Susky Sunday: Ryan Godown Rockets To Thrilling Susquehanna Speedway Short Track Super Series Victory In Return Of The Modifieds; Brandon Grosso $1,000 Sportsman Victor

 

NEWBERRYTOWN, PA – For the first time since 2009, the rumble of Modifieds returned to Susquehanna Speedway.

And New Jersey’s Ryan Godown etched his name in the record books.

Godown, who hails from the Garden State town of Ringoes, topped a thrilling 50-lap big-block/small-block Modified event on Sunday night, earning $5,000 for his second straight victory with the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By VP. Godown previously won on July 27 at New York’s I-88 Speedway.

A wide, racy four-tenths-mile banked red-clay oval greeted STSS racers at a rejuvenated Susquehanna Speedway under the leadership of Scott Gobrecht and Kolten Gouse for the sixth round of the STSS Velocita South Region.

After 50 lane-swapping, rim-riding laps, it was Godown’s No. 26 that prevailed.

At the outset, New Yorker Anthony Perrego powered the Gary Mann-owned No. 55 to the lead. Perrego had started from outside the front row, outgunning pole starter Craig Von Dohren.

As Perrego led, massive position changes occurred behind him, as Von Dohren fought off a fierce pack of cars running high and low.

Godown had rolled off the grid in 10^th position and made a bold, three-wide move into second on the 28^th lap, trailing only Perrego, who was making his Susquehanna debut.

Unfortunately for Perrego, his drive for five grand ended on lap 36 when he slowed with a cut right-rear tire.

That handed the lead to Godown over a high-flying Ryan Watt, who originally started 20^th and was involved in a skirmish on the sixth lap.

Watt pressured Godown heavily until the race’s final, double-file restart on lap 42. Watt and Godown raced hard into turn one on the green, sliding up the track.

Godown emerged with the lead while Frank Cozze, who was also involved in early race incidents, took over second.

Godown won by just five car-lengths over Cozze in the dash to the finish. Sadly for Cozze and car owner Tom Umbenhauer, their $3,000 second-place finish was nixed when the car came up light on the scales.

Watt, of Boyertown, Pa., finished a spirited second in the Ron Roberts-owned car and received an extra $500 courtesy of Touch of Green Landscaping as the event’s Hard Charger.

Jeff Strunk of Boyertown, Pa., finished third in the Glenn Hyneman-owned No. 126 after running inside the top-five for much of the distance. Strunk was a former Susquehanna regular and Hyneman the former track promoter.

After a heat-race incident damaged the right-side of the Halmar International No. 44, Stewart Friesen of Sprakers, N.Y., won the consolation and rolled off the grid in 19^th position. Friesen drove to fourth and maintained his STSS South Region lead entering the finale at Georgetown (Del.) Speedway Aug. 30.

Friesen’s Halmar teammate Jimmy Horton of Neshanic Station, N.J., finished fifth completing a solid 50-lap run.

Finishing sixth through 10^th, respectively, were Billy Pauch Jr. of Milford, N.J., driving the Breitenstein Motorsports No. 14; Brett Kressley of Orefield, Pa., recovering from a flat right-rear tire on lap 30; Duane Howard of Oley, Pa., who ran inside the top-five only to spin on a 38^th-lap restart; Tim Buckwalter of Royersford, Pa.; and Richie Pratt Jr. of Sewell, N.J., who finished 10^th after starting 25^th – dead last – via the Touch of Green Landscaping Last Chance Qualifier.  

Heat winners were Perrego, Von Dohren and Cozze. Friesen won the consolation and Pratt the Last Chance Qualifier.

Teenager Brandon Grosso of Montgomery, N.J., continued his dominance of the Penn-Jersey Sportsman division, taking home $1,000 from the 25-lap main.

Grosso started from the outside pole, but this was no easy triumph. Using the outside lane of the speedway, Grosso spent 10 laps running side-by-side with a challenging Craig Whitmoyer before adjusting his lane and holding on for the triumph.

Following Grosso across the line were Whitmoyer, Brian Papiez, Bob Lineman Jr. and Jordan Umbenhauer, who picked up the ride in the Guistwite No. 29G for the special.

