3.15.13 Selinsgrove Speedway Results
SELINSGROVE, Pa. – For the second year in a row, Duane Howard of Oley scored the victory in the Race of Champions/Alexander Family Dealerships season opener for 358 modifieds Friday night at Selinsgrove Speedway.
Howard found a burst of speed in his No. 4 during the second half of the 25-lap feature when he passed early leader Ryan Godown and went on to clinch the $2,500 win.
Brian Johnson of Ashland won the season opener for the roadrunners in the division’s 12-lap feature. Johnson set a new track record in a time of 5:10.507 for the feature distance.
Selinsgrove Speedway will present the sixth annual Alexander Family Dealerships Icebreaker 40 for big block modifieds at 4 p.m. this Saturday, March 16. The winner of the 40-lap finale will earn $5,000. The big block modifieds will be joined by the pro stocks. Track gates will open at 2 p.m.
In the event of inclement weather, the rain date for the Icebreaker 40 will be Sunday, March 17,
at 2 p.m.
Second-place starter Doug Manmiller powered into the lead at the start of the 358 modified feature. Fifth-place starter Ryan Godown, who won the track’s big block modified race last June, advanced to second and set his sites on Manmiller.
On the third circuit, Manmiller’s car fell off the pace while leading. At the same time, fourth-place starter Craig VonDohren also slowed on the track. Godown inherited the lead and quickly stretched his margin over polesitter Larry Wight.
Racing off turn four on lap four, third-place starter Duane Howard drove by Wight for the second position. At the midway point of the race, Howard reeled in Godown in traffic. The caution flag unfurled again on lap 15 for Pat Ward’s disabled race car.
On the lap 16 restart, Howard raced underneath Godown exiting the second turn and took command of the field. Howard opened up a straightaway lead until a caution flag for Danny Johnson on lap 20 regrouped the field one more time.
When the race resumed, Howard checked out and went on to post a one-second margin of victory over Godown, Wight, 15th-place starter Billy Decker and eighth-place starter Bobby Varin.
Second-place starter Brian Johnson pulled into the lead at the start of the roadrunner race. Johnson was chased by fourth-place starter Bob Bussey for the entire distance. However, for the final two laps, Bussey moved within striking distance and put in a bid for the lead and win.
At the checkered flag, Johnson held off Bussey by the slimmest of margins for the victory. Corey Collier, John Schoch, and John Fowler rounded out the top five.
SELINSGROVE SPEEDWAY RACE SUMMARY – 15 March 2013
358 Modifieds – 27 Entries
25-Lap A-Main: 1) 4 Duane Howard 2) 26 Ryan Godown 3) 99L Larry Wight 4) 91 Billy Decker 5) 19V Bobby Varin 6) 3 Chad Brachmann 7) 55 Jerry Higbie Jr. 8) 91B Tim Buckwalter 9) 84 Mel Schufer 10) 77X Mike Mahaney 11) 6X Jackie Brown Sr. 12) 151 Joey Colsten 13) 7Z Danny Johnson 14) 1J Stewart Friesen 15) 42P Pat Ward 16) 145 Alan Rudalavage 17) 99 Craig Whitmoyer 18) 59J Jesse Kline 19) 46 Doug Manmiller 20) 1C Craig VonDohren 21) 41 Jon Kellner 22) 16X Dan Creeden
Heat Winners: Ryan Godown, Stewart Friesen, Craig VonDohren
Roadrunners – 8 Entries
12-Lap A-Main: 1) 201 Brian Johnson (NTR: 5:10.507) 2) 76 Bob Bussey 3) 44 Corey Collier 4) 89 John Schoch 5) 02 John Fowler 6) 31B Brandon Shultz 7) 29B Ricky Bender DNS 8) 8K Jeremy Kline DNS
Heat Winner: John Schoch