RYAN GODOWN WINS KING OF THE CAN ON COLD NIGHT AT PENN CAN SPEEDWAY

News from the King of the Can - 'It's Good To Be King'

Media Contact: Brett Deyo - 845.728.2781 or Deyo99H@aol.com

For Immediate Release/Oct. 13, 2012

King Ryan: Godown Bests New York Star Danny Johnson for $5,000-Plus King of the Can Payday; Alex Stanton (Crate Sportsman) and Ryan Stone (Street Stock) Also Triumph

SUSQUEHANNA, PA - On Friday night, Ryan Godown was king!

Godown, of Ringoes, N.J., romped to victory in the 13th running of the 'King of the Can' at Penn Can Speedway, outdueling New York-based superstar Danny Johnson in the race's second half. Godown earned $5,270 in cash plus contingency awards in the 50-lap big-block/small-block Modified event run on a frigid night at the Susquehanna County oval.

Despite sub-freezing temperatures and occasional afternoon showers, 'King of the Can' promoters Reed Miller, Al Wilcox and Brett Deyo pressed on with the program. The event was sponsored by Gary's U-Pull-It, Don's Automotive Mall, VP Racing Fuels and Pioneer Pole Buildings. The pits were filled with 99 race cars and a hearty crowd braved the elements.

Godown, the New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway champion who has enjoyed a breakout 2012 season, won for the first time in his career at Penn Can. He had finished second - ironically to Johnson - in the 'Clash at the Can' race held in June.

"It was kind of a role reversal tonight," Godown, 36 years old, said of the finish after being presented with a custom 'King of the Can' toilet in Victory Lane. "We finished second here in June from 26th (starting spot). It was nice to start closer to the front tonight."

Godown's John Chemidlin-backed No. 747 rolled off the starting grid in fifth position. Outside pole starter Danny Tyler, fresh off a Short Track SuperNationals victory at Five Mile Point (N.Y.) Speedway on Oct. 6, led the opening lap before young Larry Wight of Phoenix, N.Y., put his LJL Racing No. 99L into the lead.

Despite a series of early yellows, the 19-year-old Wight held the advantage running the outside line. Johnson, who started third, and Godown trailed as 14th-starter Joey Grammes worked through the field.

Johnson surpassed Wight for the lead on lap 20. Just three laps later, Wight's strong bid ended when he spun in turn three. That moved Godown and Grammes to second and third, respectively.

Finding a home in the outside lane, Grammes pressured Godown heavily for second as the duo ran in tight formation with Johnson. Grammes' bids to overtake Godown were thwarted as Godown's car drifted to the wall on the straightaways.

A yellow on lap 28 changed the race's complexion.

Godown, who had been occupying the inside lane, rolled the top past Johnson when racing resumed. He had the lead at lap 29.

Johnson, however, was not done. During the final 10 laps, he chipped away at the advantage Godown had built up as the leaders approached lapped traffic. With two slower cars running side-by-side, Johnson slipped past Godown momentarily on lap 47. However, a stopped Bobby Trapper drew the yellow and scoring revered to the last completed lap.

Godown was back out front and held off Johnson for the final three laps.

Johnson, of Rochester, N.Y., settled for runner-up pay driving Mike Payne's No. 27J. Lehighton, Pa.'s Grammes, the '12 Penn Can Modified champion, guided the No. 5 Bicknell owned by his older brother, Brad, to a third-place finish. Grammes felt he had a shot at the victory if not for slapping the backstretch wall during his tussle with Godown.

Billy Decker of Unadilla, N.Y., hustled from 16th starting position to finish fourth in John Wight's No. 91.

Stewart Friesen of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., had the fans in awe late in the race. Friesen started 28th - dead last on the field - and was collected in a fifth-lap tangle. Working the top groove, the 29-year-old stormed by cars at will on the outside lane to claim fifth driving the Marty Burdick No. 85 Teo-Pro car.

Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Tyler of Cottekill, N.Y.; Doug Manmiller of Shoemakersville, Pa., in Josh Biever's No. 46; Boyertown, Pa.'s Ryan Watt driving the Ron Roberts-owned No. 14w; Brett Tonkin of Carbondale, Pa.; and Gary Tomkins of Clifton Springs, N.Y., driving the Tom Oleski/Bobby Trapper No. 30-Plus.

