10.15.21 Port Royal Speedway Results
By- Justin Snyder
Port Royal Speedway – PORT ROYAL, Pa. (October 15, 2021) – Mike Mahaney kicked off the Speed Showcase 200 with a bang as he picked up the opening night victory with the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series presented by Sunoco victory at Port Royal Speedway Saturday night.
The win was worth $5500 and was Mahaney’s first career triumph at the Juniata County oval. It was also Mahaney’s first career victory with the modified series and he did it behind the helm of a brand new racecar.
“This win has been long overdue and It’s just really special to get it down here at Port Royal,” said Mahaney. “I think we’ve got a car capable of winning the big money here on Saturday and this is quite the way to start things out this weekend and I’m just really pumped.”
Ryan Godown and Sammy Martz led the field of 31 cars to the green flag and it was Godown getting the quick jump on the field. Maheny started fourth on the grid and was rounding out the podium at the completion of lap one.
Godown opened up a sizeable lead over his competitors during the opening laps, while Mat Williamson was on the move early as he moved into the fourth position on lap six from his fifth starting spot.
Tenth-place starter Billy Pauch Jr. was also making waves early as he cracked the top five two laps later, while 21st-place starter Stewart Friesen moved himself into a top-ten position on lap 11.
Godown caught the end of the field on lap 12 and one lap later Mahaney slipped by him for the top spot to lead lap 13. However, the caution flew before another lap could be completed when a car slowed on the backstretch.
With the series utilizing double-file restarts, Mahaney chose the bottom for the return to green and the move almost proved to be a mistake as Godown used a head of steam down the backstretch to take back the lead entering turn three. However, Mahaney was not ready to give in and he slid back under Godown for the lead by mere inches at the line.
The move proved to be important when the caution flew the following lap when Dominick Buffalino came to a slow on the frontstretch and thwarted another passing opportunity for Godown.
“Godown is tough to beat and the top was just so good out there,” said Mahaney. “I knew I had to get in front of him as he was kind of using me up there on the starts and I didn’t really like that.”
This time Mahaney took the high side for the restart and Godown was not nearly as fast on the bottom entering turn’s one and two to allow Mahaney to lead comfortably. Meanwhile, Friesen continued his march to the front as he moved into the seventh position with 25 laps remaining.
Seventh-place starter Alex Yankowski used the middle of the speedway to move into fourth two laps later, but otherwise the leaders started to stretch out on track. They again hit lapped traffic with 15 laps remaining and Godown was within striking distance of Mahaney.
He was closing to the tail end of Mahaney’s No. 35 machine when Friesen’s miracle march to the front ended on the front stretch as he came to a slow exiting turn four to bring out the final caution of the event.
Mahaney checked out on the restart, but it was the fireworks behind him that had the crowd on their feet. Williamson saw a hole to get by Godown for second and the two cars made contact coming to the flagstand. Williamson got the spot, but a clearly frustrated Godown didn’t back down and the two nearly made contact again on the backstetch.
Godown briefly regained the runner-up spot with 12 laps remaining, but Williamson again got back by to claim the position for good. Meanwhile, the battling behind him allowed Mahaney the breathing room he needed and he was in cruise control.
He approached lapped traffic coming to the white flag, however it was a case of too little, too late for the field as he took the checkered flag over Williamson by a margin of 1.942 seconds to claim the preliminary night victory.
Godown, Yankowski and Ryan Watt rounded out the top five while Pauch Jr., Anthony Perrego , Andy Bachetti, Craig VanDohren and Larry Wight completed the top ten.
“This is awesome! Port Royal is one of my favorite tracks and the track was just perfect,” said Mahaney. “I’m really happy to get this win. My guys have been killing it in the shop to get this car ready and I just can’t say enough about the effort.”
Williamson and Godown exchanged words on the frontstretch following the race and the two briefly tussled before being broken up by track and series officials. Godown also showed his displeasure with Williamson coming to the scales when he got into the rear bumper of him too.
“Mike just had a great restart and Godown didn’t really fire and I went to the bottom,” said Williamson. “I’m hugging the wall and he’s pinching me down farther as he’d going backwards at that point. It’s just a shame that we have to go through a rear bumper after the race and he’s mad at me for doing the same thing he does to people at Bridgeport.”
Godown was clearly frustrated with the contact, but said it wasn’t the reason he lost the race.
“It’s just plain spoiled brat and daddy’s money at play,” said Godown. “At that point I had already lost the race as I went to the bottom, but still it’s a sham.. We didn’t really talk about anything, but I just pushed him out of the way. If he wants to race like that, we’ve got 200 laps on Saturday and we’ll race that way.”
