Modified Racing Civil War Monday Night at Big Diamond Speedway When Short Track Super Series North & South Regions Collide
MINERSVILLE, PA – For Modified fans, Monday night (July 16) at Big Diamond Speedway will produce a Civil war.
For the only time in 2018, the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco Halmar International North Region and Velocita-USA South Region clash on the same battlefield. It all goes down in Coal Country with the 50-lap ‘Anthracite Assault’ offering $5,000 to the winner, $1,000 for 10th, $400 to take the green and a long list of cash bonuses and special awards.
The STSS stop at Big Diamond annually attracts the most diverse STSS field of the season.
Now entering the summer stretch, the heat is on STSS Modified drivers in their championship battles.
It’s been a long gap between STSS Velocita-USA South Region races, with the most recent coming on Thursday night prior to Memorial Day weekend at Delaware International Speedway in Delmar, Del. Matt Sheppard of Waterloo, N.Y., tops the standings driving the Hurlock Auto & Speed No. 9s.
Sheppard, with 315 points, leads two-time STSS South champion Ryan Watt (280), David Van Horn (257), Andy Bachetti (246), Craig Von Dohren (238), Duane Howard (237), Ryan Godown (231), Anthony Perrego (229), Billy Pauch Jr. (226) and Rick Laubach (217).
Stewart Friesen of Sprakers, N.Y., leads the Halmar International North Region after two wins in the first three events. Friesen, however, will not be able to attend all events due to commitments with his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series efforts.
Right now, it’s anyone’s race for the $12,500 title.
Friesen has accumulated 290 points and leads Jerry Higbie (255), Billy Decker (249), Mike Mahaney (226), Anthony Perrego (224), Mike Gular and Duane Howard (222), Mat Williamson (216), Rick Laubach (207) and Jeremy Smith (195).
Big Diamond’s event carries added significance with points being offered toward both championships on Monday.
So far, the “south” has risen in each of the STSS combo races. Rick Laubach was the winner in 2015, Ryan Watt in 2016 and Ryan Godown enters Monday night as the defending race winner.
Joining the STSS Modifieds on the program are STSS Sportsman in Race No. 2 of the five-race series ($1,000 to win) and XCel 600 Modifieds.
Complete race information can be found at the following link: https://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/big-diamond-july-16-rules-prices-general-information/
Big Diamond Speedway is a three-eighths-mile clay oval located in Minersville, Pa., just miles from Pottsville. The facility offers free parking, state-of-the-art concession areas and restrooms and not a “bad seat” in the house, with hillside grandstands overlooking the on-track action. The speedway GPS address is 392 Forest Lane Pottsville, PA 17901. The official website is www.bigdspeedway.net.
To learn more about the 2018 Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook or @ShortTrackSS on Twitter or Instagram.
The Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Insinger Performance, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Halmar International, Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Henry’s Exhaust, Hig Fab, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Land Hoe Maintenance, K&N, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, QA1, Race Pro Weekly, Racing Optics, Superior Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, Vahlco, Velocita, Weld & Wilwood.
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco 2018 Schedule
Halmar International North Region
Tuesday, May 8 – Orange County Fair Speedway/Middletown, N.Y. – Hard Clay Open – WINNER: STEWART FRIESEN
Wednesday, June 20 – Outlaw Speedway/Dundee, N.Y. – Outlaw Showdown – WINNER: STEWART FRIESEN
Tuesday, July 3 – Accord Speedway/Accord, N.Y. – Battle of the Bullring 6 – WINNER: JERRY HIGBIE
Monday, July 16 – Big Diamond Speedway/Minersville, Pa. – Anthracite Assault – COMBO
Wednesday, July 25 – Afton Motorsports Park/Afton, N.Y. – Afton Action 50
Wednesday, August 8 – Woodhull Raceway/Woodhull, N.Y. – Hustlin’ the High Banks 54
Tuesday, August 14 – Albany-Saratoga Speedway/Malta, N.Y. – Stampede at ‘toga
Sunday, September 23 – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, N.Y. – Lightning on the Mountain
Friday-Saturday, October 5-6 – Afton Motorsports Park/Afton, N.Y. – American Racer Cup Short Track SuperNationals 11
Thursday, October 18 – Orange County Fair Speedway/Middletown, N.Y. – Hard Clay Finale
Velocita-USA South Region
Saturday, March 17 – Georgetown Speedway/Georgetown, Del. – Melvin L. Joseph Memorial – WINNER: RYAN WATT
Sunday, April 29 – Bridgeport Speedway/Bridgeport, N.J. – South Jersey Shootout – WINNER: JEFF STRUNK
Thursday, May 24 – Delaware International Speedway/Delmar, Del. – Diamond State 50 – WINNER: MATT SHEPPARD
Monday, July 16 – Big Diamond Speedway/Minersville, Pa. – Anthracite Assault – COMBO
Sunday, July 29 – BAPS Motor Speedway/Newberrytown, Pa. – York County Nationals $10,000 to win!
Tuesday, August 28 – Georgetown Speedway/Georgetown, Del. – Blast at the Beach
Friday, October 12 – Port Royal Speedway/Port Royal, Pa. – Speed Showcase
Friday-Saturday October 26-27 – Georgetown Speedway/Georgetown, Del. – Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend
Sources: Brett Deyo/Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco PR