World of Outlaws Late Model Series Event Preview: ‘Black Diamond 125′ This Saturday Night (Sept. 3) At Tyler County Speedway

One Driver Can Pocket $30,000 In First-Place Cash During Saturday’s Action At West Virginia Quarter-Mile

By Kevin Kovac, WoO LMS P.R. Director

MIDDLEBOURNE, WV – Aug. 29, 2011

AS CAMPERS ROLL IN, EXCITEMENT BUILDS, ANTICIPATION MOUNTS, COUNTDOWN CONTINUES TO THE MUST SEE 2nd Annual Black Diamond 125 !!

CAN’T MISS THIS: The ‘Black Diamond 125′ this Saturday night (Sept. 3) at Tyler County Speedway hasn’t been dubbed “Dirt Racing’s Newest and Coolest Crown Jewel” for nothing.

With a unique split-field, three-feature format that spreads the wealth to race teams and provides fans incredible bang for their buck…with Saturday’s program alone giving one competitor a chance to ride off with $30,000 in first-place winnings…with more than 135 drivers entered as of Monday afternoon…with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series banner flying over the event for the first time…with an action-packed, quarter-mile ‘Bullring’ serving as the venue – yes, it’s easy to see why the second annual Labor Day weekend spectacular is one of the most anticipated shows on the 2011 dirt Late Model calendar.

“The ‘Black Diamond 125′ is shaping up to be an unbelievable event,” said WoO LMS director Tim Christman, who last month signed a deal with Circle Track Management Group’s Frank Wilson to add World of Outlaws sanction to the fast-growing, big-money race. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of a weekend that offers such a lucrative payoff for the teams and so much excitement for the fans. There’s a buzz around the ‘Black Diamond’ that puts it in rarified air.”

A total of over $157,000 will be on the line for Super Late Model competitors during Tyler County’s ‘Black Diamond 125′ weekend, which includes the 51-lap, $8,000-to-win ‘West Virginia State Championship’ for the UFO Series on Fri., Sept. 2. Practice for Late Model teams will also be held on Thurs., Sept. 1, as part of the weekend’s opening night action that features support-division racing.

Saturday, of course, is the anchor of the weekend. The ‘Black Diamond 125′ field will be split into two groups following Ohlins Shocks Time Trials (odd-numbered qualifiers in one group, evens in the other) and a full racing program – 15-lap heats, 15-lap B-Mains and 24-car, 40-lap preliminary A-Mains paying $10,000 to win – will be run for each. The top-eight finishers in each preliminary feature will move on to the ‘Sweet Sixteen’ finale, a 45-lap showdown that offers a gargantuan $20,000 first-place prize.

Each 40-lap preliminary feature and the ‘Sweet Sixteen’ finale boasts a full purse, including cool $1,000 payoffs for last place. Forty-eight drivers are guaranteed to earn at least $1,000.

The Sweet Sixteen’ race will carry even more significance than it did during the inaugural ‘Black Diamond’ weekend in 2010. After last year’s program featured a winner-take-all, $10,000-to-win ‘Sweet Sixteen’ event following preliminary A-Mains that paid $20,000 to win each, track officials have assured fans a dramatic weekend-ending battle by not only making the 45-lap finale Saturday’s highest-paying race but also posting a solid payoff for every finishing position.

STREAKING MOUNTAINEER: The hottest driver on the WoO LMS entering Saturday’s action happens to be someone who would count a ‘Black Diamond’ victory as one of the most cherished of his career – and not merely because of the event’s huge payoff.

A checkered flag at Tyler County would have special sentimental value for two-time defending WoO LMS champion Josh Richards, who has won three of the last four tour A-Mains. The 23-year-old sensation, after all, hails from Shinnston, W.Va., but he’s still never won a dirt Late Model feature of any kind in his home state.

“It’s cool to run a big World of Outlaws show in West Virginia,” said Richards, whose seven triumphs on this year’s series places him in a tie with Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., for top-winner status. “I’ve never really had too many chances to run in West Virginia during my career, so I’m looking forward to Tyler County. It would mean a lot to win a race like that so close to home.”

While the Tyler County oval is just a little over an hour’s drive from Richards’s residence, he’s made only two career starts there. He finished 12th in the 2004 Hillbilly 100 during his first season of dirt Late Model racing and placed sixth in the track’s lone previous WoO LMS event, a 40-lapper on May 31, 2009.

“I’ve watched a lot of races there though,” said Richards, who often visited Tyler County as a teenager to serve as a crewman for his uncle, Robbie Scott. “It’s definitely a unique racetrack. It’s a racer’s racetrack. It’s not the prettiest place and it’s only a quarter-mile, but the racing there is hard.

“It’s a great place to go if you like racing – and it’s definitely a track that I like racing at.”

Richards sits second in the current WoO LMS points standings, trailing Rick Eckert of York, Pa., by just 28 points after cutting Eckert’s edge in half during the tour’s Michigan doubleheader on Aug. 19-20. But there will be no change in the points battle at Tyler County; the ‘Black Diamond 125′ offers only show-up points because it does not follow the normal series format.

RECORD IN SIGHT: Darrell Lanigan’s hopes of a 2011 WoO LMS championship might be flickering (he’s 120 points behind Eckert in third place), but there’s still one headline-grabbing feat well within his reach: the tour’s single-season win record.

Both Lanigan and Richards are just two wins away from matching Scott Bloomquist’s 2004 standard of nine WoO LMS victories. The two close friends have scrawled their names all over the ’11 season, combining to win 14 of the tour’s 26 A-Mains to date, including seven of the last eight.

Lanigan’s last start at Tyler County, in the ’09 WoO LMS event, resulted in a fifth-place finish.

VETERAN WINNERS: WoO LMS stalwarts Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., would like to relive old times at Tyler County this Saturday night. Both drivers won the Hillbilly 100 when it was run at the Mountain State track – Frank in 2003, and Smith in 2005.

