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(Forestville, PA 3-2-25) Introduced in 2023, the Big Creek Concrete Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman Division at Big Diamond Speedway has shown to be everything it was intended, a class to help nurture young talent while using it as a steppingstone in order to advance into the upper levels of their dirt Modified careers.
And in the two years that the class has been running, it has indeed done just that as seen by how well these up-and-coning racers have demonstrated their abilities each time they step onto the track.
The concept for the Rookie class was the brainchild of Big Diamond Speedway Race Director Kasea Bauscher.
“I think it’s going really well, and it’s turned into something good and with a lot of positive feedback from, parents, from car owners, from other drivers and we kind of capitalized on that. The driving age for big cars is getting younger and younger and for the format that we utilize we don’t force them to all graduate in two months, we allow them to progress at their own rate,” said Bauscher.
“Obviously, if they hit a certain number of wins, then have to move up and it hasn’t really been a bad thing, but some are developing it longer than others and are moving up pretty quick and they’re able to compete at the regular crate level.”
Before the rookie class came along, would-be drivers had no other choice but to go out and compete with a bevy of veteran racers which in turn could be very inauspicious. However, under the format these drivers race against their contemporaries and are clearly more comfortable in doing so. They practice as a group and race together all with the focus of getting their footing for bigger and better things to come.
“You look at other sports and I’ll use baseball, for example where you can go to a batting cage and can practice by yourself. In racing, it’s kind of hard to do that unless you’re renting a track privately or as some tracks offer test sessions, but you can still be out there with others that are at a completely different level,” said Bauscher.
“And where do you really get practice in a big car and if you’re coming from a go-kart or from a Slingshot or a Micro (Sprint), these big cars are completely different and where can you hone your craft at the entry level and this is kind of built for that,” he continued.
“We’ve now enabled that where someone at that level at that time can go into our rookie class and learn and maybe not be up to speed per say but they will get comfortable in the car and know how to control it and not be in fear of wrecking someone else’s car or injuring someone, or being in someone’s way, so this is the fit for that.”
The Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman class does not run heats rather a 15-lap feature only. There are no points kept, and they draw for starting spots apart from the previous week’s winner who will start at the rear for the upcoming race. After earning four wins drivers must then move on.
“We run our features 15 laps which is almost double of what other tracks do plus we also pay them and that helps them too,” added Bauscher.
There is also a sponsor for the division coming from long-time track and respected race supporter Butz Getz and Big Creek Concrete of Kunkletown. His daughter, Danica, has raced with the rookie class and made history as well when on the final day for the division in 2023, she became the first female to win a Modified feature at Big Diamond. Matter of fact the top three of Brittany Edgar and McKenzi Smith made a sweep for lady racers, another first.
“Butch (Getz) is a good guy and he’s involved in it as an ownership perspective but he’s also a parent and to be in his position of both and to be able to contribute to what we are doing and trying to accomplish, he’s onboard and loves seeing it,” related Bauscher.
“And there’s no doubt the full circle moment for him was when Danica won an only female feature, and it was incredible. That was definitely a high watermark for all of those ladies and not only where they were head over heels for what it represented for women in motorsports across the country but let alone each individual accolade it gave them as well.”
In just two years, the Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman class has become a great division for the next generation of racers as they cut their teeth and improve on their skills. In that short period of time several have already taken their talents to the succeeding level. Several of them are also second and third generation drivers, adding to the legacy of storied racers at Big Diamond Speedway.
The class of 2025 newcomers, along with all other weekly divisions, will get their first opportunity to hit the track during an open practice session on Sunday, March 30, from noon to 4:00 pm. The practice is open to any car with a roll-cage.
The season then kicks-off on Friday, April 4, with the 53rd Season Opener and the Thaw Brawl.
The Quandel Concrete 358 Modifieds will be racing for $4053 to win, the USS Achey 602 Crate Sportsman will do battle for a $1053 winner’s payday while the Red White and Blue Autos Inc., Road Runners will contest for $453-to-win plus the Big Creek Concrete Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman are set to be in action.
Pit gates will open at 5:00 pm and grandstands at 5:30 pm. Hot laps will begin at 7:15 followed by heats. All heat starting spots will be set by random draw. Pit admission is $35 for Big Diamond Speedway members and $45 for all non-members. Adult general admission is $20 and kids 16 and under are admitted for free.
Big Diamond Speedway is located at 392 Forest Lane, Pottsville, Pa. For up-to-date news and information logon to the official track website at https://bigdspeedway.net/ and follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=big%20diamond%20speedway
