Ryan Godown Is, Once Again, Heating Up At The Right Time

Column By: RUSTY RHOADES / RPW – RINGOES, NJ – Last year right around this time, Ryan Godown began a stretch where he was as hot as the scorching temperatures he and the other Northeast modified drivers were encountering on a nightly basis. If this past weekend was any indication, “The Ringoes Rocket” could be soaring to the top of the headlines once again late this summer.

Saturday evening at his home track New Egypt Speedway, Godown held off a late slider attempt from Danny Bouc in turn 3 to take a well-earned victory from his 12th starting spot. He then followed it up on Sunday night with a high-profile run to the checkers at Brett Deyo’s Short Track Super Series Anthracite Assault at Big Diamond Speedway. With several high paying special events on the upcoming schedule, it appears like the Ringoes, NJ resident may be really finding that comfortable balance between rides just at the perfect time.

The win at New Egypt was Ryan’s second of his debut year teaming up for a point title attempt in the Jersey pines with Mike Petruska and the potent Atlas Paving 66 machine. He’s now within 125 points of Billy Pauch, Jr., and when you think about the start to the season Jr. had, that’s saying something. Dan Bouc is hanging in there, but it’s looking like this season at New Egypt may once again come down to the usual two heavy hitters that seem to have the D-shaped Garden State oval figured out a bit better than all the rest.

Godown’s Friday night home track and the scene of Sunday night’s big special event STSS win, Big Diamond, has been nothing less than cursed beyond belief with Mother Nature’s wrath. Only 6 weeks out from their season-ending, signature Coalcracker 72 event and you can count the total regular Friday night point shows on one hand! That has to make things more difficult for another first-time combination, which is what Ryan and Searock Motorsports have embarked upon in 2017. The new duo still has one regular Diamond show victory to their credit this season, and the strength in chemistry between them is most visibly evident in their recent special show performances. Godown was the man to watch all race at Grandview Speedway a couple weeks back as he battled his way up to a podium finish from 12th starting spot on a very tough track during their Thunder on the Hill Spectacular. And although he admittedly was fortunate to inherit the lead Sunday after Rick Laubach, who appeared to be the driver to beat, made heavy contact with a broken and pulling off Dan Creeden to end his bid, he was very fast all night as well. He had already ascended to the runner-up position from way back in 9th after only 15 laps, passing names like Decker, Von Dohren and Howard.

Ryan was very confident in the progress of both teams and where he saw the benefits when I spoke with him Sunday following the win. “The biggest key in what it’s doing is that it doesn’t overexert one team. You’re not putting too much responsibility on one team in terms of expense.” He was quick, however, to point out the transparency between teams. “We’re mixing it up. All our notes are together and all of our stuff is shared together but nobody gets exhausted from going to every race.” These factors will most certainly be to his liking as the schedule and temperatures continue to heat up through August. The 66 / 26 effort with Godown behind the wheel currently sits 5th in the STSS South Region standings with several tracks up ahead that Ryan enjoys.

One year ago just around this same stretch of the grueling summer season, Ryan had a similar uptick in success. Wins at both New Egypt and Big Diamond within the same week in the second half of July were followed up with an extremely impressive streak of three Short Track Super Series triumphs in a row at Afton (I-88), Susquehanna and Woodhull. He also rode a high level of consistency and numerous podiums throughout the late stages of the season to point championships at both of his home tracks, including his 3rd straight modified title at New Egypt. Ryan was quick to not look ahead too far this year when I hinted at it and wanted to savor what he had just accomplished. “We’re gonna enjoy this one tonight, we’ll worry about the other races when we get there, and hopefully we can go on a roll again.” However he did hint at a big STSS payday on the horizon. “The ten grand at Susky (Susquehanna) would be great, but every win you have to enjoy separate, because you can’t expect you’re going to be here every race.”

Godown will be back at it this weekend looking to inch closer to the top in his weekly track standings at both facilities. A high level home track doubleheader special with the 410 sprint cars at New Egypt’s “Jersey Rush” follows on Tuesday July 25th. The big event Ryan alluded to and won last year, Brett Deyo’s STSS York County Nationals, awaits on Sunday July 30th. The race seemed to be a favorite amongst the drivers last year with tons of passing and side-by-side action, and most certainly was amongst those who were there to witness it, as the long-awaited return of the mighty modifieds to Susky did not disappoint. Sprinkle in the emergence of Godown vs. Pauch, Jr. at New Egypt as one of the better rivalries in modified racing, and you have all you need to qualify the Ringoes Rocket as a driver to watch over the next few weeks.