Timmy Buckwalter made it two straight trips to Victory Lane at Big Diamond Speedway on Friday night, capturing the Prelude to the Coalcracker and its $10,000 payday following a late-race battle with Louden Reimert.
Buckwalter, of Douglasville, entered Friday night's DBR Industrial Services LLC Night fresh off a victory the previous week that kept him second in the Modified championship standings behind Reimert. Rather than focusing solely on points, Buckwalter had said his attention was on the track's two remaining marquee events — the Prelude to the Coalcracker and the Coalcracker.
He can now check the first one off the list.
Buckwalter chased Reimert for nearly the entire 50-lap Modified feature before a caution with four laps remaining gave him the opportunity he needed.
Reimert and Buckwalter had started on the front row following a redraw of the top heat finishers, setting up a showdown between two of the track's hottest drivers.
After a caution on lap two, the race went green for 44 consecutive laps. Reimert controlled the action throughout the long green-flag stretch, navigating lapped traffic while keeping Buckwalter several car lengths behind.
Reimert had begun lapping cars inside the top 10 when eighth-place-running Jax Yohn suffered a tire issue, bringing out the caution that ultimately changed the complexion of the race.
With the field reset and clear track ahead, Buckwalter took his Dennis and Donna Weller-owned No. 942 to the outside.
The two leaders raced side-by-side around the 3/8-mile oval before Buckwalter built enough momentum on the top lane to charge past Reimert as they approached the start-finish line to complete lap 47.
Once in front, Buckwalter remained there over the closing laps to collect the $10,000 victory, his second consecutive win and third of the season at Big Diamond.
“Man, I’d rather be lucky than good any day in this sport,” Buckwalter said after the race, acknowledging that Reimert appeared to have the car to beat before the late caution.
The victory marked the first time Buckwalter has won back-to-back features at Big Diamond Speedway.
After climbing from his car, Buckwalter immediately celebrated with his crew and credited them for providing him with another strong race car.
“Them guys right there are the reason we are standing here in Victory Lane,” Buckwalter said. “I was at the beach all last week and they gave me a rocket ship tonight.”
Buckwalter also thanked car owners Dennis and Donna Weller for their support.
“I am so thankful to Dennis and Donna Weller for having faith in me, and when your owners believe in you and give you everything you need, then it makes my job a lot easier,” he said.
All three of Buckwalter's Big Diamond victories this season have come in close battles with Reimert.
Behind the lead duo, Duane Howard remained within striking distance for much of the feature before Anthony Perrego moved past him in the closing laps. Perrego finished third, Howard was fourth and Logan Watt rounded out the top five.
Steffey Wins 602 Crate Sportsman Feature
The USS Achey Inc. 602 Crate Sportsman feature also featured a battle between championship contenders, with Zach Steffey of Sinking Spring scoring the victory over points leader Ryan Graver.
Aaron Weaver led the opening lap before Kevin Fitzpatrick took control on lap two and opened a comfortable advantage. Michael Samony ran second during the early portion of the race while holding off Steffey.
A caution near the halfway point changed the running order.
Following the restart, Steffey moved past Samony for second and began battling Fitzpatrick for the lead. Steffey completed the pass at the start of lap 12.
Graver, meanwhile, worked his way into the top five by lap nine and continued moving forward. He eventually battled Fitzpatrick for second and secured the position with five laps remaining.
Graver stayed close to Steffey during the closing laps, but Steffey held on to earn his third victory of the season and gain ground in the championship standings.
Fitzpatrick finished third. Matthew Laubach turned in an impressive Big Diamond debut, advancing from 19th to finish fourth, while Trevor Bixler completed the top five.
Fayash Wins Roadrunner Thriller
Chuck Fayash of Schuylkill Township needed to lead only one lap of the Red White and Blue Autos Inc. Roadrunners feature — the final one.
Jarod Bassininsky led early over points leader Alex Schoffstall, while Fayash and Joey Brennan remained close behind.
The field produced tight two- and three-wide racing before Bassininsky's strong run came to an end when he made contact with the turn four tire barrier just before the halfway point, bringing out a caution.
