RYAN GODOWN BEST OF FIFTY-EIGHT ENTRANTS IN BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY'S PRESTIGIOUS COALCRACKER

News From BD Raceway , LLC

Big Diamond Raceway

Minersville, Pa

Track Hotline- 570-544-1410

Speedway Office- 570-385-0744

Media Contact: Chris Budihas

chris@racerboymarketing.com

www.bigdiamondraceway.com

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Sunday September 20, 5:00PM - Savage 61 Dodge/Dan Drobnick Welding Nutty Buddy Enduro Series Race #5. 6/8 Cylinder Enduro, 4 Cylinder Enduro, Ladies Race.

Saturday September 26 - Landis C. Deck/Yuengling Group Diamond Nationals.

Sunday September 27 - Landis C. Deck/H & K Group Diamond Nationals.

RYAN GODOWN BEST OF FIFTY-EIGHT ENTRANTS IN BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY'S PRESTIGIOUS COALCRACKER

By Gary Lileck

Forestville, PA - September 6, 2009 - Ryan Godown of Ringoes NJ left no doubt in anybody's mind that he was the dominant force in Sunday's 29th annual Schuylkill County NAPA Coalcracker 100. Godown was the strongest of 58 total entrants and later led every single circuit of the 100-lap feature contest at Big Diamond Raceway.

Prior to the start of 2009, Godown and his car owner, Johnny Rea, were unsure if they could compete at the Forestville dirt track. As it turned out, the crew was able to field a car for weekly racing and the results proved very positive. In his sophomore Diamond season, Godown finished runner-up in the point standings and won a feature on June 12. This win, worth a total of $11,000, made 2009 a very memorable season for the #R1 team.

Meme DeSantis (Temple) actually qualified on Friday by virtue of his victory, started eleventh and finished second (worth $5,000). Rick Laubach continued his red hot summer season with a charge from 13th to third (earning him $3,000). Sean Merkel (Bechtelsville) began from eighth and impressively raced up front, finishing in fourth ($2000). Keith Hoffman (Whitehall) made his first start since a Juily 3 Stevenson Memorial feature win and rounded out the top five (worth $1500).

Godown simply dominated Sunday's running of the Coalcracker 100, adding his name to the distinguised list of race winners. It was his second career BDR victory.

"Granted the starting spot was a factor" mentioned Godown who drew the second starting position, "But for this to come in a matter of only a year or two of racing against the strong PA 358 contingent, and it being the Coalcracker, it is one of my biggest victories. I really want to credit my race team and sponsors".

Godown quickly jumped out into the race lead on lap one and built a comfortable lead at times. During the second half of the event when tire wear became a factor for some teams, a few spots started to change within the front ten. The final caution flag was unfurled with just ten laps to go, and Godown had to withstand one final restart.

"With ten to go I looked over and my crew gave me the signal to turn up the wick a little" said Godown. And that is exactly what he did during the closing stages. Godown extended his advantage over DeSantis as they grabbed the checkered flag. This was Godown's second high dollar victory of the season as he earned $10,000 at a Grandview (PA) Speedway event back in August.

Billy Pauch Sr., driving a second PPB #8 for the Coalcracker, was one of the drivers affected from tire issues. A flat right rear dropped Pauch from the second position during the closing moments. Earlier in the contest, Pauch had passed Kyle Weiss for second on lap 51. He remained in the spot, at one time closing on the race leader Godown during a good string of green laps, until the tire gave way..

Caution flags were limited during the event. As a matter of fact, the opening half nearly went without a stoppage. After 45 laps had been completed, however, a massive accident took place. John Tschudy's car lost power from the fifth position (on lap 45). With nowhere to avoid, Jeff Strunk made contact and was sent into a series of barrel rolls. Strunk's machine rolled over an estimated ten times. Jeff climbed from the car under his own power and was treated by the ambulance on the scene. Quite possibly, it was Strunk's worst accident in his 22 year Big Diamond career.

Billy Pauch Jr. (Frenchtown NJ) started 18th and worked his way up to eighth by the half-way fuel stop. He improved to sixth in the end. Kerry Kratz (Bechtelsville) hadn't competed at Big Diamond in quite some time, but returned very successfully to finish seventh. Jimmy Horton (Neshanic Station NJ) qualified via the consi, pitted with a right rear flat and returned for an eighth place effort. Sportsman racer Mike Mammana (Nazareth) made his Modified debut, finishing ninth. After the tire changing pit stop, Pauch Sr. (Frenchtown NJ) just nipped Gary Wagner Jr. (Womelsdorf) at the line for tenth.

Defending Coalcracker winner Duane Howard and '07 race winner Craig Von Dohren each struggled on this night. Howard was racing eighth until his machine went sideways on lap 65. He eventually retired and finished 18th. Von Dohren's evening ended early. After leading the opening heat race, a blown motor forced the speedway's all-time win leader into the pit area, done for the night.

Bigdiamondfanpage.com presented the Fans of Big Diamond Raceway awards and prizes throughout the weekend. Fans worked hard collecting during the previous weeks and presented many special awards for the 2-day show, also presenting the 12-lap Last Chance Qualifier won by Colt Harris.

Big Diamond Raceway will be dark this weekend, however, racing returns on Sunday Spetember 20. The Savage 61 Dodge/Dan Drobnick Welding Nutty Buddy Enduro Series holds their fifth event of the season. Competition begins promptly at 5:00PM.

DID NOT QUALIFY: 81-Terry Meitzler, 19K-Kenny Brightbill, 67-Jon Kellner Jr., 01-Dan Waisempacher, 221-Ryan Beltz, 117-Kevin Hirthler, M1-Mark Kratz, 21-Addison Meitzler, 178-Dale Hartz, 6-Ryan Watt, 37x-Tommy Sheetz III., 66V-Vince Gagliardo Jr., 15x-Dan Hineline, 87A-Andy Burkhart, 19-Jordan Umbenhauer, 37-Tommy Sheetz Jr., 11D-Tom Mayberry, 8x-Jon Kellner Sr., X1-Neil Huber, 3A-Kevin Albert Jr., 6x-John Stangle, 102-Tim Fitzpatrick, 88-Kevin Hartnett, 11W-Frank Polimeda, 29-Jeff Sechrist, 1c-Craig Von Dohren.

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY NAPA COALCRACKER FEATURE (100-LAPS): 1) R1-Ryan Godown, 2) 88D-Meme DeSantis, 3) 357-Rick Laubach, 4) 118-Sean Merkel, 5) 77-Keith Hoffman, 6) 8-Billy Pauch Jr., 7) 87-Kerry Kratz, 8) 14-Jimmy Horton, 9) 2A-Mike Mammana, 10) 8P-Billy Pauch Sr., 11) 47-Gary Wagner Jr., 12) 39-Danny Nicholas. DNF: 13) 5-Joey Grammes, 14) 14D-Brad Brightbill, 15) 21K-Kyle Weiss, 16) 71-David Van Horn Jr., 17) 44-Gary Hager, 18) 4-Duane Howard, 19) 1-Doug Manmiller, 20) 99-Craig Whitmoyer, 21) 53-Mike Gular, 22) 42H-Doug Hoffman, 23) T102-Shawn Fitzpatrick (BDR Provisional), 24) 33-Ray Swinehart, 25) 357X-Tom Umbenhauer, 26) 2-John Tschudy, 27) 41-Jeff Strunk, 28) 42-Kyle Follweiler (BDR Provisional), 29) 47x-Troy Wink, 30) 3Y-Ricky Yetter, 31) 74W-John Willman, 32) CR7-Colt Harris.