GODOWN, TOTH, LIEDTKA, SCHWEIBINZ, & DEGLER SHARE NES SPOTLIGHT
July 26, 2023
Ryan Godown returned to his winning ways Saturday Night as he won the thirty lap modified feature before a large crowd at the New Egypt Speedway. For the current point leader and four time track champion, it was his fifth win of the season.
Clay Butler led the field of twenty two into battle as Steve Davis and Kevin Borden followed in second and third. The running order remained unchanged up until lap five when Godown shot into second and then into the lead on lap seven. Pulling away from his peers, the fans in attendance were now focused on the race for second. Louden Reimert replaced Butler in second on lap twelve as young Ryan Godown Jr. ran third on lap sixteen. Starting in the number eleven slot, Billy Pauch Jr began to show his hand as the race headed down the homestretch.
Cracking the top three, Pauch now had Reimert in his sights as the field received the five to go sign. By now, Godown's lead was insurmountable, but the first and only caution flag flew on lap twenty six as Davis came to a stop in turn four. With the car removed from the speedway, the field lined up for the single file restart and it was Godown who continued to show his strength once again pulling away from second place Reimert. Putting his many years of experience to use, Pauch passed Reimert as the white flag was waving. With no chance of catching the Ringoes driver, the attention was now on the race for third as Justin Grosso came from virtually nowhere to nip Reimert at the line for third. Defending track champion, Brandon Grosso, rounded out the top five.
Godown Jr. had his best run of the season taking sixth as early leader Butler finished seventh, Borden eighth, John McClellan ninth, and Wade Hendrickson tenth.
The twenty five lap MASS 305 feature was won by defending champ Buddy Schweibinz. The current point leader started the event in tenth and carefully worked his way through the field taking the lead from Dave Brown on lap thirteen. A late race caution on lap twenty one gave the field some hope of catching the Schweibinz machine, but to no avail as he was perfect on the single file restart taking the win.
Finishing behind Brown in third was Larry McVay with second generation driver Ian Bordan fourth, and Phil Meisner fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Mark Bitner, Jeff Paulon, Tim Ilug, Jared Kreider, and Jon Brennfleck.
In the twenty lap Crate main event, which was a non points event, it was defending track champion Joe Toth who took the win. Matt Ellery led the first six laps of the race, but it was a potent Toth who once again showed his dominance taking the lead on lap seven and going on to win his fourth feature of the 2023 campaign. Dan Fleming finished a close second with Ellery third, Mike Toth fourth, and Joe Brown fifth.
Eric Degler drove a flawless race winning the fifteen lap four cylinder main event. Taking the lead on lap six, the driver of the #7R never looked back taking his career first at the Route 539 oval. Garrett Mull crossed the line in second with veteran small block driver Bob Drayton Sr. third, Kyle Hurley fourth, and Bob Drayton Jr. fifth.
Coming close to a win on a few occasions this year. it appeared as though Chris Lane would finally visit victory lane in the fifteen lap Street Stock headliner. But a right rear tire going flat gave Bill Liedtka the opportunity he needed to catch and pass the Lane #88 on the final lap to record his third win in a row. Lane did manage to cross the line in second with Gary Klimczak third, Ron Pavia fourth, and former track champion Brian Ludwig fifth.
Next up on the schedule is Hermans Trucking, Recycling, and Landscape Supply Night featuring the Modifieds, Crates, NEWS, and 4 Cylinders. Grandstand gates open at 5 PM with racing scheduled to begin at 6:45PM.