Ryan Graver of Lehighton captured his first career Big Diamond Speedway victory Friday night, winning the 30-lap USS Achey Inc. 602 Crate Sportsman “Crate Classic” on Red White and Blue Autos Inc. Night.
Graver topped a season-high 41-car field, carrying momentum from a heat race victory into the headline event to claim the $2,000 top prize.
“I just can’t thank [car owner] Monte Pool enough for letting me run this car,” Graver said. “It’s just been on rails.”
Following a “Revenge Draw” that set the starting grid, Christopher Buffalino led early from the pole while Graver charged from the eighth starting position into third by lap six. A caution on lap 16 sidelined second-place runner Shawn Light and promoted Graver to the runner-up spot. On the ensuing restart, Graver drove past Buffalino to take a lead he would not relinquish.
Joe Toth finished second after challenging Graver on multiple late-race restarts. Steven Kemery placed third, followed by Kevin Smith in fourth and Bryce Bashore, who rallied from the 22nd starting position, in fifth.
358 Modifieds
Minersville’s Kevin Beach Jr. rebounded from early-season mechanical struggles to win the 25-lap BQ Concrete 358 Modified feature. Beach’s crew changed the car’s carburetor after the heat races to fix an engine misfire, allowing Beach to start on the outside of the front row.
Beach led all 25 laps but faced constant pressure, first from Jax Yohn and later from current points leader Tim Buckwalter and Louden Reimert. Buckwalter attempted a final-lap pass on the bottom lane as the pair raced to the checkered flag, but Beach held on by a narrow margin.
“I almost gave it away a couple times on the cushion, but I wasn’t getting off of there,” Beach said. “Tim is very good on the bottom, so I just kept running it in as hard as I could.”
Buckwalter, Reimert, Yohn—who earned a career-best fourth-place finish—and Duane Howard rounded out the top five.
Roadrunners
Jarod Bassininsky, of Schuylkill Haven, earned his first win of the season in the 20-lap Roadrunner feature. Brian Johnson and CJ Ferguson traded the lead early before Bassininsky took control with seven laps remaining. Bassininsky then held off a late challenge from Joey Brennan to secure the victory, with Ferguson finishing third.
Big Diamond Speedway Results
Friday, May 15, 2026
602 CRATE SPORTSMAN Crate Classic Feature (30 Laps): 1. Ryan Graver ($2,000), 2. Joe Toth, 3. Steven Kemery, 4. Kevin Smith, 5. Bryce Bashore, 6. Dakota Kohler, 7. Brett Gilmore, 8. Shawn Light, 9. Rick Wegner, 10. Brennan Chapman, 11. Ryan Conrad, 12. Reice Widger, 13. Tyler Vidal, 14. Shannon Slaughter, 15. Colin Cox, 16. Matt Martino, 17. Teague Miller, 18. Ralph Melee, 19. Christopher Buffalino, 20. Mike Toth, 21. Mike Schneck Jr., 22. Zach Steffey, 23. Tyler James, 24. Aaron Weaver. Did Not Qualify: Logan Starr, Tajae Adams, Nate Brinker, Nick Hamm, Mason Harakel, Scotty Heilman, McKenzi Smith, Mike Stofflet, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Kaitlyn Bailey, Devin Whitmoyer, Brad Brightbill, Dennis Graber, Ed Mrochko, Johnny McGoey, Alan Kellogg, Adrianna Delliponti.
358 MODIFIEDS Feature (25 Laps): 1. Kevin Beach Jr., 2. Tim Buckwalter, 3. Louden Reimert, 4. Jax Yohn, 5. Duane Howard, 6. Kevin Olenick, 7. Jared Umbenhauer, 8. Logan Watt, 9. Mike Lisowski, 10. Cody Manmiller, 11. Tim Fitzpatrick, 12. Aleia Geisler, 13. Wayne Witmer, 14. Jimmy Leiby, 15. Corey Renninger, 16. Heath Metzger, 17. Jim Bobbitt, 18. Cliff Quinn, 19. Rick Laubach, 20. Chris Espisito, 21. Alan Rudalavage, 22. Mark Gaugler, 23. Hunter Metzger.
ROADRUNNERS Feature (20 Laps): 1. Jarod Bassininsky, 2. Joey Brennan, 3. CJ Ferguson, 4. Mike Reichert, 5. Joe Bassininsky, 6. Brian Johnson, 7. TJ Fitzpatrick, 8. Andrew Buchinski, 9. Jonathan Trumbo, 10. Jim Kost.
Article/results by Dino Oberto
All photos by Rich Kepner
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