Frank, 49, heads into this weekend’s action riding a frustrating 76-race winless streak on the WoO LMS (his last victory came on Aug. 22, 2009, at Ohio’s K-C Raceway), but he’s fifth in the current points standings and is coming off a win in last Friday night’s weekly DIRTcar UMP Late Model feature at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. He set fast time and finished 10th in the 2009 WoO LMS event at Tyler County.

The 46-year-old Smith, who finished 20th in his last appearance at Tyler County (’09 WoO LMS), also enters the ‘Black Diamond 125′ on a winning note. Last Saturday night he made a triumphant return to his hometown’s New Senoia Speedway after a 25-year absence, driving Laddie Fulcher’s No. 29 Limited Late Model to victory in the finale of the Senoia Summer Nationals II Weekend.

CHASIN’ CASH: Rick Eckert doesn’t have to worry about protecting his WoO LMS points lead during the ‘Black Diamond 125′ festivities (all entrants will receive 60 show-up points), so he’ll have just one thing on his mind: padding his bank account.

A big night at Tyler County could provide a welcome late-season boost for Eckert, who is chasing his first-ever WoO LMS title with his own racing equipment. He’s craving a return to Victory Lane – since his last series win, on May 12 at Delaware International Speedway, he’s registered six runner-up finishes.

Eckert, 46, has visited Tyler County just once over the past seven years, finishing 14th in the ’09 WoO LMS event.

IS THERE MAGIC IN HIS CAR?: Nineteen-year-old WoO LMS standout Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., has never competed at Tyler County, but his car owner, Dale Beitler, knows what it feels like to reach Victory Lane at the ‘Bullring.’

In the track’s 2009 WoO LMS event, Beitler watched his familiar blue-and-white No. 19 flash under the checkered flag first with Steve Francis behind the wheel.

BACK FOR MORE: Vic Coffey of Caledonia, N.Y., is the only ’11 WoO LMS regular who entered last year’s inaugural Black Diamond 125, which drew a 77-car field. He finished 18th in the second preliminary feature (50 laps in ’10), missing the cut for the ‘Sweet Sixteen’ finale that was run over the 25-lap distance.

The 2008 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year also competed in the tour’s ’09 event at Tyler County, finishing 15th. He enters this weekend’s action still seeking his first career series win after 105 A-Main starts.

ONE-TIMERS, FIRST-TIMERS: Four WoO LMS regulars will make their second career starts at Tyler County – Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y. (2005 Hillbilly 100 his only previous appearance); Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y. (seventh in ’09 WoO LMS event); Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga. (ninth in ’09 WoO LMS); and Rookie of the Year contender Ron Davies of Warren, Pa. (he remembers running there once about a decade ago).

Travelers who will attack Tyler County for the first time are rookies Pat Doar of New Richmond, Wis., and John Lobb of Frewsburg, N.Y.

SUPERMAN: Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., made a mark on last year’s Black Diamond 125, finishing third in the first preliminary feature and then charging forward from the 10th starting spot in the ‘Sweet Sixteen’ shootout to capture the $10,000 top prize.

The 27-year-old is planning a return to Tyler County with the Barry Wright house car team. He has four top-five finishes in nine WoO LMS A-Main starts this season.

FAMILY AFFAIR: Dirt Late Model superstar Donnie Moran or Dresden, Ohio, and his teenage son Devin plan to enter the Black Diamond 125 for the second consecutive year.

Donnie, of course, would love to repeat his 2010 effort; he won the first of the 50-lap preliminary features for a $20,000 payday and finished fifth in the ‘Sweet Sixteen’ finale. Devin, meanwhile, hopes to improve upon his 22nd-place finish in last year’s second preliminary feature.

HOME STATE HOPEFULS: Richards is just one of dozens of West Virginia drivers who will aim to keep the Black Diamond 125 money from leaving the state.

The group includes Steve Shaver of Vienna, who earlier this year won the WoO LMS Commonwealth 100 at Virginia Motor Speedway; Paul Wilmoth Jr. of Clarksburg, who scored a WoO LMS career-best finish of fourth in Tyler County’s ’09 tour event; Steve Wilmoth of Clarksburg, whose car will sport a special graphics scheme honoring the 29 coal miners killed in the 2010 Upper Big Branch mine disaster near Montcoal, W.Va.; brothers Jared and Jacob Hawkins, both of Fairmont; the father-son combo of Tim and Zack Dohm of Cross Lanes; Chuck Harper of Beverly; Butch McGill of West Union; Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes; Corey Conley of Wellsburg; Robbie Scott of Shinnston; and Mike Benedum of Bristol.

KEYSTONE STATE INVADERS: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be well represented at Tyler County with expected appearances by Jason Covert of York Haven, a 10-time feature winner across the region this season; Devin Friese of Chambersburg, who was in contention for a Black Diamond preliminary feature win last year before tangling with Jimmy Mars; Dan Stone of Thompson, Pa., who has a 2007 WoO LMS victory at Pennsylvania’s Tri-City Speedway under his belt; Gregg Satterlee of New Richmond; Alex Ferree of Saxonburg; Ron Delano Jr. of Stoystown; Keith Barbara of South Park; Jeremy Miller of Gettysburg; and Jared Miley of South Park.

SATURDAY SKED: Tyler County’s pit gates will open at 2 p.m. and the grandstands will be unlocked at 3 p.m.

The remainder of Saturday’s schedule of events includes driver registration/qualifying pill draw from 3-6:30 p.m., drivers’ meeting at 6:30 p.m. and hot laps at 6:45 p.m., followed by WoO LMS Ohlins Shocks Time Trials; track prep and opening ceremonies; two sets of WoO LMS heat races and heats for the TSMA Modifieds; B-Mains for the WoO LMS and TSMA Modifieds; the pair of 40-lap WoO LMS Qualifying features; a redraw of the top-eight finishers from each feature to determine the lineup for the 45-lap ‘Sweet 16′ finale; the 30-lap TSMA Modified West Virginia State Championship (30 minute time limit); and the $20,000-to-win ‘Sweet 16′ event.

