Tim Buckwalter had grown tired of finishing second.
After collecting five runner-up finishes among his nine top-five performances this season, the Douglasville driver finally turned another strong run at Big Diamond Speedway into a trip to Victory Lane Friday night.
Buckwalter held off point leader Louden Reimert during a hard-fought closing stretch to capture the 25-lap BQ Concrete 358 Modified feature, earning his second victory of the 2026 season at the Schuylkill County dirt track.
“I just kept thinking to myself anything but second again,” Buckwalter said. “Hats off to the Weller family for what they give me because we were struggling here the last month and a half and they stick with me.”
Buckwalter also credited crew chief Ed Hefline and the rest of his team for helping turn things around.
“He worked his butt off this week changing things around and the whole crew, without them guys I wouldn’t be standing here,” Buckwalter said. “It’s been an incredible season, and we couldn’t do it without all my guys. It takes a good crew to be able to do this as many times as we do and I am very lucky to have them.”
Heath Metzger jumped ahead of polesitter McKenzi Smith to lead the opening lap, but Kevin Beach Jr. quickly took control on lap two.
Buckwalter, meanwhile, was charging forward from the eighth starting position. By lap three, he had moved into second and began challenging Beach for the lead.
Several restarts gave Buckwalter opportunities to make a move, but Beach repeatedly used the outside lane to maintain the top spot. Behind them, Reimert worked his way forward from ninth and eventually moved into third, setting up a three-car battle at the front.
A caution with 12 laps remaining proved to be the break Buckwalter needed.
On the restart, Buckwalter finally got past Beach and moved into the lead. Reimert followed into second and immediately began applying pressure.
The two raced side-by-side several times as the laps wound down. With Reimert threatening, Buckwalter changed his approach and committed to protecting the bottom of the track.
“Louden ran me clean and then we had to worry about the lapped traffic too,” Buckwalter said. “I just couldn't get off the bottom like he did and once I got to the lead I kept trying the top and I saw him and I said to myself just slow it down and make him go around you on the outside.”
The strategy worked, allowing Buckwalter to keep Reimert behind him and put the Donna and Dennis Weller-owned No. 942 into Victory Lane.
Buckwalter also praised track preparation for providing multiple racing grooves throughout the feature.
“Jake Smulley did an awesome job with the track tonight and there was two-wide racing,” Buckwalter said. “We came from eighth and Louden came from ninth and the passes are there, you just have to use the track that he gives you.”
Reimert settled for second, while Beach held off Rick Laubach for third. Jax Yohn rallied through the field to finish fifth after having to pit for a flat tire early in the race.
Hamm Goes Wire-to-Wire in 602 Crate Sportsman
Nick Hamm of Nanticoke took advantage of an unusual start to the USS Achey Inc. 602 Crate Sportsman feature and turned it into his first victory of the season.
After two aborted attempts to begin the race, front-row starters Jim O’Hara and Reice Widger were penalized for jumping the start, moving Hamm into position at the front.
Hamm made the most of the opportunity, leading the entire distance and never relinquishing the top spot.
The racing behind him remained close, with Brennan Chapman trying to stay within striking distance while also dealing with challenges from point leader Ryan Graver.
Widger remained in the battle after his early setback and mixed it up with Chapman and Graver before having to fend off Dakota Kohler as the top five took shape.
Duke Dominates PASS 305 Sprint Car Appearance
Ken Duke Jr. of Selinsgrove dominated the River Valley Builders PASS 305 Sprint Cars' lone appearance of the season at Big Diamond Speedway.
Duke, the PASS points leader, led wire-to-wire to earn his first career victory at Big Diamond.
Mike Alleman finished second but was unable to mount a serious challenge as Duke controlled the race from start to finish.
Phillips Wins in Big Diamond Debut
Gage Phillips Jr. of Fleetwood made his first appearance at Big Diamond Speedway a memorable one by winning the Big Creek Concrete Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman feature.
Phillips started from the pole and led the opening four laps before Josh Metzler took over following a restart.
Another restart on lap nine gave Phillips an opportunity to return the favor. He regained the lead and stayed out front the rest of the way, completing his Big Diamond debut with a trip to Victory Lane.
Information provided by Dino Oberto| 358 Modified Finish - 25 Laps | |
|---|---|
| Finish | Driver |
| 1 | Tim Buckwalter |
| 2 | Louden Reimert |
| 3 | Kevin Beach Jr. |
| 4 | Rick Laubach |
| 5 | Jax Yohn |
| 6 | Mike Lisowski |
| 7 | Logan Watt |
| 8 | Duane Howard |
| 9 | Dom Buffalino |
| 10 | Alan Rudalavage |
| 11 | Aleia Geisler |
| 12 | Heath Metzger |
| 13 | WB James |
| 14 | Wayne Witmer |
| 15 | Zane Roth |
| 16 | Corey Renninger |
| 17 | Cliff Quinn |
| 18 | Jim Bobbitt |
| 19 | George Hildebrandt |
| 20 | Kaitlyn Bailey |
| 21 | Bryan Kuhn |
| 22 | Mark Gaugler |
| 23 | McKenzi Smith |
| 24 | Alex Tonkin |
| 602 Crate Sportsman Finish - 20 Laps | |
|---|---|
| Finish | Driver |
| 1 | Nick Hamm |
| 2 | Brennan Chapman |
| 3 | Ryan Graver |
| 4 | Reice Widger |
| 5 | Dakota Kohler |
| 6 | Zach Steffey |
| 7 | Trevor Bixler |
| 8 | Shannon Slaughter |
| 9 | Brandon Firestine |
| 10 | Jim O’Hara |
| 11 | Ed Mrochko |
| 12 | Tajae Adams |
| 13 | Mark Behm |
| 14 | Dennis Graber |
| 15 | Matt Martino |
| 16 | Devin Whitmoyer |
| 17 | Loagan Starr |
| 18 | Kevin Fitzpatrick |
| 19 | Aaron Weaver |
| Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman Finish - 20 Laps | |
|---|---|
| Finish | Driver |
| 1 | Gage Phillips Jr. |
| 2 | Zach Moyer |
| 3 | Josh Metzler |
| 4 | Tyler Chase |
| 5 | Blake Vidal |
| 6 | Mason Harakel |
| 7 | Lucas Weil |
| 8 | Payton Renninger |
| 9 | Michael Eckardt |
| 10 | Nick Clemens |
| 11 | Lorenzo Lopiccolo |
| PASS Feature Finish - 20 Laps | |
|---|---|
| Finish | Driver |
| 1 | Ken Duke Jr. |
| 2 | Mike Alleman |
| 3 | Chris Meleason |
| 4 | Tyler Brehm |
| 5 | Mike Melair |
| 6 | Landon Price |
| 7 | Christopher Dolan |
| 8 | Brady Beavers |
| 9 | Tyler Schell |
| 10 | Jim Miller |
| 11 | Erin Staller |
| 12 | Mark Connoly |
| 13 | Jonathan Swift |
| 14 | Mikell McGee |
| 15 | Cole Dewease |