FORESTVILLE - Eighty-four cars packed the pit area at Big Diamond Speedway on Friday night for the first running of the Andy Fayash Jr. Memorial event.
Tim Fitzpatrick, Jeff Strunk and Marc Berzowski took home checkered flags from an exciting night of racing at the track.
In the USS Achey-sponsored 45-lap Andy Fayash Jr. Memorial race for Sportsman, Jason James bolted into the lead from his pole starting spot and led the first 14 laps despite numerous caution flags.
Tim Fitzpatrick, who started way back in the 21st starting spot after qualifying through the first consolation event, overtook James following a restart on Lap 15.
Fitzpatrick led the rest of the way but was hounded repeatedly by Ray Woodall Jr. Several times Woodall got underneath Fitzpatrick in the turns, but Fitzpatrick regained the lead on the straightaways.
Fitzpatrick held on to get the biggest victory of his racing career, followed by Woodall Jr., 2012 track champion Doug Hendricks, Grandview invader Jordan Henn and Mike Lisowski.
In the opening event, the ZY Pyrotechnics 358 Modifieds, Dan Hineline led at the drop of the green from his pole position, but he was almost immediately overtaken for the top spot by Ray Swinehart.
Swinehart was able to lead until Lap 7, when 2010 track champion Doug Manmiller took over the top spot. While all this was going on up front, Jeff Strunk was moving forward from his sixth-place starting position.
A restart on Lap 9 proved the difference, as Strunk started on the outside of Manmiller and was able to power into the lead. Strunk survived two more restarts on Laps 10 and 12, each time pulling away from the field to lead by a comfortable margin.
The final 13 laps went caution-free, and Strunk was able to garner his third win of the season and 48th of his career at the Schuylkill County oval.
Manmiller crossed the line in second, followed by current point leader Craig Von Dohren, Frank Cozze, and Duane Howard. Howard came from the rear of the field after a Lap 12 spin.
In the Savage 61 Roadrunner 20-lap feature event, Marc Berzowski continued his torrid pace, winning his fifth feature of the year, all coming in the last six events.
The win didn't come easy for Berzowski, as he was pressured heavily by Shon Elk over the second half of the event. Elk held on for second, followed by Jeremy Becker, T.J. Fitzpatrick, and current point leader Chris Holland.
Terry Kramer Jr., newcomer Dave Miller, Glenn Rowan, Devin Trexler and Jim Kost rounded out the top 10. Heat races were won by Berzowski and Elk
Racing returns to Big Diamond Friday with the fourth event of the season going 30 laps and paying $3,000 to win and $300 to take the green for the 358 Modifieds.
Also on the card will be the Sportsman, Roadrunners and Street Stocks. First heat hits the track at 8:15 p.m.