THE UNDERCARD: The weekend will kick off on Thurs., Sept. 1, with a complete show for the TSMA Modifieds and STARS Modified Lites and prelims for the Hot-Mods and 4-Cylinders. On ‘Black Lightning Thursday’ gates will open at 2 p.m. (pits) and 4 p.m. (grandstands), with hot laps beginning at 6:30 p.m. and opening ceremonies commencing at 7:15 p.m.

‘Black Gold Friday’ – Fri., Sept. 2 – will feature the UFO Series West Virginia State Championship, a 51-lap, $8,000-to-win event that gives the full-fender teams an opportunity to tune up for the Black Diamond 125. Also on the card will be the FASTRACK Northeast Touring Series Late Models vying for $3,000 to win; another complete show of STARS Modified Lites; and the West Virginia State Championship features in the Hot-Mod and 4-Cylinder divisions.

Gates will open on Friday at 2 p.m. (pits) and 4 p.m. (grandstands). Hot laps are scheduled to get the green flag at 6:30 p.m. and opening ceremonies are set to begin at 7:15 p.m.

OFF-TRACK FUN: The Black Diamond 125 weekend will be filled with extracurricular activities. Some of the highlights:

* The ’2011 Black Diamond Launch Party’ following Thursday night’s racing program will feature an appearance of the official Girls Gone Wild party bus and D.J. (as seen on T.V.). The nationally-known entertainment brand will help welcome fans to the speedway as part of its cross-country ‘Search for the Hottest Girl in the USA.’

* Mike Martin of Think Pink Motorsports will provide D.J. entertainment that rocks the hills of West Virginia after the Friday and Saturday night action.

* A driver autograph session is slated to begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

GET YOUR TICKETS: Discount three-day tickets for the event can be purchased in advanced for $50 (general admission) and $60 (pits). Three-day tickets for children ages 7-12 are $15, and reserved seats in the top four rows of bleachers are available by adding $5 per seat to any ticket (grandstand/child/pit).

Tickets may be purchased online at www.tylercountyspeedwayonline.com or by phone at 304-758-2660 or 304-665-1118.

At the gate during race weekend three-day general admission tickets will be $55 for adults and $15 for children ages. Weekend pit passes will cost $65.

Individual tickets will be available at the gate as well. General admission is $10 on Thursday, $25 on Friday and $35 on Saturday.

THE TRACK: Tyler County Speedway is located at the Tyler County Fairgrounds, three miles south of Middlebourne, W.Va., on State Route 18. The track sits 18 miles east of the Ohio River; halfway between Parkersburg, W.Va., to the south and Wheeling, W.Va., to the north; two hours from Pittsburgh and Charleston, W.Va.; and three hours from Columbus, Ohio.

INFO: Log on to www.tylercountyspeedwayonline.com or www.blackdiamond125.com. To stay up to date with the latest-breaking Black Diamond 125 news via Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/blackdiamondwv.

ONE MORE SHOW: The WoO LMS will close out the Labor Day weekend on Sunday evening (Sept. 4) with the running of the ‘Workforce 50′ at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex in Markleysburg, Pa.

For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), Vicci (Official Uniform), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel), DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award), McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning (Raye Vest Memorial Pill Draw Award), Chizmark Larson Insurance, Factory Value Parts and RacingJunk.com; in addition to contingency sponsors Comp Cams, Eibach Springs, JE Pistons, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis, R2C Performance, Superflow Dynos, Wix Filters and Wrisco Aluminum.

Black Diamond 125, Labor Day Weekend and Tyler County Speedway, A Race Fan’s Nirvana!

World of Outlaws Black Diamond 125 Advance Tickets Still On Sale!!!

As another traditional Labor Day racing weekend in the Mountain State draws near, all eyes of the racing world will turn their attention to the mighty little bullring known as the Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, WV for a 3 day festival of speed, action and excitement, known as the Black Diamond 125.  Racing’s newest and coolest crown jewel late model event featuring the nations richest short track event and the most fan friendly format in motorsports also boasts a purse well in excess of $180,000. 

What many race fans have dubbed the best kept secret in all of motorsports and by many accounts the raciest track in America, the Tyler County Speedway will once again roll out a huge Mountain State welcome to race teams and fans from far and wide.  The bullring will offer up a three day racing extravaganza parlaying a bevy of racing talent featuring the greatest show on dirt the World of Outlaw Late Model Series as they prepare to wage war against the planets best UFo super late model pilots, other outstanding regional aces and battled tested local bullring heroes.  A true “Pros vs. Joes’ battle royal will converge on the lightning quick quarter mile facility September 1-3 in search of bragging rights, prestige and coveted ‘Black Diamonds.’ 

This dirt late model major event is unlike any other featuring a rustic throwback charm, a unique fan friendly format highlighted by five late model feature events, a monstrous purse, and a weekend full of extra-curricular of fun…. West Virginia style!   Race buddies will unite once again, old race tales will be told, the smell of campfires will fill the air and three days of intense grassroots racing action the way the race gods intended will be on the docket….as three and sometimes four wide action at blistering speeds is the norm and not the exception at the ‘bullring’.     

Last year 290 cars crammed the pit area with Muscatine, Iowa’s Brian Birkhofer and Dresden, Ohio’s Donnie Moran splitting twin features while Blairsville, Georgia’s Jonathan Davenport scored the Sweet 16 victory in the inaugural Black Diamond 125.  This years schedule of events will feature five late model main events, with $51,000 on the line for race winners alone and over $180,000 to be awarded to drivers throughout the weekend making it the most lucrative short track event in the nation.  The 3 day mega event will kick off on Thur., Sept. 1 with a complete show for the TSMA Modifieds and STARS Modified Lites and prelims for the Hotmods and 4 Cylinders, with an open late model test and tune scheduled as well.  As a bonus treat the official “Girls Gone Wild” party bus will be in town for the “Black Diamond” launch party officially welcoming race fans to the Black Diamond weekend in search of the Hottest Girl in America. 

