TEST & TUNE NOW COMPLETED - BIG DIAMOND SPEEDWAY READIES FOR 34th SEASON OPENER

A nice field of 58 cars filled the pits for the unofficial start of the 2014 race season at Big Diamond Speedway, on hand for the annual test and tune session.  The Modified, Sportsman, Roadrunner, Late Model, Enduro, 600cc Modified, Street Stock, and Extreme Stock divisions were all represented on this day, with the 600cc Modifieds topping all divisions with 17 cars on hand.  Unofficial fast time for the day was set by Sean Merkel in the Late Model class, turning a lap of 16.996 seconds.  Each division received at least five rounds of warm-ups, with the session lasting roughly 2 1/2 hours.  Now all focus turns to next Sunday for the start of the season.

Speaking of next Sunday, March 30th, 2014, it's the day we've all been waiting for.  Opening day 2014!  Gates open at 12 noon, warm-ups are at 2:30 PM, and the first heat hits the track at 3 PM.  Opening day will feature the 358 Modifieds going 30 laps for $3,000 to win and $300 to take the green.   Also on the card will be the U.S.S Achey Sportsman going 20 laps for $1,000 to win and the Savage 61 Roadrunners going 20 laps for $300 to win.  A great field of cars is expected, with 2 time defending track champion Craig Von Dohren, Frank Cozze, Stewart Friesen, Duane Howard, Doug Manmiller, Kevin Albert Jr., Dale Hartz, and many more expected to be in attendance looking to take home the top prize.  Grandstand admission for opening day will be $20.00 for adults, $18.00 for seniors, active military, and students ages 13 to 17 (all with ID).  Kids 12 and under are admitted free of charge.  Pit participation fees are $30.00 for members and $40.00 for non-members.  remember, bring your wrist band from the last race of the 2013 season and receive $2.00 your grandstand admission.  Mark it on your calendar now, you won't want to miss it.

The following Friday, April 4th, it's time for the 2nd annual Money in the Mountains big block/small block challenge race going 40 laps for $7,500 to win and $500 to take the green.  A strong field of cars is expected for this event, with verbal commitments already received from Billy Decker, Pat Ward, Larry Wight, Stewart Friesen, Mike Mahaney, Matt Billings, Sammy Piazza, Chad Brachmann, Anthony Perrego, and many more invaders, ready to take on track regulars Craig Von Dohren, Jeff Strunk, Doug Manmiller, Kevin Albert Jr., Dale Hartz, Shawn Fitzpatrick, and many, many more.  Gates open at 5 pm and first heat hits the track at 8:15 pm.  Also on the card that evening will be the Jeremy Slifko Fabrication Services Late Models, making their 2014 season debut, along with the Savage 61 Roadrunners.  Each of these divisions will go 20 laps in their respective feature events.

Over $750 in lap money has been collected for this event, including the Jeremy Slifko Fabrication Service Halfway Bonus paying $150 to the leader of lap #20.  Two other awards to be handed out that evening will be to the benefit of two drivers who fail to qualify for the feature event that evening.  The 2nd annual Fans of Big Diamond/Dog Pound Hard Luck Award will award $750 to the driver voted on by track management as having the hardest luck of the evening that kept them from making the field.  New this year is the “Long” Haul Award, which will award $125 to the driver that failed to qualify but had the longest tow to get to the track.  It’s shaping up to be another fantastic race, and we hope to see you there.