SELINSGROVE, Pa. --  Veteran modified driver Danny Johnson, of Rochester, N.Y., was awarded the victory in Saturday’s Race of Champions (ROC) Insinger Performance Products Icebreaker 50 for big block modifieds when the car driven by Ryan Godown, of Ringoes, N.J., was disqualified for being 14 lbs. under regulation weight during a post-race inspection.

Johnson, who owns hundreds of victories in modified racing, collected $4,000 for the win in his first ever appearance at Selinsgrove Speedway. A large crowd was on hand to watch a stellar field of 56 big block modifieds compete in the $25,000 season opening event for the ROC.

Selinsgrove Speedway will present the season opener for 358 sprint cars and pro stocks at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28. The late model division will also be on the program for practice sessions.

Polesitter Richie Pratt, Jr., an early season winner at Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland , powered into the lead at the start of the 50-lap main event. Pratt was chased by fourth-place starter Billy Decker. The caution flag unfurled after the completion of the first lap when Billy Pauch, Jr. crashed in turn three.

The ensuing restart saw Pratt continue to set a torrid pace in front of Decker and eighth-place starter Brett Hearn. On the fifth lap, Hearn advanced to second and set his sites on Pratt, only to withdraw from the race on lap seven when his racer broke in turn four.

Third-place starter Ryan Godown inherited the runner up position and chased Pratt around the historic half-mile oval. On the 16^th lap, however, misfortune struck Pratt when his race car’s engine reportedly expired. Godown inherited the lead at this point and was class of the field for the duration of the extra-distance event.

On a lap 17 restart, Decker’s car bobbled in turns three and four while racing second, allowing ninth-place starter Danny Johnson to zoom underneath him for the runner up position. At the halfway point of the race, Godown held a two-second lead over Johnson, Decker, sixth-place starter Joey Grammes, and 10^th-place starter Jeff Strunk.

Despite several caution flag periods in the second half of the race, Godown was able to distance himself from the rest of the field on each of the subsequent restarts. The final caution flag of the race unfurled on lap 45 for Friday night’s 358 modified winner and defending ROC champion Pat Ward, who had to restart the race at the rear of the field following a lap one pit stop and drove a convincing race into the top five.

The final five laps saw Godown cruise to a .80 of a second margin of victory over Johnson, only to have the win taken away when his No. 26 racer weighed in 14 lbs. under regulation during a post-race inspection. Johnson was awarded the win over Decker, Strunk, 19^th-place starter Stewart Friesen, and 18^th-place starter Jimmy Horton.

The heat races were won by Brett Hearn, Larry Wight, Joey Grammes, Ryan Godown, Rich Ricci, Jr., and Mike Iles. The consolations went to Stewart Friesen, Billy Pauch and Michael Storms.

SELINSGROVE SPEEDWAY SUMMARY – 21 March 2009

ROC Big Block Modifieds – 56 Entries

50-Lap A-Main: 1) 66 Danny Johnson $4,000 2) 91 Billy Decker  3) 41 Jeff Strunk  4) 1W Stewart Friesen  5) 14 Jimmy Horton 6) 4 Duane Howard 7) 5G Joey Grammes  8) 4S Michael Storms  9) 99L Larry Wight  10) 69 Bobby Trapper  11) 42p Pat Ward  12) 4P Earl Paules 13) 8 Rich Scagliotta 14) 6x Jackie Brown  15) 0z Butch Tittle  16) 27 Troy Fink  17) 51 Mike Holsten 18) 406 Rich Ricci Jr. 19) 542 Rick Laubaugh  20) 357 Doug Hoffman 21) 1a Brian Weaver  22) 33 Ray Swinehart  23) 0 Richie Pratt  24) 126 Billy Pauch  25) 20 Brett Hearn  26) 15 Billy Pauch Jr.  27) 711 Mike Iles 28) 26 Ryan Godown (DQ)

Heat Winners:  Brett Hearn, Larry Wight, Joey Grammes, Ryan Godown, Rich Ricci Jr., Mike Isles

Cash Dash Winner:  Brett Hearn

Consolation Winners: Stewart Friesen, Billy Pauch, Michael Storms