The racing action shifts into high gear on Friday Night, Sept. 2 as a UFo landing will invade the Middlebourne oval in a $8,000 to win Super Late Model WV State Championship event complete show tune-up for Saturday’s mega main event.  Also on the card will be the FASTRAK NE Touring Series Late Models vying for $3,000, another complete show of STARS Modified Lites and WV State Championship features in the Hotmod & 4 cylinder divisions.

On Saturday Night, Sept. 3^rd the racing world comes alive as the ground pounders known as the World of Outlaws invade for the coolest & richest short track event in the country with twin 40 lap $10,000 to win features with the top 8 finishers advancing to the main event, the 45 lap $20,000 to win “Sweet 16” shootout.  The coolest fan friendly format in all of motorsports featuring the sports biggest names including Josh Richards, Rick Eckert, Tim McCreadie and many more will look to battle the best weekend warriors in all of short track racing……making the Black Diamond a must see event. 

Discount 3 day tickets for the event are still currently on sale.   Race teams and race fans may save money and/or reserve seats by purchasing tickets in advance.   A 3-day grandstand pass is currently $50 and a 3-day pit pass is $60.   3-day tickets for children 7-12 is $15.   Reserved seating is being sold in 2011 for the top 4 rows of bleachers and may be purchased by adding $5/seat to any ticket (grandstand/child/pit). Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.tylercountyspeedwayonline.com, or by phone at 304-758-2660 or 304-665-1118.  Additionally, ticket ordering forms are included in all ‘Black Diamond 125’ brochures.  Individual evening tickets are available as well at the gate.  Also be sure to check us out at www.blackdiamond125.com and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/blackdiamondwv. 

Make sure you’re a part of the history & excitement as Tyler County Speedway celebrates the newest Mountain State racing tradition of motorsports excellence with the running of the ‘Black Diamond 125.’

2^nd Annual Black Diamond 125 Sept. 1-3 (Thur.-Sat.) Order of Events

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st                                     “BLACK LIGHTNING THURSDAY”          

2pm                        Pit Gates Open

4pm                        General Admission Gates Open

4pm-6:30            Pill Pull/ Registration

6pm                        Track Officials Meeting

6-8pm                    Mudd Dawg and Hoss Live Radio Show

6:30pm                 HOTLAPS: TSMA Modifieds, Hotmods, STARS ModLites, 4 Cylinders

7:00pm                 Drivers Meeting/ Mini Wedge Racing

7:15pm                  Opening Ceremonies/ National Anthem

HEAT RACES: TSMA Modifieds , STARS ModLite, Hot Mod, 4 Cylinder

B MAINS: TSMA Modified & STARS ModLites

20 Lap $800 to win TSMA Modified Feature, 15 Lap $500 to win STARS ModLite Feature

Plus Super Late Model & FASTRAK Late Model Open Practice!

Black Diamond 125 Launch Party featuring the Girls Gone Wild Party Bus and DJ

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2^nd                                                             “UNITED RENTALS BLACK GOLD FRIDAY”  

1:30                        Pits/Grandstand Cleared and Secured for Opening

2pm                        Pit Gates Open

4pm                        General Admission Gates Open

4pm-6:30             Pill Pull/ Registration

6pm                        Track Officials Meeting

6:30pm                 HOTLAPS: UFo LM’s, FASTRAK LM’s, STARS Modlites, HotMods, 4 Cyl.

7:00pm                Drivers Meeting/ Mini Wedge Racing

7:15pm                 Opening Ceremonies/ National Anthem

HEAT RACES: UFo Super Late Model, FASTRAK Late Model, STARS ModLites

B-MAINS: UFo Super Late Model, FASTRAK Late Model, STARS ModLites

51 Lap $8,000 to win UFo Super Late Model WV State Championship Feature

30 Lap $3,000 to win FASTRAK Late Model NE/MOV Touring Series Feature

20 Lap $700 to win STARS ModLite Feature

20 Lap $500 to win HotMod WV State Championship

20 Lap 4 Cylinder WV State Championship

Plus “Party in the Pits” with DJ!

 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd                   “2^nd ANNUAL WORLD OF OUTLAW BLACK DIAMOND 125”

2pm                        Pit Gates Open

2:30                        Pits/Grandstand Cleared and Secured for Opening

3pm                        General Admission Gates open

3-6:30pm             Pill Pull/Registration

4pm                        Driver Autograph Session

6:00pm                 Track Officials Meeting

6:30pm                 Drivers Meeting

6:45                        HOTLAPS  (Late Models, TSMA Modifieds)

QUALIFICATIONS: World of Outlaws Late Models

Track Prep/ Opening Ceremonies/ National Anthem

HEAT RACES: WoO Late Models, TSMA Modifieds

B-MAINS: WoO Late Models, TSMA Modifieds

$10,000 to win 40 Lap Super Late Model Qualifying Feature #1

$10,000 to win 40 Lap Super Late Model Qualifying Feature #2

Top 8 From 2 Features to Frontstretch For ReDraw for Sweet 16

$1,000 to win 30 Lap TSMA Modified WV State Championship (30 min. limit)

$20,000 to win 45 Lap Super Late Model Sweet 16

Plus “Party in the Pits Rd.#3” with Live DJ!

Steve Wilmoth Captures Guaranteed Black Diamond 125 Spot With His Herrick Memorial Victory!

Steve Wilmoth wins Herrick Memorial / Black Diamond Qualifer

(Middlebourne, W.V. 8-21-11) Saturday night at ‘the Bullring’ was the rescheduled Pat Herrick Memorial presented by Wayside Furniture for Late Models. The season Championships. And the Black Diamond qualifier. The bulging pit area also was an indication that this was the last laps turned on the ¼ mile until the Diamond weekend.

