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DUANE HOWARD EXTENDS HIS DIAMOND COALCRACKER WIN
« Thread Started on Sept 1, 2008, 1:45pm »

August 31, 2008 – Duane Howard drove the BPG Motorsports #4 Troyer to a decisive triumph in Sunday’s Alpine Building & Post Supply Coalcracker 100. Howard extended his Coalcracker career win record to five (1998, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2008). His triumph was worth a crisp $10,000.

“We were struggling the last month, month & a half”, mentioned the former BDR 6-time point champion. “Some people were doubting us as a team & me as a driver. We needed a turn around & we certainly got it here tonight. BPG is an excellent race team & I knew that I could still win races”. Howard captured his 4th win of the season on July 4 (Georgie Stevenson Memorial) but had been shut out of the winner’s circle since that time. Sunday night’s performance certainly places the team back on track.

Howard quickly made his way through the field from his 12th starting spot & managed to set the pace for 97 of 100 laps. Howard’s true challenge would arrive from Jason Hamilton, who remained within striking distance of the race leader. Hamilton pulled alongside of Howard on a lap 94 restart, contact was made, & Hamilton fell from contention.

“Our right front tire was used up”, continued Howard. “Then, I felt the little nudge (contact between him & Hamilton) & I thought we were in trouble. He (Hamilton) had to go for it. I stepped on it in turn 4 & gave him a chance. Our tire was used up.”

58 Modifieds were in competition for the evening’s festivities. Thirty drivers suited up for the 100-lap feature. During pre-race entertainment, the strong field was led by the Big Diamond Pace Truck, New Egypt Speedway Pace Truck, Alpine Truck, & the vintage #88x coupe. A capacity crowd watched as the field received the event’s opening green flag.

By luck of the draw, Keith Hoffman started inside pole & jumped into the early race lead. The former 3-time track champion (his 1st start since June 20) made a special 1 race appearance in a 2nd Chad Sinon fielded Troyer-4H. CVD, the 2007 Coalcracker winner, started 3rd & immediately roared into the runner-up spot. Young Sean Merkel settled into 3rd, however, his machine developed a fire in the right rear, which triggered the red flag on lap 3. Merkel was not injured & returned to the race shortly.

Hoffman remained the race leader under green conditions followed by Von Dohren & Ryan Watt, driving the #6. Howard dove to inside lane & grabbed the 4th position. After 4 laps had been completed a few cars made contact & a first ’08 starting Vince Gagliardo Jr. went around in turn 4, bringing out the caution.

Howard wasted no time in continuing his car passing exhibition. He disposed of Watt in the 1st corner and blasted past Von Dohren in turn 2. Howard settled behind his 1 race team-ate Hoffman until the caution flag waved for Gary Hager & Colt Harris with 7 laps showing on the scoreboard.

On the restart, Howard made his victory bound maneuver. Howard tossed his Main Racing Engines powered machine to the high side & blasted past Hoffman as they screamed down the back straightaway. Von Dohren & Watt watched from the 3rd & 4th positions. Howard reached lapped traffic by the 20th lap as a good stretch of non-amber racing took place until the 26th lap. Mike Nicholas sat sideways at the bottom of the backstretch, bringing out the caution flag.

Von Dohren had been pressuring Hoffman & completed the pass about a quarter way through the event. Therefore, Howard remained the race leader on the green followed by Von Dohren, Hoffman, & Watt. A great battled took place for 5th between several cars including Billy Pauch Sr., Jimmy Horton & Jason Hamilton. The caution waved on lap 32 for Danny Hieber, & Doug Manmiller pitted with a flat left front tire.

While the top 3 remained unchanged, Watt, Pauch, Hamilton, & Horton exchanged positions from 4th on back. By lap 43, Howard enjoyed a healthy full straightaway advantage over his competition. The caution lights flashed with 45 laps showing on the board. Von Dohren’s 2nd place effort vanished on the restart as his machine struggled with a soft right rear tire. Howard led over Hoffman, Hamilton, Watt & Horton. Hamilton tossed his machine to the inside of Hoffman in turns 1 & 2 of lap 50 to take control of the runner-up position.

A mandatory fuel stop took place at half-way. After the break, Von Dohren headed to the pit area with a flat tire. Howard jumped out in front to begin the race’s 2nd half over Hamilton, Hoffman, & Watt. 2008 track champion Jeff Strunk had originally started from the 20th position. He sat 6th during the fuel stop, & abruptly moved into 5th via the outside lane.

A caution flag took place on lap 56 for Billy Pauch Jr. Following this yellow period, the race wouldn’t be stopped until the 93rd circuit. Once again, Strunk pulled to the outside on the restart & moved into 4th behind Howard, Hamilton, & Hoffman. Laps continued to score, & Hamilton remained within striking distance of Howard. They negotiated lapped traffic. Hamilton closed back within the 20-to-go margin of the event.

