Big Diamond Speedway opened its 54th season Friday night with the “Thaw Brawl,” featuring a full pit area and a capacity crowd for the annual season opener.
Mike Lisowski, of Minersville, led the night’s winners, earning $4,054 in the 25-lap BQ Concrete 358 Modified feature. Other victors included Colin Cox in the 602 Crate Sportsman, Alex Schoffstall in the Roadrunners, and Kevin Fitzpatrick, who secured his first career win in the Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman division.
358 Modifieds | Ryan Watt and Lisowski shared the front row for the 25-lap main event. Watt took the early lead at the green flag and maintained a torrid pace through 13 caution-free laps despite persistent pressure from Lisowski.
The race’s complexion changed on lap 13 when a caution was triggered by Dom Buffalino, who stopped in Turn 2 with a flat tire. On the restart, Lisowski outmaneuvered Watt to take the lead.
“Without a restart, I wasn’t sure I could have gotten around him,” Lisowski said. “The track was so fast, and Ryan was so savvy and so good—he’s always hard to get around in clean air like that.”
Lisowski noted that adjustments made after the heat races, including a new shock package, improved the car’s performance for the feature.
While Lisowski pulled away, Jared Umbenhauer and defending champion Louden Reimert battled past Watt to claim second and third, respectively. Watt finished fourth, followed by Alex Yankoski in fifth.
602 Crate Sportsman | Christopher Buffalino started on the pole and led the early stages of the feature. However, a caution with seven laps remaining allowed Colin Cox to pull alongside on the restart. Cox surged into the lead and held on for the $1,054 victory. Ryan Graver finished second after a late-race battle with Brennan Chapman.
Roadrunners | Defending champion Alex Schoffstall earned his 38th career win in the division, though he faced constant pressure from Mike Reichert, Terry Kramer, and Joe Bassininsky. The race concluded with a last-lap sprint where Bassininsky attempted an inside pass, falling short by a half-car length at the checkered flag.
Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman | Kevin Fitzpatrick earned his first career victory, passing early leader Payton Renninger on lap two. Fitzpatrick maintained the lead for the remainder of the 15-lap race, holding off runner-up Devin Whitmoyer.
Big Diamond Speedway Results
Thaw Brawl | Friday, April 3, 2026
358 MODIFIEDS Feature (25 Laps): 1. Mike Lisowski ($4,054), 2. Jared Umbenhauer, 3. Louden Reimert, 4. Ryan Watt, 5. Alex Yankoski, 6. Alex Payne, 7. Tim Buckwalter, 8. Anthony Perrego, 9. Brett Kressley, 10. Duane Howard, 11. Brandon Edgar, 12. Jax Yohn, 13. Kevin Beach Jr., 14. Heath Metzger, 15. Kevin Olenick, 16. Alex Tonklin, 17. Billy Osmon, 18. Matt Stangle, 19. Dom Buffalino, 20. Wayne Witmer, 21. Ron Haring Jr., 22. Rick Laubach, 23. Jack Butler, 24. Mike Burrows. Did Not Qualify: Cody Manmiller, WB James, Alan Rudalavage, Cliff Quinn, Logan Watt.
602 CRATE SPORTSMAN Feature (20 Laps): 1. Colin Cox ($1,054), 2. Ryan Graver, 3. Brennan Chapman, 4. Teague Miller, 5. Christopher Buffalino, 6. Mikey Schneck Jr., 7. Logan Starr, 8. Dakota Kohler, 9. Mike Stofflet, 10. Michael Samony, 11. Gavin Gardner, 12. Kevin Brady, 13. Reice Widger, 14. Trevor Bixlor, 15. Matt Martino, 16. Ralph Melee, 17. Zach Steffey, 18. Tyler Vidal, 19. John Redner, 20. Aaron Weaver, 21. Tajae Adams, 22. Ryan Conrad, 23. McKenzi Smith, 24. Steve Hughes. Did Not Qualify: Nick Hamm, Mark Behm, Dylan Cappel, Jimmy Leiby, Dennis Graber.
ROADRUNNERS Feature (20 Laps): 1. Alex Schoffstall, 2. Joe Bassininsky, 3. Terry Kramer, 4. TJ Fitzpatrick, 5. Johnathan Trumbo, 6. Jim Kost, 7. Tod Roth Jr., 8. Mike Reichert, 9. Matt Ney, 10. Blaine Fritz, 11. Bryan Johnson, 12. Jarod Bassininsky.
ROOKIE 602 CRATE SPORTSMAN Feature (15 Laps): 1. Kevin Fitzpatrick, 2. Devin Whitmoyer, 3. Mason Harakel, 4. Payton Renninger, 5. Lucas Weil, 6. Josh Metzler, 7. Zach Moyer, 8. Marcello Caminiti.
Report/results by Dino Oberto/Big Diamond Speedway
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