In the Dodd’s Sporting Goods Late Models, of the 30 that signed in, Jacob Hawkins, Steve Wilmoth, Steve Weigle and Paul Wilmoth Jr. notched the heat victories. Ron Delano Jr., and Robbie Scott grabbed the conseys. On the second try at green S. Wilmoth jumped to the point followed by Hawkins, P. Wilmoth, Weigle and Butch McGill. The front duo began to rage a war for the leaders spot as they raced door to door lap after lap. The first stoppage came on the twelfth go round as Shane Hitt, Dusty Hamrick and Scott ended up parked in turn two. Hitt was sent to the tail, Hamrick and Scott got their spots back. The front pair continued their side by side battle as Hawkins lead lap 16 but Wilmoth took it back on the next circuit. While they fought for position, P. Wilmoth lurked in the shadows waiting to pounce. But he didn’t get the chance. As the checkers fell, the ‘Renegade” edged Hawkins at the stripe for the win. P. Wilmoth was third, Jared Hawkins (from thirteenth) finished fourth and McGill was fifth. It was the Phoenix Drilling / Braeden Drilling #S1’s second checkerboard of the season. While little brother may of won the battle, the older brother won the war. Paul added his third track Championship. The ‘Gambler’ sponsored by Midcap Land and Timber, Adkins Timber, NAPA, Backyard Auto Body and Monroe Excavating also has trophies from 2007 and 2008.

After the fourth try in the United Rental Industrial Division FASTRAK Late Models finally got under way Shaun Jett showed the way, ahead of Daniel Hill, Derek Doll, Joel Prosser and Derek Rogers. Jett was never challenged as he put the Aluminum Service Center / Custom Builders sponsored #137 into victory lane for the third time this year. Hill, Doll, Prosser and Rogers rounded out the top five. With his second place finish, Daniel Hill driving the Larry’s Western Shop, Aluminum Service Center, Perkins Supply, Fat Cat Graphics sponsored machine collected the FASTRAK class Championship. Hill became the first third generation driver to win a Championship.

It also took three tries to get a green lap counted in the Bridgeport Equipment and Tool Modifieds. After Tommy Powell lead the first circuit, Mike Wilson took over and by lap nine had built a full straight away advantage. But a yellow on the next trip erased the cushion. Travis Dickson began to apply pressure to Wilson but could not make a serious bid for the spot. Wilson placed the self sponsored #20 into victory circle for the fifth time this season. In doing so he added his sixth Modified Championship (1994,95,96,97, 2010) to the mantle. T.Dickson, Mark Dickson, Donnie Nething and Del Cunningham filled out the top five.

In the Sigler Fabrication Hot Mods, Devin Verardi and Travis Thomas held a spirited race up front until Verardi slowed relieving the pressure on Thomas. Thomas, driving the Lucy’s Restaurant / J W Morgan Construction would claim not only his third checkered flag but also the class track Championship. Lou Ennis, Mike Conkle, Kurt Burge, and Kenny Isner crossed the line behind him.

Brandon Fluharty would lead wire to wire in the Herrington Yoak Ford and Pre Owned Auto Mod Lite feature to add his sixth checkered flag. It would also solidify the AAA Homes sponsored #25’s second consecutive track Championship. Josh Bladwin, Brian Thompson, Mitch Herrick, and Beau Newlon were second through fifth.

In the Wells Inn / Champion Sport Cards & Trophies Eco Flyers 4 Cylinders, Donnie Wamsley placed the East Gate Used Cars / Barbie’s Day Care #00 in victory circle for the fifth time this year. Wamsley bested Zack Jones, Bill Doll, Josh Fulks and Justin Freeland. With the win Wamsley was crowned track Champion for the third straight year.

The Outlaw Graphics & Automotive Services Mini Wedges were spilt into two groups. The Group A feature was won by Jacob Ice. He was followed by Levi Nolan, Tiffany Jackson, Caleb Nolan, and Hayden Jackson. Ice won the heat race. The winner of Group B was Wesley Baker as he finished ahead of Brandon Weigle, Kaitlyn Frazier, Shayla Griffey and Trey Watson. Weigle scored the heat win. The trophies were sponsored by Tyler County Speedway and Carson Farms.

There will be no racing this week in preparation for the Black Diamond weekend. Touted as dirt racings newest and coolest crown jewel. With $180,000 in total purse moneys over the three gigantic days at the bullring! Tickets and reserved seats remain on sale on the website; www.tylercountyspeedwayonline.com or www.blackdiamond125.com. Come and spend Labor Day weekend at the ultra fast ¼ mile for West Virginia’s biggest racing event.

Late Models; Steve Wilmoth, Jacob Hawkins, Paul Wilmoth Jr., Jared Hawkins, Butch McGill, Steve Weigle, Greg Baumberger, Freddie Carpenter, Robbie Scott, Mike Benedum, Dusty Hamrick, Billy Brown, Shane Hitt, Ron Delano Jr., Colten Burdette, Dwight Henry, K C Burdette, Ricky Conley, Corey Conley, Chris Carpenter. DNS; Richard Frazier, Eric Francis, Dannie Ruza, Donnie Dotson, Ryan Twarog, Rick Armstrong, Jason Witherite, James Watson, Matt Mallett, Dusty Campbell. Heats; Jc Hawkins, S. Wilmoth, Weigle, P. Wilmoth. Consey; Delano, Scott.

FASTRAK; Shaun Jett, Daniel Hill, Derek Doll, Joel Prosser, Derek Rogers, Kyle Thomas, Lester Huffman, Jeff Fornash, Danny Thomas, Kris Southern, John Watson, Lee Roy Ferguson, Michael Griffin, C J Johnson, Lincoln Campbell, Melvin Ferguson, Bill Shaffer, Jamie America, Harley Kerns, Chad Green. DNS; Kirk Isner, Eddie Starkey. Heats; Jett, Hill, Prosser.

