RYAN GODOWN!

Reported by BRETT DEYO:

RINGOES, NJ - Call Ryan Godown a two-night-per-week racer after all.The Ringoes, N.J., driver has set plans to return to Big Diamond (Pa.) Raceway regularly on Fridays the 2009 season, in addition to a full schedule of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series 358-Modified racing on Saturday nights at Grandview (Pa.) Speedway.Godown, a former New Jersey big-block star who made the switch to Pennsy 358-Mod action last year, had originally announced a plan for racing only at Grandview for Johnny Rea's JR Motorsports operation.However, Godown said the competitor within wouldn't stand for it."I couldn't sit home with all my competition there on Friday nights," Godown said. "I want to be there. I'm not a guy who runs away from competition."Godown and Reading, Pa.'s Rea are combining forces for the Big Diamond effort.Godown purchased a brand-new Teo-Pro car, which will be outfitted with one of Rea's small-block engines. Rea has two Fords and a Chevy in his arsenal.The car will sport the No. R1 and will appear identical to the green-and-black Teo-Pro mount he'll run on Saturdays at Grandview - made public in mid-January during Motorsports 2009 at the Atlantic City (N.J.) Convention Center.Godown already switched from a Bicknell to a Teo-Pro chassis for Grandview in '09. He opted to purchase a second car from New Jersey car builder Bobby Hearn for Big D."Bobby and I have always had a good relationship," said Godown, the nephew of dirt-track legend Stan Ploski. "We switched to Bicknell a few years back when New Egyppt (N.J.) was real rough. I'm glad to be back running Teos again."The 33-year-old can hardly wait for his sophomore season on the Pennsy Dual-Track circuit. "We are going to give both tracks 110 percent this year," Godown said, adding, "I think we should be a little better prepared now with a year under our belts at both places."While he won a feature at Grandview on Aug. 23 and placed third in the Bechtelsville, Pa., oval's point standings, Godown never finished better than second at Big D. On-track misfortune left him ninth in the standings."We had good cars at Big Diamond last year - we just didn't get that win we wanted," Godown said. "There were a lot of nights we were better there than Grandview. We just need a little luck."In addition to weekly 358-Modified racing at Big Diamond and Grandview, Godown will compete in select big-block Modified specials driving the No. 26 he co-owns with Greg Schatzel. He plans to be at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway on Feb. 28 to start the season.

(3-Wide photo)