SPEED SHOWCASE 40 FEATURE FINISH (40-LAPS): Mike Mahaney, Mat Williamson, Ryan Godown, Alex Yankowski, Ryan Watt, Billy Pauch Jr., Anthony Perrego, Andy Bachetti, Craig VonDohren, Larry Wight, Matt Sheppard, Joseph Watson, Brandon Grosso, Peter Britten, Alan Johnson, Brett Haas, Mike Gular, Dominick Buffalino, Jared Umbenhauer, Ryan Susice, Jeff Strunk, Dillon Steuer, Sam Martz, Jessica Friesen, Billy Decker, David VanHorn Jr., Tyler Dippel, Max McLaughlin, Justin Wright, Duane Howard, Mike Maresca
Written by Chris Moore
PORT ROYAL, PA – Bob Hilbert Sportswear Qualifying night is complete in the ‘Speed Showcase’ weekend at Port Royal Speedway.
The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco ran their qualifying events, setting the stage for tonight’s ‘Speed Showcase 200.’
The STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds competed in four 20-lap qualifiers, locking 24 drivers into the $50,000-to-win main event tonight and sending the rest into the Last Chance Qualifiers.
Andy Bachetti, Matt Sheppard, Ryan Godown and Billy Pauch Jr. won the Dirt Track Digest Modified Qualifying Races, all picking up $750 for their Friday night efforts.
Sheffield, Mass., star Andy Bachetti started on the front row of Qualifier No. 1 and never faced a serious challenge for the top spot. Neshanic Station, N.J.’s Matt Stangle raced to second on a lap-14 restart and Boyertown, Pa.’s Ryan Watt rounded out the top-three.
Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard raced from the ninth starting position in Dirt Track Digest Qualifier No. 2 to win the 20-lap affair. Sheppard went from ninth to third in the opening three laps, before methodically working by Peter Britten and Joseph Watson to win the second qualifier.
Brisbane, Australia’s Peter Britten grabbed the runner-up position and Covington Township, Pa.’s Alex Yankowski rounded out the top three.
Ringoes, N.J.’s Ryan Godown dominated Dirt Track Digest Qualifier No. 3, driving by Duanesburg, N.Y.’s Ronnie Johnson on lap 10 and walking away with the qualifying win.
Ronnie Johnson held on to the runner-up spot, fighting off King Ferry, N.Y.’s Mike Mahaney, who started last and raced his way to third.
Frenchtown, N.J.’s Billy Pauch Jr. put on a clinic in Dirt Track Digest Qualifying Race No. 4, coming from the eighth position to dominate the final 20-lap affair. The ‘Kid’s Kid’ was to the lead by the halfway point of his qualifying race, and never looked back, winning by over two seconds.
Ransomville, N.Y.’s Erick Rudolph finished in the runner-up spot and Johnstown, N.Y.’s Rocky Warner rounded in the top three in the final qualifying race.
The top six in each STSS Modified qualifying race locked themselves into the ‘Speed Showcase 200,’ with the rest having to race through the last chance qualifiers.
Forty-nine STSS Modifieds took part in Bob Hilbert Sportswear Qualifying Night for the ‘Speed Showcase 200.
Sixty-two STSS Crate 602 Sportsman made up five Belmont’s Garage qualifying races. Each of the winners received $200.
Georgetown, Del.’s Sean Metz, Gloversville, N.Y.’s Chad Edwards, Wellsboro, Pa.’s Doug Kline, Sicklerville, N.J.’s Stephen Kemery, and Blairstown, N.J.’s Howie Finch won the 15-lap events.
The top five in each qualifying race locked themselves into the Ice Less LLC ‘Speed Showcase 50.’
Gloversville, N.Y.’s Luke Horning took home the ‘Speed Showcase 30,’ the first ever New York-based Pro Stock feature event at the ‘Speed Palace.’
Horning was the first car in the field to venture to the outside, using that to his advantage to drive to the front and pick up the historic victory and the $1,600 payday to boot.
Schenectady, N.Y.’s Nick Stone finished in second, offering multiple challenges for Luke Horning on the late race restarts, but coming up short on claiming the victory. West Milton, N.Y.’s Josh Coonradt rounded out the podium.
Fultonville, N.Y.’s Ivan Joslin raced from his 11th starting spot to finish fourth and Gloversville, N.Y.’s Kenny Gates rounded out the top five.
The ‘Speed Showcase 200’ weekend concludes tonight. The STSS Modifieds and STSS Crate 602 Sportsman will run B-Mains to determine the final qualifiers for their respective features.
The Ice Less LLC ‘Speed Showcase 50’ will be up first in their $4,000-to-win feature event. The ‘Speed Showcase 200’ rounds out the weekend as the STSS Modifieds go for 200-laps and $50,000-to-win in one of the biggest events in Northeast Modified racing.
For the October 16 event, gates open at 2 p.m. Hot laps start at 5 p.m. and racing follows at 6 p.m.
The entire night of racing will be broadcast on FloRacing (www.floracing.com).