Modified; Mike Wilson, Travis Dickson, Mark Dickson, Donnie Nething, Del Cunningham, Brian Rush, Jacob Hawkins, Brent Trimble, Ronnie Schmitt, Randy Gray, Tommy Powell, Ted Bier, Todd Higgins, Jason Stewart, Cody Henthorn, P J Durrah, Tom Sigler, Justin Sinnett. DNS; Justin Hart. Heats; Powell, Wilson, M. Dickson.

Hot Mod; Travis Thomas, Lou Ennis, Mike Conkle, Kurt Burge, Matt Burnell, Mike Lauer, Doug Carson, Jennifer Chicklo, Bill Sigmon, Anthony Headley, Lindsey Smarr, Devin Verardi, Codi Eaton. Heats; Verardi, Thomas.

Mod Lite; Brandon Fluharty, Josh Baldwin, Brian Thompson, Mitch Herrick, Beau Newlon, Jim Ruckland, Ray Heskett, Steve Weekley, Anthony Cavicchio, Zack Watson, Jeff Fornash, Mike Herrington, Daniel Eddy, Steven Dotson, Troy Collins, Ryan Baker, Mitch Ward, Brian Herrington, Tracy Fritter. Heats; Ward, Fluharty, Baldwin.

4 Cylinder; Donnie Wamsley, Zack Jones, Bill Doll, Josh Fulks, Justin Freeland, Mike Harter, John Carter, Keith Leek, Zack Perine, Justin Mozena, Alex Mosser.

The $180,000 Black Diamond Will Shine with A Deep Payoff and No Super LM Entry Fees!

_“The Black Diamond” $180,000 Weekend at Tyler County Will Shine with the Deepest Payoff and NO Pre-Entry Fees for Super LMs!

(Mars, PA)  Tyler County Speedway and Circle Track Management Group have announced preliminary details for the nations coolest crown jewel event, “The Black Diamond” on September 1-2-3.  Over $157,000 will be paid out to Super Late Model teams over 2 days of the $180,000 weekend.  The 2010 edition of the “Black Diamond” attracted one of largest fields of Super Late Models at any event in the nation, and changes for 2011 have been implemented to make the event even bigger and stronger!   “The Black Diamond” will feature the deepest and one of the highest payoffs of any national crown jewel Super Late Model event and will have NO entry fees for pre-registered drivers!

The “Black Diamond” will showcase 5 late model-type features during the weekend including 4 Super Late Model features.   While the event pays mammoth amounts to the winners, the payoff is designed to pay more money to more drivers.   A total of $48,000 will be paid out to the 4 Super Late Model winners with one driver being able to win up to $38,000.   A driver that races in 3 feature events will earn a minimum of $2,000, and the 48^th place driver on Saturday night will earn $1,000.   All Super Late Model drivers that attend both days of Super Late Model racing will be paid a minimum of $250.  The FASTRAK Pro-Late NE Tour “WV State Championship on Friday, September 2 will pay $3,000 to win.

Circle Track Management Group is posting this incredible Super Late Model payoff without digging into the pockets of the race teams!  The Super Late Models will have absolutely no car entry fee if a driver pre-registers by the August 15 cut-off date.  Super Late Model car entry after August 15 will be $200.    CTMG has been a strong part of the UFo alliance and has seen the favorable results of the elimination of entry fees on that tour.  The elimination of these fees will translate to even more money for the race teams that attend this national mega-event, keeping an additional $15,000 in their hands.

Tyler County Speedway Announces Plans To Create An Even “Wilder” Weekend In The Mountain State!

The event (Black Diamond 125) that’s already being touted as one of the most highly anticipated races ever is about to get a whole lot “wilder” via the inaugural visit by the official Girls Gone Wild Bus (as seen on tv). The biggest post race entertainment event ever; dubbed as the twenty-eleven Black Diamond Launch Party will kick-off a wild weekend of festivities Thursday Night September 1st with the Girls Gone Wild Infield Pit Party immediately following the nights racing activities. GGW’s first trip to “The Bullring” will see the nationally known entertainment brand continue their trek across the country in “Search for the Hottest Girl in the USA”.

The action will be hot and heavy on and off the track all weekend long as the bullring and the mountain state welcomes the greatest race fans in the world for three days of grassroots motorsports excellence featuring the unforgettable and sometimes legendary Tyler County pit parties!  A Mountain State tradition spawned from the early days of the Pennsboro Speedway that still continues every Labor day weekend featuring good times, down home West Virginia hospitality and off the hook racing action second to none awaits fans of the Black Diamond.   With the first ever appearance of the Girls Gone Wild crew on Thursday and followed up with more post race atmosphere featuring live DJ entertainment by Mike Martin of Think Pink Motorsports on Friday & Saturday night that will “Rock the Hills of West Virginia”!

The Black Diamond 125 continues to give fans an electrifying entertainment experience at the Tyler County Speedway via the most fan friendly format in all of motorsports featuring three jammed packed nights of racing action setting the stage for the freshly announced World Of Outlaw Late Model Series to make its second ever visit to “the Bullring” Saturday Night, Sept. 3^rd for the $180,000 2nd Annual Black Diamond 125.

“Dirt Racing’s Coolest Crown Jewel” eagerly awaits thousands of race fans Labor day weekend September 1-3, 2011 and will greet over 250 race teams from all across the United States.  Be there when World Of Outlaw stars; Rick Eckert, Josh Richards, Darrell Lanigan, Austin Hubbard, Tim McCreadie, & others face-off against regional favorites Paul Wilmoth Jr, Butch McGill, Jared Miley, Tim Dohm and the rest of the weekend warriors as they prepare for battle at the raciest facility in the nation.  Advanced tickets are on sale now, get yours today by visiting us via our online home at www.tylercountyspeedwayonline.com or www.blackdiamond125.com!  Three day advance grandstand tickets are $50.00 and 3-day advance pit passes are priced at $60.00. Reserved seating on the top 4 rows is also available at a $5 upcharge, which will cover all 3 days. Single day grandstand admission will be available for purchase any day of the event, for the following prices “Black Lightning Thursday,” – $10, United Rentals “Black Gold Friday,” – $25 and “Black Diamond Saturday,” – $35. Kids 7-12 are $5 a day while children 6 and under are admitted FREE.

