Friesen Passes Ryan Godown For Short Track Super Series ‘Blast At The Beach’ Win At Georgetown

Story By: CHRIS MOORE / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – GEORGETOWN, DE – Back to the front.  After drawing 72 at the Dirt Draft pre-race draw, Sprakers, N.Y.’s Stewart Friesen got his third Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco victory of the 2023 on Tuesday night.

Friesen claimed the $6,000 Hale Trailers ‘Blast at the Beach’ title, his third win in the 10-year history of the event in Round No. 4 of the Rent Equip/Party Central South Region.

The win was also the 39th of Friesen’s STSS career, the most all-time.

“The track was tricky tonight, trying to pick your lanes and make your way around,” Friesen explained of his race to the win in Bicknell Racing Products Victory Lane. “It was definitely a lot of fun though.”

Friesen raced by Ryan Godown on a lap-18 restart and never looked back, taking home the $6,000 triumph.

Friesen started seventh following the Beyea Custom Headers Redraw with Milford, Del.’s Jordan Watson and Ringoes, N.J.’s Ryan Godown on the front row.

Watson quickly raced to the lead and held a comfortable advantage until Hellertown, Pa.’s Rick Laubach, who started third, began to pressure the leader.

The race’s first yellow flag flew on lap eight, due to Matt Stangle’s broken front-end in turn three, but the yellow would claim the leader Watson as well.

Watson’s car lost power due to fuel issues, ending his bid for victory. Friesen had surged into third prior to the yellow, sliding into the runner-up spot alongside Laubach on the restart.

It was Godown, however, making the move from third when the green flag returned, driving underneath both Laubach and Friesen and taking the top spot.

Godown set the pace while Friesen persistently pressured the leader, all the meanwhile trying to hold off Savannah, N.Y.’s Matt Sheppard who’d risen to third after starting 11th.

The tussle continued until the lap-18 yellow flag – the Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz halfway mark – when Ryan Riddle slowed to bring out the yellow.

Friesen found his rhythm on the outside groove, working around Godown when the green flag flew and took the top spot.

Friesen set sail while Godown and Sheppard chased but came up short.

“It’s fun getting up on the wheel and letting these cars eat,” smiled Friesen. “This big block definitely earned its money tonight.”

Godown settled for the runner-up spot.

“We were good, I just wish I would’ve gone to the top in three before he did,” Godown proclaimed. “I have to thank my guys; this car was all apart waiting to get clipped a week ago.”

Matt Sheppard rounded out the podium but was unable to make it to Victory Lane as the rear broke on his No. 9s and he was towed over the scales.

Neshanic Station, N.J.’s Ryan Krachun took home fourth and Montgomery, N.J.’s Brandon Grosso rounded out the top five.

Finishing sixth through 10th, respectively, were Pipersville, Pa.’s Danny Bouc after starting in 14th; Milford, Del.’s H.J. Bunting who spent much of the race battling just outside the top five; Frenchtown, N.J.’s Billy Pauch Jr. in the Rick Holsten No. 96; Harleysville, Pa.’s Mike Gular, who came home ninth in the Terry Fasnacht owned No. 2A; and Walden, N.Y.’s Anthony Perrego rounded out the top 10 in the Vinnie Salerno No. 4*.

Heat winners, receiving $50 each courtesy of FloRacing, were Ryan Watt, Watson, and Sheppard.

Twenty-six STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds signed in on a threatening Tuesday night.

Racing continues for the STSS on Sunday, Sept. 3, at Utica-Rome (N.Y.) Speedway for the annual ‘New Yorker.’ Round No. 2 of the Ollie’s Elite Series and Round No. 9 of the River Valley Builders North Region takes place with a 50-lap, $12,000-to-win feature on tap for the STSS big-block/small-block Modifieds.

‘Blast at the Beach’ Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco Rent Equip/Party Central South Region Round No. 4 Feature Finish (35 laps): 1. 44F-Stewart Friesen[7]; 2. 26-Ryan Godown[2]; 3. 9S-Matt Sheppard[11]; 4. 29-Ryan Krachun[5]; 5. 32-Brandon Grosso[6]; 6. 6B-Danny Bouc[14]; 7. 30W-HJ Bunting[4]; 8. 96JR-Billy Pauch Jr[13]; 9. 2A-Mike Gular[10]; 10. 4-Anthony Perrego[17]; 11. 35M-Mike Mahaney[12]; 12. 14W-Ryan Watt[8]; 13. 65-Austin Hubbard[18]; 14. J24-Justin Grosso[15]; 15. 11-Danny Hieber[22]; 16. 291-John Willman[19]; 17. 8-Norman Short Jr[21]; 18. 1K-Rick Laubach[3]; 19. 31-Ryan Riddle[24]; 20. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[20]; 21. 1J-Jordan Watson[1]; 22. 33-Louden Reimert[9]; 23. 6S-Matt Stangle[16]; 24. M2-Shawn McPhee[23]