Following the restart, Schoffstall and Fayash battled for the lead with Brennan directly behind them.
The three remained in contention as they approached the white flag.
Coming out of turn two on the final lap, Schoffstall slipped high and partially off the berm, opening the door for Fayash and Brennan to move underneath.
Fayash emerged with the lead and held off both challengers to capture his third victory in the last five races.
Chase Goes Flag-to-Flag for First Rookie Victory
The Big Creek Concrete Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman division produced a new winner for the second consecutive race.
Bernville's Tyler Chase, making only his second start, began from the pole and turned in a flag-to-flag performance to earn the victory.
Zach Moyer attempted to close the gap but was unable to get close enough to challenge Chase for the lead and settled for second.
The Prelude to the Coalcracker sets the stage for one of Big Diamond Speedway's biggest events of the season, with Buckwalter now looking to carry his recent momentum into the Coalcracker after scoring consecutive Modified victories and a $10,000 payday.
Information Submitted by Dino Oberto| 358 Modified Feature - 50 Laps | |
|---|---|
| Finish | Driver |
| 1 | Tim Buckwalter |
| 2 | Louden Reimert |
| 3 | Anthony Perrego |
| 4 | Duane Howard |
| 5 | Logan Watt |
| 6 | Mike Gular |
| 7 | Alex Yankowski |
| 8 | Jared Umbenhauer |
| 9 | Dom Buffalino |
| 10 | Colin Cox |
| 11 | Adrianna Delliponti |
| 12 | Kevin Beach Jr. |
| 13 | Bobby Butler |
| 14 | Aleia Geisler |
| 15 | Alex Tonkin |
| 16 | Heath Metzger |
| 17 | Jax Yohn |
| 18 | Rick Laubach |
| 19 | Darren Schuler |
| 20 | Brett Kressley |
| 21 | Mike Lisowski |
| 22 | Chris Espisito |
| 23 | Corey Renninger |
| 24 | Bryan Kuhl |
| DNQ | Alan Rudalavage, Jimmy Leiby, Kevin Olenick, McKenzi Smith, Ken Eckert Jr., Cliff Quinn, Wayne Witmer, Zane Roth, Ron Haring Jr., WB James, Hunter Metzger |
| 602 Crate Sportsman Feature - 20 Laps | |
|---|---|
| Finish | Driver |
| 1 | Zach Steffey |
| 2 | Ryan Graver |
| 3 | Kevin Fitzpatrick |
| 4 | Matthew Laubach |
| 5 | Trevor Bixler |
| 6 | Reice Widger |
| 7 | Matt Martino |
| 8 | Michael Samony |
| 9 | Steve Hughes |
| 10 | Nick Hamm |
| 11 | Brennan Chapman |
| 12 | Brett Gilmore |
| 13 | Mason Harakel |
| 14 | Kyle Kania |
| 15 | Tajae Adams |
| 16 | Mark Mohr |
| 17 | Devin Whitmoyer |
| 18 | Colby Trenge |
| 19 | Jim O’Hara |
| 20 | Dakota Kohler |
| 21 | Aaron Weaver |
| 22 | Ed Mrochko |
| 23 | Tyler Vidal |
| 24 | Cory Lindemuth |
| Roadrunner Feature - 20 Laps | |
|---|---|
| Finish | Driver |
| 1 | Chuck Fayash |
| 2 | Joey Brennan |
| 3 | Alex Schoffstall |
| 4 | Kris Ney |
| 5 | TJ Fitzpatrick |
| 6 | Terry Kramer |
| 7 | Jesse Krasnitsky |
| 8 | CJ Ferguson |
| 9 | Jim Kost |
| 10 | Jarod Bassininsky |
| 11 | Glenn Rowan |
| 12 | Andrew Buchinski |
| 13 | Dave Shultz III |
| Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman Feature - 15 Laps | |
|---|---|
| Finish | Driver |
| 1 | Tyler Chase |
| 2 | Zach Moyer |
| 3 | Blake Vidal |
| 4 | Lucas Weil |
| 5 | Josh Metzler |
| 6 | Michael Eckhardt |
| DNS | Brandon Fidler |