 *Girls Gone Wild Infield Pit Party Ticket Info – Anyone with a Black Diamond 125 Weekend Pass will be admitted FREE to the infield. However, there will be a $10.00 cover charge for anyone without a Black Diamond Pass.  For questions or more information contact Tyler County Speedway office at 304-665-1118 or 304-758-2660 on raceday.

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You Wanted The Best…!!!

The ‘Black Diamond 125′ will lead off the holiday weekend on Sept. 3, bringing the WoO LMS back to the hardscrabble quarter-mile oval for the first time since May 2009. The event will deviate from the traditional WoO LMS format – and thus award all drivers show-up points in the championship battle – but offer one of the richest payoffs of the 2011 series schedule.

Over $157,000 will on the line for Super Late Model competitors during Tyler County’s ‘Black Diamond 125′ weekend, which also includes the 51-lap, $8,000-to-win ‘West Virginia State Championship’ for the UFO Series on Fri., Sept. 2. Practice for Late Model teams will also be held on Thurs., Sept. 1, as part of the weekend’s opening night action that features support-division racing.

After a successful inaugural event in 2010 that drew one of the largest fields of Super Late Models anywhere in the country, the ‘Black Diamond 125′ will once again be comprised of three races in one night. The event’s field will be split into two groups and a full racing program – 15-lap heats, 15-lap B-Mains and 24-car, 40-lap preliminary A-Mains paying $10,000 to win – will be run for each. The top-eight finishers in each preliminary feature will move on to the ‘Sweet Sixteen’ finale, a 45-lap showdown that offers a gargantuan $20,000 first-place prize.

Each 40-lap preliminary feature and the ‘Sweet Sixteen’ finale boasts a full purse, including cool $1,000 payoffs for last place. Tow money will also be available for non-qualifiers and no entry fee will be charged for competitors who pre-enter by Aug. 15.

“We’re real excited to add the World of Outlaws Late Model Series to the ‘Black Diamond 125,’” said Circle Track Management Group’s Darren Dodd, who promotes the Tyler County oval alongside Frank Wilson. “We think having the World of Outlaws join the ‘Black Diamond 125′ is something that’s going to bring more attention to the event and help it continue to grow. The fans loved the format we introduced last year, and adding more well-known national names to the mix of regional and local drivers should produce great racing for everyone on hand.

“Frank (Wilson) and I are looking at this as a great opportunity to build a long relationship with the World of Outlaws that will benefit Tyler County Speedway and the ‘Black Diamond 125′ for years to come.”

A raindate of Mon., Sept. 5 – Labor Day – has been established for the ‘Black Diamond 125,’ reserving the Sunday date for the WoO LMS invasion of Roaring Knob.

Advance Discount Tickets Now on Sale for The Black Diamond 125!

Advance Ticket Sales Now Available for “The Black Diamond 125 & UFo WV State Championships”

(Mars, PA)  Race fans and race teams can now purchase advance tickets at a discount for the coolest crown jewel on the planet – “The Black Diamond 125 & UFo WV State Championships.”   This $180,000 monster event will take place at the ultra-racey Tyler County Speedway on Thursday-Friday-Saturday, September 1-2-3.   The event’s unique racing format will give drivers the most opportunities to win most prize money, and give fans more feature racing than any other event of this stature.

Advance 3-day tickets may be purchased by going to the websites http://www.blackdiamond125.com or http://tylercountyspeedwayonline.com.   The website is set up to accept online credit card orders, or an order form may be downloaded to purchase tickets by mail.   Credit card orders may also be processed by phone at 304-665-1118 on weekdays.

3 day advance grandstand tickets will be $50 and 3 day advance pit tickets will be $60.  Reserved seating on the top 2 rows will also be available at a $5 upcharge, which will cover all 3 days.  Advance ticket purchases will save $5 off the gate prices for multi-day tickets of $55 for the grandstands and $65 for the pits.  1-day grandstand admission will be available for any day of the event, with ticket prices for “Black Lightning Thursday,” September 1 of $10, United Rentals “Black Gold Friday,” September 2 of $25 and “Black Diamond Saturday,” September 3 of $35.   Tickets for children 7-12 will be $5/day or $15 for a 3 day ticket and can also be purchased in advance for $15.

“The Black Diamond 125 and UFo WV State Championships” is a total dream event for late model fans.  Super Late Models will compete in 4 separate feature events on Friday and Saturday, with over $157,000 prize money being paid out.  $48,000 will be paid to the Super Late Model feature winners with 1 driver being able to carry home $38,000 of that.  In additional the FASTRAK Pro-Lates will compete for $3,000 giving the event 5 total late model-type features.  Tyler County Speedway is famous for 3 and 4 wide, close racing action.  The wide ¼ mile is a driver’s trak where a huge number of race teams are competitive for the win.

With free Super Late Model pre-entry by August 15 and a payoff that goes deep into the field a massive field of top-name Super Late Model drivers is expected.    The event will pay $2,000 minimum to any Super Late Model driver that races in 3 features, a minimum of $1,000 for 48^th and $250 minimum to all Super Late Model drivers that race 2 days.  The pre-entry list of drivers continues to grow and “The Black Diamond 125 and UFo WV State Championships” promises to be THE mega-event of 2011!

The weekend will kick off with “Black Lightning Thursday” on September 1 with heat racing and consolations for the Hot Mods, Mod-Lites and Eco 4-Cylinders and open practice for Super Late Models, FASTRAK Pro-Lates and TSMA E-mods.  The night will conclude with a pit party and the Mud Dawg & Hoss radio show.