Heat winners were Grosso and Ryan Beltz.

SUSKY SIDEBARS: Attendees were in awe of the widespread facility improvements, tacky track surface and bright lighting in place by the new management team for 2016….

Three-wide racing was the norm during the evening from the very first heat race through the main events. Fans and racers left with positive vibes….

The Breitenstein No. 14 was a late arrival at the speedway after suffering mechanical issues en route to the speedway with the tow vehicle. The team salvaged the night with driver Billy Pauch Jr. earning a hard-fought sixth….

David Van Horn Jr. had piloted the Fred Vahlsing No. 323OV to the top-three only to have a master cylinder failure end his night….

Craig Von Dohren’s solid ride ended with a flat right-rear tire on the Dick Biever-owned No. 14s….

A mix of spec small-blocks, open small-blocks and big-blocks filled the pit area….

Next up for the STSS Velocita South Region is the third annual ‘Blast at the Beach’ to be held at Delaware’s Georgetown Speedway on Tuesday, August 30 (rain date: August 31) with Modifieds racing 35 laps for $5,000 to win plus Crate 602 Sportsman, Delmarva Chargers and Delaware Super Trucks. This is a co-promotion involving BD Motorsports Media LLC and driver Eric Kormann.

To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP or BD Motorsports Media LLC, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com or www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com, call 845.728.2781 during business hours, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, “like” Short Track Super Series on Facebook or follow @ShortTrackSS on Twitter.

The 2016 Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, VP Racing Fuel, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Halmar International, Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Bicknell Racing Products, COMP Performance Group, Dirt Track Digest, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Hig Fab, Henry’s Exhaust, Hurlock Auto & Speed Supply, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, K&N, Race Pro Weekly, Racing Optics, Teo-Pro Car, Vahlco Wheels & Velocita

 

SUSQUEHANNA SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY – AUGUST 7, 2016

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP Velocita South Region Event No. 6 Big-Block/Small-Block Modified Feature Finish (50 laps): RYAN GODOWN, Ryan Watt, Jeff Strunk, Stewart Friesen, Jimmy Horton, Billy Pauch Jr., Brett Kressley, Duane Howard, Tim Buckwalter, Richie Pratt Jr., Doug Manmiller, Billy Pauch Sr., Rick Laubach, Anthony Perrego, Ryan Krachun, Craig Von Dohren, P.J. Oliver, David Van Horn Jr., Danny Bouc, Jordan Watson, Dominick Buffalino, Nick Rochinski, Clay Butler, Colt Harris.

Disqualified: Frank Cozze (light at scales)

Did Not Qualify: Barry White, Dave Gerhart

Allstar Performance Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Jeff Strunk (third) & Duane Howard (eighth) American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tires): Richie Pratt Jr. (10^th) & Doug Manmiller (11^th) ATL Fuel Cell Bonus ($200 Certificate): Jimmy Horton (fifth) Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Stewart Friesen (fourth) & Tim Buckwalter (ninth) Bob Hilbert Sportswear Bonuses ($100 Certificates): Billy Pauch Sr. (12^th) & Colt Harris (25^th) QA1 Hard Charger Award ($50 Certificate): Ryan Watt (20^th to second) Racing Optics Bonus (Sleeve of Tearoffs): Ryan Watt (second)
Touch of Green Landscaping Hard Charger Award ($500): Ryan Watt (20^th to second) Vahlco Wheels Bonus (FREE Wheel): Jimmy Horton (fifth) VP Racing Fuels Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Ryan Watt (second), Billy Pauch Sr. (12^th) & Dominick Buffalino (22^nd)

Open Sportsman Feature Finish (25 laps): BRANDON GROSSO, Craig Whitmoyer, Brian Papiez, Bob Lineman Jr., Jordan Umbenhauer, Jeremy Harrington, Kyle Lilick, Ryan Beltz, Skylar Sherriff, Cale Ross, J.R. Fulper, Dylan Betts, Ray Swinehart, Daryl Dissinger, Kenny Bock, Brian Hitz.

Did Not Start: Eric Kormann, Freddy Massey.