Port Royal Speedway is located two miles south of US Rt. 322 just off PA Rt. 75 in Port Royal. Pit entrance can be found on Fourth St., and General Admission on Sixth and Eighth St. Port Royal Speedway can be reached by phone at 717.527.2303.
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.
BOB HILBERT SPORTSWEAR QUALIFYING NIGHT RESULTS SUMMARY – PORT ROYAL SPEEDWAY OCTOBER 15, 2021
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified Qualifying Race No. 1 Finish (20 laps): ANDY BACHETTI, Matt Stangle, Ryan Watt, Mike Gular, Brett Haas, Kyle Coffey, JR Heffner, Jimmy Horton, Rick Laubach, Frank Cozze, Jacob Dgien, Joe Judge, Matt Smith
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified Qualifying Race No. 2 Finish (20 laps): MATT SHEPPARD, Peter Britten, Alex Yankowski, Stewart Friesen, Joseph Watson, Alan Johnson, Brandon Grosso, Sammy Martz, Danny Hieber, Scott Hitchens, David Schilling, Aiden Grover
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified Qualifying Race No. 3 Finish (20 laps): RYAN GODOWN, Ronnie Johnson, Mike Mahaney, Michael Maresca, Ryan Susice, Dominick Buffalino, Billy Decker, Dillon Steuer, Jim Britt, John Willman, Rusty Smith, Addison Bowman
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Modified Qualifying Race No. 4 Finish (20 laps): BILLY PAUCH JR., Erick Rudolph, Rocky Warner, Tim Fuller, Larry Wight, Jeff Strunk, Jack Lehner, Ryan Riddle, Mat Williamson, Jessica Friesen, Jared Umbenhauer, Anthony Perrego
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Crate 602 Sportsman Qualifying Race No. 1 (15 laps): SEAN METZ, Brian Krummel, Ryan Higgs, Grant Hilfiger, Michael Schane, Scotty Hitchens, Danny Buccafusca, Kinser Hill, Matt Ellery, David DiPietro, Mike Schneck, Adam Taft, Matt Knaub
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Crate 602 Sportsman Qualifying Race No. 2 (15 laps): CHAD EDWARDS, Logan Watt, Michael White, Sammy Martz, Jr., Justin Grosso, Cody Manmiller, Kaiden Dgien, Tucker O’Connor, Zachary Merola, Dakota Green, Chad Sandt
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Crate 602 Sportsman Qualifying Race No. 3 (15 laps): DOUG KLINE, Matt Yoder, Jason Reome, Sean Weiss, Cole Stangle, Payton Talbot, Johnny Bangs, Adam White, David Manchester, Ethan Bill, George Gareis Jr., Kenny Bock
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Crate 602 Sportsman Qualifying Race No. 4 (15 laps): STEPHEN KEMERY, Joe Toth, Tanner Van Doren, Ryan Simmons, Brad Grim, Bobby Bracall, Tanner Warner, Daniel Morgiewicz, Brandon Watkins, John Stevenson, Isabella, Van Orden, Ajay Potrzebowski
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Crate 602 Sportsman Qualifying Race No. 5 (15 laps): HOWIE FINCH, Logan Bauman, Bobby Watkins, Brad Brightbill, David Dickey, John McPhee, Jr., Robby Dunn, Shawn McPhee, Bill Fiske, Mike Samony, Dakota Kohler
Pro Stock Feature Finish (30 laps): LUKE HORNING, Nick Stone, Josh Coonradt, Ivan Joslin, Kenny Gates, Deven Camenga, Jason Corbin, Shane Playford, Brett Belden, Jim Normoyle, Travis Welch, Chucky McSpirit, Randy Cosselman, Andy Graves, Bill Knapp, Jason Morrison, Josh Bender
‘Bucket of Doom’ Bonus from LeAnn Achzet ($100): Josh Coonradt (Redrew 8th)
Devon Camenga Construction Bonuses ($100): Travis Welch(11th), Chuck McSpirit (12th), Randy Cosselman (13th), Andy Graves (14th) & Bill Knapp (15th)
Finish Line Landscaping Winner’s Bonus ($150): Luke Horning (first)
Next Generation Graphix Bonus ($100): Devon Camenga (sixth), Jason Corbin (seventh), Shane Playford (eighth), Brett Belden (ninth) & Jim Normoyle (10th)
Stone Motorsports Top Three Bonus ($100): Luke Horning (first), Nick Stone (second) & Josh Coonradt (third)
Ted’s Body Shop Top Five Bonus ($100): Luke Horning (first), Nick Stone (second), Josh Coonradt (third), Ivan Joslin (fourth) & Kenny Gates (fifth)
Stone Motorsports Heat Race Winner’s Bonus ($100): Luke Horning & Kenny Gates
Stone Motorsports Heat Race Second-Place Bonus ($100): Nick Stone & Jason Corbin
Stone Motorsports Heat Race Third-Place Bonus ($100): Josh Coonradt & Jason Morrison