United Rentals “Black Gold Friday” will see the UFo Super Late Models compete in the “WV State Championship” with a full racing program paying $8,000 to win and $400 to start.  All Super Late Model non-qualifiers will receive $150.   The Hot Mods, Mod-Lites and Eco 4-Cylinders will also compete in their “WV State Championship” feature events.

“Black Diamond Saturday” will feature 125 laps of Super Late Model feature racing with $40,000 total paid to the feature winners.   The super Late Model field will be split into 2 groups with each group competing in a full racing program with a separate 40-lap, $10,000 to win qualifying feature.    The top 8 finishers of each feature will advance to the 45-lap “Sweet 16” finale feature paying $20,000 to win and $1,000 to start, in addition to the drivers’ winnings from the qualifying feature.    This promises to be the most intense 45 laps ever raced!    All Super Late Model drivers that do not advance from the qualifying features are guaranteed $1,000.   All Super Late Model drivers that do not race in a qualifying feature are guaranteed $100.    Friday night’s winnings will be IN ADDITION to this huge payoff on Saturday!    “The Black Diamond 125 & WV State Championships” give drivers the most chances to win the most money!

 Additional event information will be added as the event approaches at the official event website http://www.blackdiamond125.com.   “The Black Diamond & UFo WV State Championship” website may also be accessed from the track website http://www.tylercountyspeedwayonline.com and clicking the event logo icon on the right side of the home page.

The UFo Race Championship is an event marketing alliance among independent supertracks in the PA-WV-MD region.  Participating speedways presents their own championship Super Late Model events under the UFo banner throughout the season using common tech and procedure rules with a year-end, group funded, point bonus for the top finishing drivers on the tour.  Eligible tracks are within the 3 hour travel distance of the central point of Washington, PA.

West Virginia State Championship Modified Tune-up Race Added to Black Diamond weekend

Building on the success of the inaugural ‘Black Diamond 125’, the Circle Track Management Group, promoters of ‘the Bullring’ at the Tyler County Speedway, have added a ‘West Virginia State Championship Modified’ race to the Labor Day weekend race card.

The 2011 version of the unique and already popular event has already been bolstered with the inclusion of the nationally recognized ‘World of Outlaws’ late model sanctioning.  The Late Model format will remain true to the original race, with twin features used to qualify competitors for the ‘Sweet 16’, $20k to win feature.

On the heels of the exciting WoO sanctioning news comes the word that twin modified complete shows have been added to the ‘Black Diamond’ weekend.

‘Black Lightning Thursday’ will see the TSMA sanctioned modifieds headline the kick-off evening of the 3 night ‘Black Diamond’ weekend with a $800 to win complete show.

Sharing the Thursday night card will be the TSMA sanctioned ‘Hot Mod’ division racers, as they will run the prelims for their Friday night 25 lap, $500 to win feature race.

The Hot Mods are the area’s newest and most economical division of rear wheel drive race cars.  Limitations on suspension, engine c.i.d. and compression, 2 barrel carbs and spec tires have proven effective in maintaining reasonable costs for competitors and close racing for the fans in this fast growing class.

“We’re excited that we will be able to showcase the HotMod class” said CTMG head Frankie Wilson, an active ARCA racer in his own right.

Saturday night, the TSMA E-mods will return for a second time with another complete show to compliment the WoO sanctioned Black Diamond Late Model event.

10 lap qualifying heat and consolation races will determine the starting field for the $1,500 to win 30 lap Bridgeport Tool and Equipment West Virginia State Championship Modified feature event.  The race boasts a total purse well in excess of $5000, and guarantees $150 to start the a-main event.

“We were looking for a way to add value to the program for the fans and racers alike” said TCS co-promoter Darren Dodd.   “Anyone who has been here this season already knows how competitive the modifieds are, and we felt the addition of the TSMA mods on Thursday’s  show would bring some ‘pop’ to the Black Diamond opening night”.

TSMA founder Tye Twarog was appreciative on behalf of his sanction’s racers.  “This is a really good deal for the both the Modified and HotMod racers.”

“Every racer wants to be a part of a major event, and this is an opportunity to get the regions best together and see how they stack up against each other. With several area tracks taking the weekend off, I look for a lot of the heavy hitters to be in the pits”.

The TSMA (Tri-State Modified Association) modified points reveal four TCS regulars (Mark Dickson, Travis Dickson, Mike Wilson and Tommy Powell) listed in the top 20 in point standings.  Track point leader Wilson and the Dickson duo have dominated the track’s winner’s bracket, with only 2 time defending TSMA champion Kevin Morehouse able to break the trio’s stranglehold.  Those drivers along with the always tough regular track contingents will be challenged by regional class standouts like Kenny Johnson, Jess Hartman, Jesse Wisecarver, Tanner Wilson and many more in a “best of the best” showdown.

Twarog added “It’s a big weekend for the HotMod racers as well.  Tyler County’s staff has done a good job in growing that class and enforcing the rules, and has seen steady class growth because of that.  It’s a class that’s needed and growing despite of the poor economy”.

TSMA Hot Mod track and sanction point leader Travis Thomas will look to defend his point advantage, as Kurt Burge, Bill Sigmon, Levi Flesher and Mike Conkle are all in striking distance as the season hits the home stretch.

The ‘Black Lightning Thursday’ show will also feature the MWRA Mini-Wedges, Complete $500 to win Mod-Lite show and Eco-Flyer 4 cylinder divisions as well as open practice for the Fastrak and Super Late Model cars.

Black Diamond 125 event info is available at the race’s dedicated website at: http://www.blackdiamond125.com/ where advance tickets are available by secure on-line credit card orders are accepted.  Single day or 3 day general admission combo and reserved seating ticket packages are available, and can also be ordered by telephone at (304) 665-1118.

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