With 10 laps remaining Howard & Hamilton reeled in a pack of 4 lapped cars. It was about to get interesting as suddenly the lapped machine of Gagliardo got out of shape in front of the leaders & tagged the wall. This brought out the caution flag with 93 laps completed.

7 laps remained, & Hamilton knew that his time was running out. On the restart, Hamilton pulled alongside of Howard in turn 4. Contact was made between the pair, & Hamilton’s #16 swung low to the bottom of the speedway. Hamilton eventually slowed from the pace, ending his fine performance. Howard pulled out to an advantage and was poised for victory, until the caution flag was unfurled with just 1 lap remaining. Ray Swinehart & Manmiller collided on the frontstretch, entering turn 1.

Despite the 1 lap shootout, Howard encountered no problems & drove to the convincing victory. It was Howard’s 5th win of the season, & 6th overall (he began the season March 29 with a Big Block Modified victory). Hoffman finished 2nd & executed the 2-car BPG Motorsports sweep with a runner-up result worth $5000. Strunk drove the Glenn Hynemann #126 to a 3rd place finish ($3000). Watt, the opening day feature winner, grabbed the 4th place check ($2000). Horton made his 2nd ’08 start aboard Norm Hansell’s #357 & cruised to a 5th place finish ($1500).

Billy Pauch Sr., a past 2-time Coalcracker winner, drove his self-owned #1 to a final finish of 6th. Terry Meitzler ran within the top 10 during the entire distance & crossed the line in 7th. Tom Umbenhauer likewise enjoyed a steady top 10 night & ended up eighth. Ryan Godown advanced from 19th to 9th & Nicholas rebounded from the earlier caution to post a 10th place finish.

BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY COMPLETE RESULTS – SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2008
358 MODIFIEDS
First Heat (10-laps): 1) Jimmy Horton, 2) Tom Umbenhauer, 3) Ryan Watt.
Second Heat (8-laps): 1) Duane Howard, 2) Sean Merkel, 3) Terry Meitzler.
Third Heat (10-laps): 1) Ray Swinehart, 2) Jason Hamilton, 3) Shawn Reimert.
Fourth Heat (10-laps): 1) Meme DeSantis, 2) Troy Wink, 3) Danny Erb.
Fifth Heat (10-laps): 1) Billy Pauch Sr., 2) Doug Manmiller, 3) Keith Hoffman.
Sixth Heat (10-laps): 1) Craig Von Dohren, 2) Danny Hieber, 3) Billy Pauch Jr.
First Consolation (10-laps): 1) Ryan Godown, 2) Kevin Hartnett, 3) Mike Nicholas.
Second Consolation (10-laps): 1) Jeff Strunk, 2) Vince Gagliardo Jr., 3) Ryan Beltz.
Third Consolation (10-laps): 1) Gary Hager, 2) John Willman, 3) Dale Hartz.
Provisional Starters: Rick Laubach, Craig Whitmoyer, Colt Harris.
Did Not Qualify: Jordan Umbenhauer, AJ DeSantis, Kenny Brightbill, Kevin Albert Jr., Mark Kratz, Chris James Jr., Kyle Weiss, Danny Creeden, Neil Huber, Don Uhrig Jr., Don Brownlee, Randy Stoudt, Bobby Gunther-Walsh, David Van Horn Jr., Steve Young, Joe Masiado, Tommy Sheetz, Sammy Schaeffer, Larry Lippincott, Shawn Fitzpatrick, Brad Brightbill, Josh Biever, Kevin Beach, Jeff Sechrist, John Tschudy, Roy Wiest, Billy Moyer Jr., Tom Hager.

ALPINE BUILDING & POST SUPPLY COALCRACKER 100-LAP FEATURE: 1) #4-Duane Howard, 2) #4H-Keith Hoffman, 3) #126-Jeff Strunk, 4) #6-Ryan Watt, 5) #357-Jimmy Horton, 6) #1-Billy Pauch, 7) #81-Terry Meitzler, 8) #19-Tom Umbenhauer, 9) #R1-Ryan Godown, 10) #3-Mike Nicholas, 11) #41-Shawn Reimert, 12) #33-Ray Swinehart, 13) #00-Doug Manmiller, 14) #CR7-Colt Harris, 15) #16-Jason Hamilton, 16) #14-Rick Laubach, 17) #66-Vince Gagliardo Jr., 18) #27-Troy Wink, 19) #1c-Craig Von Dohren, 20) #8-Billy Pauch Jr., 21) #178-Dale Hartz, 22) #11-John Willman, 23) #88D-Meme DeSantis, 24) #118-Sean Merkel, 25) #107-Danny Hieber, 26) #73GT-Kevin Hartnett, 27) #44-Danny Erb, 28) #221-Ryan Beltz, 29) #99-Craig Whitmoyer, 30) #44H-Gary Hager.

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