RYAN GODOWN WINS SECOND $10,000 COALCRACKER 100 AT BIG DIAMOND

News from Big Diamond Speedway - 'Racing in God's Country'
Contacts:Speedway Operators: Fritz & Krista Roehrig - 570.544.5114
Speedway Website: www.bigdiamondspeedway.net
Speedway Address: 50 Big Diamond Road, Box 524, Minersville, PA 17954
Media Contact: Brett Deyo, PR Director - bigdiamondpr@aol.com or 845.728.2781

For Immediate Release/Sept. 11, 2011

Upcoming Events:Sat., Oct. 29 (2 p.m.) - Monster Trucks Backdraft and Eradicator, demolition derby, train racing and hayrides (further information to be announced)
Fri., Nov. 11 (7 p.m.) - Big Diamond Speedway Awards Banquet at The Pottsville Zone

New Jersey's Ryan Godown Earns Second $10,000 Coalcracker 100 Victory Sunday At Big Diamond Speedway Driving Johnny Rea's No. R1; Jeremy Becker Roadrunner Victor

MINERSVILLE, PA - Ryan Godown is a repeat Coalcracker 100 winner.

Godown, 35, of Ringoes, N.J., recorded his second victory in the most prestigious event of the season at Big Diamond Speedway Sunday evening. Godown drove the Johnny Rea Motorsports No. R1 to a $10,000 payday, backing up his 2009 victory in the event at the Schuylkill County track. Jeremy Becker, meanwhile, won the accompanying 20-lap Wooden Keg Tavern Roadrunner feature.

The 31st Coalcracker got underway as scheduled on Sept. 4. However, heavy rain moved over the speedway at lap 28 forcing the final 72 laps to be completed Sunday.

After swapping the lead with Billy Pauch Jr. (Frenchtown, N.J.) on the event's original date, pole starter Godown regained the top spot on lap 16 lined up as the leader when the race resumed under sunny skies Sunday. He immediately took command when the green dropped with 2011 Big Diamond The Station House 358-Modified champion Jeff Strunk giving chase. Strunk had started from 13th seven days earlier.

As the laps clicked off, the Coal Region oval's clay surface widened out. Strunk summoned speed from the Hansell Motorsports No. 357 and powered around the outside of Godown on the 61st lap exiting turn four. At the lap-65 fuel stop, Strunk led Godown, Pauch Jr., Duane Howard and Kevin Albert Jr.

Searching for his fourth Coalcracker victory and first since 1997, Strunk set the pace through a caution on lap 71 that changed the race's complexion. Bechtelsville, Pa.'s Strunk opted for the outside lane. Godown, from the inside, edged into the lead on the frontstretch.

Strunk's car caught the outside cushion and bobbled in turn one, allowing Howard to put his BPG Racing No. 4 into second spot. Howard gradually reeled in Godown as the leaders reached lapped traffic. For two consecutive circuits (laps 84-85), Howard pulled even with Godown using the inside lane but couldn't complete a pass.

Godown, hung up behind a slower car, had his pace slowed again at lap 90 as Howard and a resurgent Strunk closed. The lead battle intensified until Pauch Jr., running fourth, slowed on the backstretch to draw the caution on lap 93 with smoke trailing his No. T102.

With clear track on the restart, Godown marched to the morale-boosting victory in Big Diamond's signature race. Godown didn't race regularly at Big Diamond this season but did win a feature on June 3.

"I've got to thank Johnny (Rea, car owner) and all my guys for sticking with me," Godown said. "It's been a tough year for us with a lot of ups and downs. This one means a lot."

Howard, of Oley, Pa., settled for runner-up pay after originally starting the event from eighth. Strunk was third, followed by Craig Von Dohren of Boyertown, Pa., who started 20th in his self-owned No. 1c and ninth-starter Mike Gular of Green Lane, Pa. driving the Terry Fasnacht/Ed Nowotarski No. 53. Von Dohren and Gular overtook Albert (Lebanon, Pa.) with six laps remaining.

A field of 40 358-Modifieds attempted to qualify for the 30-car Coalcracker 100 starting field on Sept. 4. Heat winners were Tommy Sheetz III (Boyertown, Pa.), Rick Laubach (Quakertown, Pa.), Richie Pratt Jr. (Woodbury Heights, N.J.) and Pauch Jr. Doug Manmiller (Shoemakersville, Pa.) and Gary Wagner Jr. (Womelsdorf, Pa.) split the consolations.

Becker, of Pottsville, Pa., won for the second time this season in the 20-lap event for the Roadrunners. Starting third, Becker took the lead from Jim Kost (Blackheath, Pa.) on lap seven. Elvin Brennan III raced from a straightaway back to challenge Becker but collided with a lapped car with two laps remaining. Becker drove to victory over Brennan (Forestville, Pa.), Tom Hablett (Schuylkill Haven, Pa.), T.J. Fitzpatrick (Branchdale, Pa.) and newcomer Jason Brown.

Heat winners on Sept. 4 in Roadrunner racing were Ed Kuperavage (Port Carbon, Pa.) and Brennan.

Big Diamond Speedway is silent until Saturday, Oct. 29 for a special event featuring Monster Trucks Backdraft and Eradicator, a demolition derby, train races and hayrides. Further information on that program will be released shortly.

Big Diamond Speedway is a three-eighths-mile clay oval racing facility located just two miles outside of Minersville, Pa. For further information on the speedway, call 570.544.5114, e-mail bigdiamondpr@aol.com or visit www.bigdiamondspeedway.net. The speedway mailing address is 50 Big Diamond Road P.O. Box 524 Minersville, PA 17954. For GPS purposes, use the following address: 392 Forest Lane Pottsville, PA 17901.

COALCRACKER RACE SUMMARY - SEPT. 11, 2011

31st Coalcracker 100 The Station House 358-Modified Feature Finish: RYAN GODOWN ($10,000), Duane Howard, Jeff Strunk, Craig Von Dohren, Mike Gular, Kevin Albert Jr., Meme DeSantis, Michael Weinert, Jimmy Horton, John Willman, Ryan Watt, Glenn Strunk, Doug Manmiller, Sammy Piazza, Dale Hartz, Gary Wagner Jr., Dan Hineline, Billy Pauch Jr., Dan Waisempacher, Danny Nicholas, Colt Harris, Jordan Umbenhauer, Richie Pratt Jr., Andy Burkhart, Craig Whitmoyer, Tommy Scheetz III, Brad Missimer, Terry Meitzler, Rick Laubach, Corey Sechrist, Wade Hendrickson.

Did Not Qualify: Jim Bobbitt Jr., Nathan Klinger, Matt Hafer, Jon Kellner Sr., Jared Umbenhauer, Mike Mammana, Keith Hoffman, Jeff Hertzog.

Wooden Keg Tavern Roadrunner Feature Finish (20 laps): JEREMY BECKER, Elvin Brennan III, Tom Hablett, T.J. Fitzpatrick, Jason Brown, Jared Siegfried, Jim Kost, Masher Ditzler, Connor Horan, Glenn Rowan, Greg Weiland, Marc Berzowski, Ed Kuperavage.

Did Not Start: Gary Predmore