GODOWN NOTCHES THIRD WIN OF 2023 SEASON
Current point leader, Ryan Godown, turned in another impressive performance Sunday night winning the thirty lap modified main event. The win was his third of the young season and the fifty second of his career at the New Egypt Speedway.
Paul Mancini grabbed the lead as the initial green flag fell with Anthony Tramontana second and Ryan Godown Jr. third. Jack Butler replaced Godown Jr in third on lap two, and as he did, the first of many caution flags flew for an incident involving Danny Bouc, Ryan Krachun, and D J Hunt. All three were able to return to action as Mancini once again picked up the pace on the restart.
Butler became the number two man on lap three, but was quickly replaced by Brandon Grosso on lap four. A spinning Bryan Kuhl brought out another caution period on lap six, and when the race resumed, it was Grosso who out ran Mancini to become the new leader of the race.
Methodically working his way to the front of the field from his twelfth starting position, Godown cracked the top five on lap five and was preparing to make a move when Butler saw a good run slip away as he spun in turn two on lap eight. The restart played into the hands of Godown as he made a bold move to now run second as lap nine was posted on the scoreboard.
Looking to turn his season around, defending champion Grosso appeared to have the race well under control as he held a three car length lead over Godown. Jordan Watson was third with former track champion Billy Pauch Jr. fourth. With no caution periods over the second half of the race, it was good hard racing which prevailed. Godown began to inch closer to the Grosso Homes #32 and on lap twenty four saw the opening he was looking for to take the lead.
Grosso fought hard to regain the number one position, but to no avail, as the Ringoes driver took home the win. Making a late race charge to finish in fourth behind Pauch Jr. was Matt Stangle with Watson rounding out the top five. Justin Grosso had by far the most impressive run of the night starting twenty fourth and finishing sixth. Bouc, Krachun, Louden Reimert, and Tramontana filled positions seven thru ten.
In a race which took less than seven minutes to complete, Dan Fleming took the win, his first of the season. A late arriving Aaron Weaver, due to tow vehicle issues, was able to qualify for the twenty lap main event and quickly take command at the start. Coming back after a hard crash the event prior, Johnny Bangs was second and patiently pacing himself behind the Weaver #10 as Fleming moved into third on lap five.
The trio were tightly bunched when lap ten was posted on the pylon, and on lap thirteen Fleming not only passed Bangs but Weaver to take the lead. Running second with four laps remaining, defending champ Joe Toth quickly zeroed in on Fleming, but came up short as the Washington, NJ driver took the win. Bangs finished third with John Miloszar Jr. fourth, and Ryan Heim fifth.
In the extra distance twenty five lap NEWS feature, it was popular Al Cheney recording his first ever win in the division. Taking the lead on lap two, Cheney held off many time champion Rich Mellor to record the memorable win. Defending champ Mick D'Agostino was third followed by Shea Wills and Larry Drake.
Twenty two cars lined up for the four cylinder twenty lap main event, and when it was all over, Richie Page, making his first start of the season, sat in victory lane. Dominick Antonelli led the first fifteen laps of the event and finished second followed by Joe Garey Jr., Ed Ford, and Robby Dunn.
Robert Stack bested Gary Burton in the fifteen lap Factory Stock event. Kristin O'Shea was third with John Carpenter fourth.
Ryan Maher took the lead with two laps to go, winning the Crate Rookie feature. The victory was his third of the year. Isaac Elsner was second followed by Duncan Molesworth, Tim Franks, and Zach Cook.
Next up on the schedule is the big Salute To Our Veterans program featuring a forty lap modified feature. Joining the modifieds will be the NEWS, Street Stocks, and Vintage cars. Warmups begin at 6PM with green flag action set to go at 7 PM.
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