Right at Home: Godown Continues Louisiana Success with Thursday Victory at the Rev
MONROE, LA – Feeling right at home.
Ringoes, N.J.’s Ryan Godown picked up his second win in three nights on the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco ‘Cajun Swing.’
Godown’s win came at one of the country’s state-of-the-art facilities at ‘The Rev’ on Revolution Park in Monroe, La. The event was the first appearance for the STSS and the big-block/small-block Modifieds at the nationally known facility.
“I haven’t seen a dirt track this awesome and this close to Bridgeport (N.J.) before tonight,” explained Godown of his fondness of The Rev and its likening to his home track in the Garden State.
The historic triumph puts Godown in the driver’s seat for the Wegner Automotive championship on the 2021 ‘Cajun Swing,’ having added $5,000-plus to his weekly total for his efforts at The Rev.
Godown’s chase for his second win in three nights began from the outside of the front row, with Ballston Spa, N.Y.’s Derrick McGrew Jr. going from the pole position.
Godown quickly made his way to the top spot and set the pace in the early going. Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen, who started third, made quick work of McGrew Jr. to climb to the runner-up spot and set his sights on Godown.
The race’s first yellow came on lap nine, when Joe Boswell slowed on the front straightaway due to a mechanical failure, and collected Ransomville, N.Y.’s Erick Rudolph, ending his night prematurely.
After multiple restarts in the early going, Godown continued to pace Friesen out front while Vernon, N.Y.’s Willy Decker and King Ferry, N.Y.’s Mike Mahaney traded third and fourth multiple times.
On the lap-16 restart, Friesen timed Godown’s jump perfectly. Friesen slid up in front of Godown into the first turn, with Godown choosing the top for the restart.
Friesen appeared well on his way to do what he does and drive away with an STSS triumph. However, his lead was short-lived. On lap 18, Friesen’s right-rear wheel came off the Halmar International No. 44 as he entered the first turn. Friesen’s car flipped multiple times but he walked away uninjured.
Godown’s new challenger was STSS South Region champion Mike Mahaney.
Mahaney appeared to be one step behind Godown throughout the second half of the feature. Despite multiple restarts, the ‘Ringoes Rocket’ maintained his edge throughout the event, picking up the win in Night No. 3 of the ‘Cajun Swing.’
Mahaney held on for second in his George Huttig-owned No. 35 and Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard quietly rounded out the podium finishers. Saratoga Springs, N.Y.’s Jack Lehner brought his No. 2 to a fourth-place finish and Willy Decker rounded out the top-five.
Gloversville, N.Y.’s Rocky Warner brought the Jason Simmons Racing No. 98 home with a hard fought sixth-place finish and Derrick McGrew Jr. ended up with a seventh-place run. Converse, La.’s Tommy Rascoe raced from 14th starting position to a respectable eighth-place finish and Waxahachie, Texas resident Kodey Keimig chased him across the line in ninth. Bossier City, La.’s Keith Badiali rounded out the top-10 finishers.
Twenty-nine STSS Modifieds signed in at the series trailer to compete in the first ever Modified appearance at The Rev.
Heat winners, receiving $50 each courtesy of FloRacing in addition to a $50 ERK Steering Repair gift certificate were Lehner, Friesen and Godown.
Racing resumes for the STSS on Friday, November 12 at Super Bee Speedway for Night No. 4 of the ‘Cajun Swing.’ The Modifieds (40 laps, $4,000 to win, $750 for 10th & $400 to start) are joined by the Limited Modifieds, Factory Stocks, and Compacts.
To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook or @ShortTrackSS on Twitter or Instagram.
The Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Insinger Performance, FloRacing, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Hurlock Auto & Speed, Velocita-USA, Design for Vision/Sunglass Central, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, Penske Racing Shocks, Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz, Algonkin Motel, Henry’s Exhaust, Hig Fab, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, Belmont’s Garage, Superior Remodeling, Spyder High Performance Filters, Fastline Performance, Teo-Pro Car, VAHLCO, WELD Racing & Wilwood.
CAJUN SWING RESULTS SUMMARY – THE REV AT REVOLUTION PARK THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Cajun Region Event No. 3 Modified Feature Finish (40 laps): RYAN GODOWN, Mike Mahaney, Matt Sheppard, Jack Lehner, Willy Decker, Rocky Warner, Derrick McGrew Jr., Tommy Rascoe, Kodey Keimig, Keith Badiali, Mike Krompegal, Eric Williams, John Lutes, Richard Holt, David Forbis, Stewart Friesen, Dale Wester, Cody Robbins, Steve Davis, Brent Buckley, Erick Rudolph, Jon White Jr., Joe Boswell, Caleb Dillard, Greg Dillard
Did Not Start: Darrell ‘Brother’ Fowlkes, Thomas Holt
Did Not Qualify: Danny Baglio, Korey Keimig
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Fourth-Place Bonus ($50 Gift Card): Jack Lehner
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Top LA/TX Driver ($50 Gift Card): Tommy Rascoe (eighth)
Beyea Custom Headers Bonus ($50): Erick Rudolph (Redrew 12th)
Day Motor Sports Bonus (FREE American Racer Tire Certificate): Kodey Keimig (ninth)
ERK Steering Repair Heat Winners ($50 Certificate): Jack Lehner, Stewart Friesen & Ryan Godown
FloRacing Heat Winners ($50): Jack Lehner, Stewart Friesen & Ryan Godown
Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Mike Krompegal (11th)
Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: Ryan Godown ($150 – winner); Mike Mahaney($75 – second); Matt Sheppard ($50 – third); Keith Badiali ($25 – 10th)
Shed Road Auto Parts Hard Charger ($50): Mike Krompegal (25th to 11th)
Wilwood Brakes ‘Lucky 7’ Bonus ($75 Certificate): Derrick McGrew Jr.
Sources: Chris Moore/BD Motorsports Media LLC