A field of 46 Modifieds registered for the event. Heat winners, collecting $50 each, were Manmiller, Tonkin, Ryan Phelps of Fulton, N.Y., Godown, Watt and Mike Colsten of Binghamton, N.Y. Pat Ward of Genoa, N.Y., Neal Williams of Pittsgrove, N.J., and Mike Gular of Green Lane, Pa., won the consolations.

Twenty-year-old Alex Stanton of Susquehanna, Pa., took a last-lap, last-turn victory in the 25-lap 602 Crate Sportsman feature. Stanton, the 2012 Penn Can champion, worked the top groove to perfection in the late stages of the event. Stanton pulled even with race-long leader Eric Palmer with the white flag flying.

As the pair exited turn four side-by-side, Stanton edged Palmer, the New Egypt Speedway champion this season, by a bumper for a $1,000 payday. Palmer, of Cresco, Pa., settled for second, followed by Kyle Rohner of Bushkill Falls, Pa., Greg Martin of Ransomville, N.Y., and Grant Hilfiger of Mountainhome, Pa.

Ryan Stone of Hallstead, Pa., relentlessly worked the inside lane during the 25-lap Trackside Products-sponsored Street Stock event. Stone and Butch Green raced wheel-to-wheel for much of the event before Stone surged ahead inside the final five laps for a $650 top prize. Butch Green of Newark Valley, N.Y., was second followed by Rich Green (also of Newark Valley, N.Y.), Shane Wolf Jr. of Susquehanna, Pa., and Tommy Eiklor of Barton, N.Y.

The 'King of the Can' concluded the BD Motorsports Media 2012 promotional season. Thanks to all fans, teams, sponsors, media and more for the support. Information on the 2013 season will be available during the off-season at www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com.

KING OF THE CAN NOTES: The 46-car big-block/small-block Modified field was joined by 31 Crate 602 Sportsman and 22 Street Stocks. The night's long haul award went to Crate Sportsman driver John Scarborough, who towed to Penn Can from Bomoseen, Vt. - a four-hour, one-way ride....

Six heats and three consolations set the Modified field of 25. Danny Tyler earned a guaranteed redraw position at the Short Track SuperNationals one week earlier. Justin Holland was added via his guaranteed starting position earned at the July Five Mile Point Night of Qualifiers, while Kevin Hartnett joined the starting field for finishing top-five in Penn Can points.

The final starter was Stewart Friesen, who was the most recent 'King of the Can' winner (2011) not to qualify. Early in the evening, Friesen spent time in the grandstand area meeting with fans and handing out autographed photos....

Ken Titus and Mike Mahaney both won big at the drivers' meeting through a drawing of drivers who attended all three BD Motorsports Media events this season. Titus won a complete outer body kit from S&D Bodyline (Bath, Pa.) and Mahaney won bumpers, rubrails, body mounts and more from Shiley Fabrication of Williamstown, Pa....

Competitors put the recently widened Penn Can layout to full use, fanning out three wide throughout the night. The track earned praise from drivers in all three divisions....

Top-10 Modified runs for Matt Sheppard and Nick Rochinski ended before the finish. Waterloo, N.Y.'s Sheppard suffered a left-rear flat on lap 31 and Rochinski, of Dickson City, Pa., stopped on the track three laps from the finish....

Godown earned the $4,000 base purse, $1,000 for posting the "Gambler's Fee" cash, $220 in lap money, $50 for winning a heat event, two FREE pit passes to Selinsgrove (Pa.) Speedway's March 2013 Icebreaker race, a 'Starter Package' worth $299 from Racers Preferred Models (three 1/16th-scale model cars), a $75 certificate to ERK Steering, a classy S&W Awards trophy, a 'King of the Can' toilet and a custom cooler filled with beer....

