Mark Smith wins winged 410 sprint car feature at Big Diamond Speedway [updated]

Aug. 13—FORESTVILLE — Familiarity proved crucial for Mark Smith on Friday night.

A former winner at Big Diamond Speedway, the veteran leaned on his past experience at the three-eighths mile dirt oval to win the 410 sprint car feature and the $5,000 prize.

After winning his heat race by a wide margin, Smith started on the front row from the No. 2 position and led all 30 laps, passing polesitter Freddie Rahmer on the first lap. Smith remained ahead of Rahmer throughout the early part of the race, which featured two cautions, as Timmy Buckwalter and Dylan Norris each spun out in the first 10 laps.

Following the yellow flags, Smith pulled away and navigated lapped traffic with ease to score his first winged 410 sprint car win of the season. The victory was Smith's second at Big Diamond this year, as he won the United Racing Club winged 360 feature in June.

The win was also Smith's first career victory in a winged 410 at the track. He finished second to Cory Haas in last year's feature, which marked the return of the division to Big Diamond after an eight-year absence.

A longtime dirt racer in several divisions, Smith has split time between the winged 410, winged 360 and wingless 410 sprint cars this season. A Sunbury resident, Smith has scored victories in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, All-Star Circuit of Champions and Pennsylvania Sprint Speedweek series in his career.

Jeff Halligan finished second and Rahmer took third. Haas finished ninth.

In the modifieds, Louden Reimert of Oley won the 25-lap feature, which featured long stretches of green-flag racing. Reimert started sixth and worked his way through the top five to score the win in the third-to-last points event of the season.

Reimert took the lead midway through the race and held off a late charge from Brett Kressley, who fought his way into the top five by the midpoint of race before advancing to second. Mike Lisowksi finished third.

Alex Schoffstall won the 20-lap roadrunner feature, topping Mike Reichert and Glenn Rowan. Jordan Henn, a Kutztown resident, won the caution-filled, 15-lap crate 602 sportsman feature, beating Kyle Kania and Chad Pautalavage.