Disqualified: Joseph Watson, Carson Wright

Ad-Art Sign Company Spec Bonus ($250): John Willman
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire Certificate): HJ Bunting (seventh) & Austin Hubbard (13th)
BDR Speed Hard Charger ($250): Matt Sheppard (11th to third)
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse Bonuses ($50 Gift Cards): Ryan Krachun (fourth) & Mike Gular (ninth)
Beyea Custom Headers Redraw Bonus ($50): Mike Mahaney (Redrew 12th)
Bill Brown & Company Overall Heat-Race Hard Charger ($50): Stewart Friesen (ninth to second)
Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Halfway Leader Award ($200): Ryan Godown
Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Bonus (Oakley Sunglasses): Stewart Friesen (winner)
EIBACH Springs Bonus ($100 Certificate): Danny Bouc (sixth)
FloRacing Heat Winners ($50): Ryan Watt, Jordan Watson, Matt Sheppard Henry’s Exhaust Power Position ($50 Certificate): Mike Mahaney (11th)
Penske Racing Shocks Bonuses: Stewart Friesen (first – $150 certificate); Ryan Godown (second – $75 certificate); Matt Sheppard (third – $50 certificate); Anthony Perrego (10th – $25 certificate) Schultz Racing Fuel Cells Bonus ($100 Certificate): Anthony Perrego (10th)
Wilwood Brakes ‘Lucky 7’ Bonus ($100 Certificate): HJ Bunting (seventh)

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 14W-Ryan Watt[1]; 2. 44F-Stewart Friesen[9]; 3. 30W-HJ Bunting[2]; 4. 29-Ryan Krachun[3]; 5. 96JR-Billy Pauch Jr[7]; 6. 6S-Matt Stangle[6]; 7. 291-John Willman[5]; 8. 8-Norman Short Jr[8]; 9. M2-Shawn McPhee[4]

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 1J-Jordan Watson[1]; 2. 26-Ryan Godown[2]; 3. 35M-Mike Mahaney[4]; 4. 32-Brandon Grosso[5]; 5. 6B-Danny Bouc[7]; 6. 4-Anthony Perrego[9]; 7. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[8]; 8. 11-Danny Hieber[3]; 9. 31-Ryan Riddle[6]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 9S-Matt Sheppard[6]; 2. 33-Louden Reimert[1]; 3. 2A-Mike Gular[5]; 4. 1K-Rick Laubach[8]; 5. J24-Justin Grosso[3]; 6. 65-Austin Hubbard[2]; 7. (DQ) 21W-Joseph Watson[7]; 8. (DQ) 91-Carson Wright[4]

Penske Racing Shocks Hot Laps: 1. 4-Anthony Perrego, 00:18.524[15]; 2. 14W-Ryan Watt, 00:18.566[23]; 3. 33-Louden Reimert, 00:18.719[16]; 4. 96JR-Billy Pauch Jr, 00:18.747[14]; 5. 29-Ryan Krachun, 00:18.816[10]; 6. 6B-Danny Bouc, 00:18.881[1]; 7. 6S-Matt Stangle, 00:18.898[20]; 8. 84Y-Alex Yankowski, 00:18.901[26]; 9. 91-Carson Wright, 00:18.901[25]; 10. 35M-Mike Mahaney, 00:18.991[12]; 11. 1J-Jordan Watson, 00:19.017[21]; 12. 11-Danny Hieber, 00:19.134[8]; 13. 9S-Matt Sheppard, 00:19.144[18]; 14. 26-Ryan Godown, 00:19.171[4]; 15. 1K-Rick Laubach, 00:19.179[11]; 16. 65-Austin Hubbard, 00:19.181[9]; 17. 21W-Joseph Watson, 00:19.186[22]; 18. 32-Brandon Grosso, 00:19.519[5]; 19. 291-John Willman, 00:19.540[24]; 20. 2A-Mike Gular, 00:19.582[7]; 21. 31-Ryan Riddle, 00:19.591[17]; 22. 30W-HJ Bunting, 00:19.752[2]; 23. 44F-Stewart Friesen, 00:19.991[3]; 24. J24-Justin Grosso, 00:20.335[6]; 25. M2-Shawn McPhee, 00:20.631[13]; 26. 8-Norman Short Jr, 00:20.643[19]