brett Kressley, 3. A.J. Gerhart, 4. Doug Hendricks, 5. Tim Fitzpatrick, 6. Mike Lisowski, 7. Mike Glass, 8. Billy Moyer Jr., 9. Wayne Witmer, 10. J.R. Fulper, 11. Glenn Rowan, 12. Chad Putalavage, 13. Josh Hertzog, 14. Ed Mrochko, 15. Matt Clay, 16. Daryl Dissinger, 17. Shawn Light, 18. Charles Webber, 19. Jeremy Hertzog, 20. Richard Emel. DNS — Charles Fayash.
Street stocks (20 laps) —1. Jasen Geesaman, 2. Rich Bossinger, 3. Mike Radocha, 4. Jeremy Becker, 5. Dan Jensen, 6. Butch Helsel, 7. Chris Derr, 8. Jimmy Combs, 9. Mark Hutchison, 10. Dave Kamp, 11. Jim Somers Jr., 12. Matt Wilson. DNS — Marc Berzowski.
Roadrunners (20 laps) —1. Elvin Brennan III, 2. T.J. Fitzpatrick, 3. Chris Holland, 4. Jim Kost, 5. Devin Trexler, 6. Tim Fitzpatrick, 7. Shon Elk, 8. Terry Kramer Jr., 9. Jesse Krasnitsky, 10. Chris Natale, 11. Kris Ney, 12. Tim Spisak, 13. Jon Schlauch, 14. Kyle Wingle, 15. Brian Buchinski, 16. T.J. Kennedy, 17. Andrew Fayash III. DNS — Dave Long Jr.