KING OF THE CAN RACE SUMMARY - OCTOBER 12, 2012

King of the Can Modified Feature Finish (50 laps): RYAN GODOWN ($5,000), Danny Johnson, Joey Grammes, Billy Decker, Stewart Friesen, Danny Tyler, Doug Manmiller, Ryan Watt, Brett Tonkin, Gary Tomkins, Mike Gular, Pat Ward, Jeff Strunk, Justin Holland, Mike Colsten, Mike Schane, Larry Wight, Darwin Greene, Nick Rochinski, Bobby Trapper, Duane Howard, Matt Sheppard, Ryan Phelps, Kevin Hartnett, Steve Babicek, Neal Williams, Mitch Gibbs, Mike Clapperton.

Did Not Qualify: Mel Schrufer, Alan Barker, Danny Creeden, Christine Martin, Elmo Reckner, Brian Malcolm, Bob Hamm Jr., Nate Christman, Ken Titus, Tom Collins, Donnie Lawson, Meme DeSantis, Mike Mahaney, Dale Welty, Eric Williams, Ray Dann, Brett Graham, Adam MacGeorge.

‘King of the Can’ Awards Summary
Gambler's Challenge ($1,000): Ryan Godown
Selinsgrove Speedway Icebreaker VI FREE Pit Passes ($60 value): Ryan Godown
Heat Winners ($50 each): Doug Manmiller, Brett Tonkin, Ryan Phelps, Ryan Godown, Ryan Watt, Mike Colsten
Lap Money Breakdown: Ryan Godown ($220), Larry Wight ($180), Danny Johnson ($90), Danny Tyler ($10)
Shiley Fabrication Loyalty Award Package (Bumpers, Rubrails, Body Mounts & more): Mike Mahaney
S&D Bodyline Loyalty Award Package (Outer Body Kit): Ken Titus
Early Entry Bonuses ($50 Gas Cards): Mike Gular & Doug Manmiller
Lias Tire/American Racer Fresh Rubber Bonus (free tire): Justin Holland (14th)
Racers Preferred Models Starter Package ($299 value - 1/16th scale model car package): Ryan Godown
MTL Motorsports/Long Family 13th-Place Bonus ($100): Jeff Strunk
Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award (Bumpers & Rubrails): Meme DeSantis
BFP Specialty $500 Body Credit: Danny Creeden
S&D Bodyline $100 Body Credit: Brett Graham
ERK Steering Bonus ($75 Certificates): Ryan Godown, Danny Johnson, Joey Grammes, Billy Decker, Stewart Friesen
ERK Steering Bonus ($50 Certificates): Danny Tyler, Doug Manmiller, Ryan Watt, Brett Tonkin, Gary Tomkins
ERK Steering Bonus ($100 Certificates): Pat Ward (12th) & Mike Schane (16th)
Leizaer's Lubricants I-88 Speedway Bonus (Case of AMSOIL Racing Oil): Mitch Gibbs
S&W Awards Custom Trophy: Ryan Godown

Crate Sportsman Feature Finish (25 laps): ALEX STANTON ($1,000), Eric Palmer, Kyle Rohner, Greg Martin, Grant Hilfiger, Mike Nagel Jr., Chris Dougherty, Tyler Dippel, Rich Talada, Dusty Barton, John Scarborough, Ray Bliss, Andrew Ferguson, Karl Comfort, Ben Wheeler, Jordan Henn, Ken Eckert Jr., John Hargrove, Randy Gates, Cory Zeigler, Donnie Lawson, Shelly Stanton, Michael Diehl, Kyle Cicio.

Did Not Qualify: Butch Green, Rob Pratt, Josh Keesey, Jeffrey Hunter, Hillary Ward, Anthony Perrego, Brad Cicio, Wes Campbell.

Street Stock Feature Finish (25 laps): RYAN STONE ($650), Butch Green, Rich Green, Shane Wolf Jr., Tommy Eiklor, Jon Carpenter, Kurt Decker, Gene Sharpsteen, Paul Harrington, Toby Sparks, Gene Beadle, Dan Babcock, Chuck Murray, Eric Boynton, John Hoover, Robert Hill, Russ Morseman, Matt Spencer, Dan Wood, Nick Branning, Scott Reagan, Ned Fitch.