Godown and Carber share NES spotlight

ERIC SUCAR staff Allentown's Mick Search made a strong run at the win in Saturday's Super Stock race at New Egypt Speedway, only to finish a close second behind Flemington's Billy Bauer.

NEW EGYPT - Ryan Godown of Ringoes proved the old adage that "It's never over till it's over" on Saturday night at New Egypt Speedway by winning the 30-lap DIRTcar Modified feature on the final lap.

Godown caught leader Bucky Kell with just three laps remaining and pulled off a crowd-pleasing last-turn pass to claim the $3,000 top prize for the third time this year.

"With the competition here as tough as it is, you need to bring your 'A' game every week," pronounced Godown in victory lane. "I can't thank my crew enough; they gave me a great car that worked anywhere on the speedway."

Modified rookie Pat Wall led the field at the start and quickly opened up a small lead over Tom Carberry and Kell. Godown, who started the race in 17th, was up to fifth on lap 10 when race leader Wall pitted for a left rear tire that was going down. Kell inherited the lead on the restart and took a five-car-length lead over Bob Drayton. Although the battles were fierce for second through seventh, Kell maintained his five-car-length advantage. With five to go, Godown got by Drayton and set his sights on the leader. Godown was able to catch Kell with just three laps remaining, but with Kell running the same outside groove, Godown was forced to switch tactics.

He dropped to the very bottom of the track and suddenly found that his car was as fast there as it had been up top. That tactic ultimately paid off when he powered under Kell coming off the final turn to win his 13th career feature by less than a car length. Kell finished a very strong effort in second, followed by Drayton, who just nipped point leader Matt Sheppard for third at the stripe. Sheppard settled for fourth and Frank Cozze was fifth.

Michael Carber of Pipersville, Pa., won the 25-lap Bar's Leak URC Sprint Car feature event. Carber dominated the night, winning his heat and the feature by a straightaway. For Carber, it was his second career feature win with URC, with both coming here at New Egypt over the last three weeks. Point leader Curt Michael finished second, ahead of J.J. Grasso, Brian Seidel and Scott Pursell.

Billy Bauer of Flemington became the first driver to reach the 20-win plateau in the Super Stock division. For Bauer it was his third win of the season. Mick Search applied the pressure over the final five laps, but Bauer was up to the challenge. Search raced home second ahead of Al Cheney, George Quinlan and Todd Cray.

Due to the lateness of the hour, the Sportsman feature was postponed and will be run first on this Saturday night's program.

Advantage Financial Brings Christmas to New Egypt Saturday

New Egypt Speedway fans and competitors will get into the spirit of the season - the Christmas season, that is - when mortgage banking firm Advantage Financial presents its eighth annual Christmas in July program at the Ocean County raceway on Saturday.

Advantage Financial's holiday-themed event serves as a blockbuster fundraiser for the U.S. Marine Corps' charitable Toys for Tots program, with New Egypt Speedway fans contributing more than 27,000 toys and nearly $34,000 cash in the seven events run to date.

"We're pleased to see how this event has grown over the years, with the fans, the drivers, the pit crews coming together to aid a very worthy cause. It definitely gives you a good feeling to be involved in a promotion like this, to benefit the Toys for Tots charity," said Advantage Financial President Gene Stravinsky, who also heads up two affiliate companies providing commercial and personal insurance and investment brokerage services, all based in Robbinsville. "We're grateful to the race fans and teams who do business with Advantage Financial - they make it all possible. And get ready for this year, because it's going to be spectacular."

Santa and his elves will descend on New Egypt Speedway to assist Stravinsky's efforts. To promote the charitable spirit of the holiday, Advantage Financial will be giving away over $10,000 worth of valuable prizes to lucky fans, including bicycles, TVs for kids and adults, CD and DVD players, stereo systems, boom boxes, Walkmans and more.

In order to get a shot at the big Christmas loot, fans must donate a new, unwrapped toy or cash to the Marine Corps representatives organizing the Toys for Tots drive. For every donation made that night ($5-plus value), fans will receive a chance to win one of 50 big-ticket prizes from Advantage Financial's sleigh full of giveaways - the more you give, the more chances you get.

Santa will drop the green flag on the racing action: a five-division card of DIRTcar big-block Modifieds, Sportsman, Super Stocks, Outlaw Stocks and Crate 1 Sportsman all in hot July competition. Gates open at 4 p.m., with first race at 6 p.m.

Adult admission is $16, children 7-12 are $5.50, and kids 6 and under are free. Come meet Santa and win big prizes while helping the Toys for Tots drive - and see some of the best side-by-side racing this side of the North Pole. New Egypt Speedway is located on Route 539, just minutes from Six Flags Great Adventure and the N.J. Turnpike. For more information, call the track office at (609) 758-1900 or log on to www.newegyptspeedway.net.