DIRTcar Racing to Sanction 358-Modifieds at Big Diamond Speedway

First time DIRTcar has Sanctioned a Weekly Division in Central Pennsylvania

Bruce Thomas photo
MINERSVILLE, PA | Oct. 25, 2013 – DIRTcar 358-Modified racing will have a Pennsylvania home on Friday nights next season at Big Diamond Speedway.

Big Diamond has a longstanding tradition of sanctioning its weekly divisions, but the 2014 season will mark the first time DIRTcar Racing has sanctioned a weekly program at the 3/8-mile track in Minersville, which is just off Interstate 81 between Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

“DIRTcar Racing has a lot of momentum and good people behind it so we’re excited to bring it to Big Diamond next year,” promoter Jake Smulley said. “I’m looking forward to working with them and seeing how our racers stack up in DIRTcar’s points program.”

Big Diamond will continue to pay $2,750-to-win for their weekly DIRTcar 358-Modified program, which is one of the top “to-win” purses nationwide for weekly racing.

Big Diamond and DIRTcar management have a reached an agreement that will see the current rules package in place at Big Diamond phased into DIRTcar rules over a period of time, with management from both sides having input in regard to these regulations.

DIRTcar 358-Modified Series rules will remain intact for all Series events.

This sanctioning will mark the first time a DIRTcar division has run at Big Diamond since Duane Howard won a Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series race there in 2009. Brett Hearn in 2004 and Alan Johnson in 2003 also won Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified races at Big Diamond. The Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series will make an appearance at the popular facility on Tuesday, July 15, 2014.

“We’re looking forward to building a solid foundation in Pennsylvania to continue growing DIRTcar Racing,” said DIRTcar’s Director of Series & Sanctioning Joe Skotnicki. “There is a lot of history at Big Diamond, and a lot of very talented racers, so we’re excited to have the opportunity to partner with them.”

The Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Racing in the Northeast Region is brought to fans by several sponsors and partners including Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Chevy Performance Parts, NAPA Auto Parts, and Safety-Kleen. Contingency sponsors are ASI, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Brodix, ButlerBuilt, Cometic Gasket, Comp Cams, Edelbrock, Integra Shocks, Intercomp, JE Pistons, JRI Shocks, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, KSE Racing Products, Motorsports Safety Systems, MSD Performance, Penske Shocks, Racing Electronics, Superflow and Wrisco Industries.