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Dave Camp Memorial this Friday at Big Diamond Speedway will award extra cash incentives to 602 Crate Sportsman and Roadrunners

2026-07-27 23:00

(Minersville, PA 7-27-26) Big Diamond Speedway will close out the month of July this coming Friday evening with the 10th Annual Dave Camp Memorial.

With the BQ Concrete 358 Modifieds having the night off the USS Achey Inc. 602 Crate Sportsman will top the bill along with the Red White and Blue Autos Inc., Roadrunners racing in Twin-12's and paying $350-to-win each plus the Big Creek Concrete Rookie 602 Crate Sportsman are back in action and to top things off the East Coast Legend Series will be in the house racing for a top prize of $1500.

The Dave Kamp Memorial has been held annually at Big Diamond Speedway for the past nine seasons and is dedicated to an individual who was very well-known and liked by all who knew him.

Dave, who was from Schuylkill Haven, raced in the Street Stock and Roadrunner divisions at Big Diamond as well as at Susquehanna and Selinsgrove Speedways.

He had an untimely passing just shy of his 40th birthday from a massive heart attack.

Dave was very close friends with fellow racer John Deatrich Jr. and since his passing Deatrich has gone above and beyond to make this memorial event in his honor a race that awards drivers throughout the field with extra cash.

"We had met in high school and when I started racing which was with the Street Stocks, Dave tagged along to help me on my crew, and he became one of the guys I could count on the most. We became best friends and he was even the best man at my wedding," recalled Deatrich.

"He was an absolutely great guy."

Dave was very well-known for his abilities as a high school and college athlete. At 6'4" and 250 pounds he excelled on the football field and was awarded All County Defensive Lineman during his high school years.

"He was well known for his athletic abilities on the football field, and he was just so well liked and known and not only because of what he did athletically and with his racing, but he was big as a community volunteer too, he didn't have a single enemy," said Deatrich.

As a racer Dave had his share of success but like anyone else had some rough patches too.

"Dave did well for himself and he won a few times, ran upfront and he had a good connection with Don Murphy and Jim Sommers and had a good program put together and didn't spend a ton of money so there was plenty of nights he didn't do well and sometimes would run mid-pack and that's kind of where this whole thing spawned from," explained Deatrich.

"He struggled before he did well and his mom always said to me I don't mind giving money to the Memorial, but I want it to go to the person who finishes in ninth place which was Dave's number."

Deatrich noted that whoever wins is very deserving but is also looking out for those who may not be as lucky and that's what he's worked tirelessly for to raise additional funds for the Crate Sportsman and Roadrunner classes.

"Congratulations to whoever wins and those guys who finish up front, they earned it, but I also want to make sure that say the guy who finishes ninth because Dave's number was nine gets some extra money and I want some money to go further back through the field," said Deatrich.

The incentives run deep for both the Sportsman and Roadrunners for the Dave Camp Memorial thanks to Deatrich and many area businesses who have stepped up to ensure the continued success of this race.

There will be added money for the winners and on through to selected finishing positions plus Deatrich also has included a Hard Charger Award to the driver(s) who starts deepest in the field and finishes furthest to the front.

A complete listing of monetary awards are listed on the track's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bigdiamondspeedway

General admission is $15, kids 10-15 are $10 and under 9 free. Pit admission is $35 for members and $45 non-members. Pits open at 5:00 pm and grandstands at 5:30 pm. Hot laps will begin at 6:45 pm with racing to follow.

Big Diamond Speedway is located at 392 Forest Lane, Pottsville. For up-to-date news and information logon to the official track website at https://bigdspeedway.net/