Big Diamond racers @ Selinsgrove...Thoughts

This past weekend we took in the action for the ROC weekend at the Selinsgrove Speedway on Friday and Saturday....A TREMENDOUS field of race cars were in the pits both days....Since I'm a BDR fan "by nature", was just thinking about the '09 BDR racers that were there this weekend and I have some observations....Craig Von Dohren was there Friday night in the BPG Troyer 1c, although CVD won't be racing this car on Friday nights, he'll return to the seat of the Mike Harvey 1c for BDR action, and the All Time Feature Winner at BDR is loking like he'll continue adding to that total, I'm looking for a BIG year out of CVD and the Harvey team on Friday nights this year, even predicting that first BDR sbm title for them....Duane Howard, had the BPG sbm and bb on hand for both days, and Howard looks like he's going to be a major contender again this year for his 7th BDR title....Ryan Godown had the JR Motorsports R1 on hand Friday night for sb action, and from what I've been told it was their BDR TEO car they had there and Godown looked FAST, taking a heat win and a top 10 run in the feature, watch for this guy toi get his first career BDR win this year, and maybe more....Ray Swinehart had his #33 in the pits Friday night, and after a run to qualify in the consi, Swinehart put on a heck of a show coming from the back to a solid, crowd thrilling, top 10 finish, I'd look for Swinehart to find his way back to BDR's VL this year....Rick Laubach debuted his new Friday night #542 sbm ride owned by Guy Germano, "Scooby" struggled a bit Friday, but put that sbm in the bb feature field on Sat, there were big ???'s around Laubach and this effort for Diamond this year, but after this weekend, I'd say Laubach is gonna be just fine for BDR action this year, the car looked that good on Sat....Troy Wink had his #44 sbm on Friday and his #27 bb on Sat, a questionable "rough riding" call on Friday kept Wink out of the feature, but Sat Wink put his #27 in the feature field by taking a solid 3rd in his heat, I'd look for even a bigger and better from Wink this year at Diamond, as last year he got better since his return, and I think this year will be even better yet for this team, a first career win IS WITHIN REACH....Jeff Strunk, pulled into the pits late on Friday, ran a consi and dnq, but Sat Strunky had his new Gagliardo ride puuuurrring along, as Strunky finished 3rd in the BB feature event, Strunk will be just fine this year, and I look for him to do just what he always does, WIN....Former champ Keith "K-Dog" Hoffman made his debut in the Moose Eisenhard #77, as Keith looked good out there, but motor issues kept this team from having a great night, but I'd look for "K-Dog" to return to his old championship for at BDR this year with him hooking up with Eisenhard, keep an eye on this team....Two newcomers to the BDR sbm field, and teammates this year, Earl Paules and Joey Grammes were both at Selinsgrove with their sbm's, and BOTH LOOKED VERY GOOD, as Paules is a fromer BDR spts winner, and Grammes has been a feature winner at Penn Can over the years, bith will be at BDR on Fridays in the sbm's, and BOTH are going to be contenders to win EVERY Friday night....Billy Pauch Sr was in the #126 sbm Friday night, but the night wasn't a good one for this combo, as a dnq Friday night was the result I'm sure this team wasn't expecting, talk has it this combo will start the seaosn off Friday nights at BDR in the sbm, and I'm willing to bet the results will be MUCH BETTER than they were Friday night, as both sides of the deal are just TOO GOOD for the reults not to follow....Newcomer to BDR this year will be Richie Pratt in the MAD 11D, Pratt ran the Overhead Door car on Sunday, was leading the feature until motor problems sent the team pitside, but Pratt is a SUPER TALENT and he's going to be an AWESOME addition to the BDR field this year....Part time Diamond racers Tom Umbenhauer was in the pits Friday night in his #19, and Tom came out and ripped off some of the fastest laps of anyone there Friday night, Tom is always a welcomed addition to BDR when he runs, but on Fridays he's usually crew chiefing for his sons Jarrod and Jordan who tackle the track....Second generation racer Kyle Follweiler made his debut in the his B & F #42 sbm, he the son of Pa sbm legend Jack Follweiler, he's been rumored to return to racing for years, but this year it IS happening, it's going to be great to see Kyle out there getting back in the racing groove....Craig Whitmoyer had the #99 there Friday night, and Craig looked pretty good, look for Whitmoyer to be a part time sbm racer at Diamond, mostly as funds allow....Shawn and Tim Fitzpatrick had the beautiful T-102's on hand, one a sbm, the other a spts, both seemed to have motor issues, but look for both to have good years at the Diamond in both divisions....Doug Manmiller was pitside in the Alpha Mills Biever #14, "The Handler" put his new sbm ride into the feature through the consi, but Manmiller is as smooth as anyone at the Diamond, and I'm looking for a BIG year from this new combo....Doug Hoffman, former 5 time BDR champ had his new Norm Hansell #357 ride at Selinsgrove on Sat for the bb race only, but this combo will be at Diamond weekly this year in a potent #357 sbm, look for "The Diamond Dominator" to return to his old Diamond form and be a major contender all year long for the the wins and the championship....Other Diamond racers at Selinsgrove over the weeknd but didn't have their BDR rides, Sean Merkel, Ryan Watt, Colt Harris, Billy Pauch Jr all of which should should do very well in 2009 at the track in "God's Country" on Friday nights....All of these drivers were "shaking off the rust" is you will, but all of them, and many more, will be the one's putting on the show that's been most talked about this offseason, it all will go down at the Big Diamond Raceway in 2009 starting this coming weekend, HOPE TO SEE YA THERE!!!