8/12/2025
Georgetown Speedway
Birthday Glory for Watson, Grube’s First Win, and a Full Moon Highlight Georgetown Speedway Action on First Choice Garage Door Night
By Chad Cathell - It was a picture-perfect summer evening at Georgetown Speedway on Friday, August 8, for First Choice Garage Doors Night. Fans packed the grandstands to enjoy some of the best weather of the season, a pit area loaded with 115 race cars, and a full slate of high-octane action. Under a bright full moon, the night also brought its share of wild moments, with red flags and caution periods briefly slowing the otherwise fast-paced program.
The Millman’s NAPA Auto Parts Modifieds headlined the night with a 25-lap main event, and it was fittingly the birthday boy, Jordan Watson of Milford, Del., leading the field to the green. “The Ringoes Rocket,” Ryan Godown lined up to his outside, setting the stage for a heavyweight battle.
At the drop of the green, Watson wasted no time asserting control, jumping ahead of Godown and setting a strong early pace. Trouble struck on lap two when Carson Wright spun in turn four. While the caution initially appeared routine, it quickly escalated when Anthony Tramontana lost brakes entering turn one and slid off the racing surface, coming to rest in the trees. Safety crews rushed to the scene, even bringing out the fire truck to cut away a portion of a tree lodged into Tramontana’s front end. The red flag period lasted roughly 15 minutes before racing resumed.
On the Delaware double-file restart, Watson again got the jump, this time with Ryan Riddle slipping past Godown for second, only to have the move erased by another caution when WB James came to a stop in turn one. On the ensuing restart, Godown reclaimed second, with H.J. Bunting and Billy Pauch Jr. filling out the top five.
By lap 10, Watson had built a comfortable cushion, but slower traffic began to change the complexion of the race. Godown steadily closed the gap, cutting into the five-car advantage as the leaders weaved through the back of the field. At halfway, the top five remained Watson, Godown, Riddle, Bunting, and Brandon Grosso.
The turning point came when Watson encountered the lap car of WB James. Godown tried multiple lines, high, low, and everywhere in between, to find a way past the leader, but Watson finally cleared James with seven laps to go. The reprieve was short-lived, as the next car in line, Dave Shirk, proved equally difficult to pass. Watson, growing frustrated with the lap car of Shirk, lost composure and brushed the wall exiting turn two, allowing Godown to pull right back onto his rear bumper.
With the white flag in the air, Watson finally muscled his way through the traffic, keeping Godown at bay to the checkered flag. The crowd roared as the hometown favorite celebrated a $3,250 birthday payday, which included the $3,000 winner’s share and a $250 Taylor & Messick Delmarva Proud Bonus. Kris Thompson collected the $250 Taylor & Messick Spec 358 Motor Bonus. Heat race victories went to Danny Bouc, H.J. Bunting, and Joseph Watson.
Spring Grove, Pa.’s Dave Grube etched his name into the 2025 win column on Friday night at Georgetown Speedway, scoring his first victory of the season with the DCB Plumbing & Heating Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series presented by Capitol Renegade. Grube outran Buddy Schweibinz, DJ Tanner, Troy Betts, and Dave Brown to secure the 25-lap triumph.
Grube’s road to victory started in strong fashion, as he powered to a heat race win earlier in the evening to earn a prime starting spot on the outside of the front row for the feature. At the drop of the green, he wasted no time asserting himself, jumping to the lead and setting a torrid pace around the Delaware facility.
While Schweibinz and Tanner traded spots behind him and Betts and Brown battled for position inside the top five, Grube hit his marks with precision, navigating traffic and keeping the field at arm’s length. His smooth, consistent laps kept challengers at bay, and when the checkered flag waved, the Pennsylvania driver had clinched his place as the 13th different winner of the season for the MASS 305 Sprint Cars.
A stout field of 28 Blue Hen Dispose-All 602 Sportsman cars packed the pit area Friday night at Georgetown Speedway for First Choice Garage Doors Night, ready to battle it out under ideal summer skies. When the green flag waved on the feature, it was Petersburg, N.J.’s Tom Sherby and Frankford, Del.’s Scott Hitchens leading the charge into turn one.
Sherby wasted little time staking his claim at the front, using a strong launch to take control of the top spot. Behind him, a hungry top-five pack quickly formed, with Greg Humlhanz, Bryce Bashore, and Luke Bunting joining Hitchens in the early pursuit.
As the laps clicked off, Sherby faced a variety of challenges, but never faltered. By the time the checkered flag waved, Sherby had driven a near-flawless race to claim his first Georgetown Speedway victory of the season. Humlhanz crossed the line second, followed by Hitchens, Bashore, and Bunting to complete the top five.
The 1st State Chevrolet RUSH Late Models returned to the spotlight Friday night at Georgetown Speedway as part of First Choice Garage Doors Night, and the front row had a distinctly local flavor. Ben Scott of Delmar, Del., and Trevor Collins of Seaford, Del., led the field to the green flag for their feature event.
At the drop of the green, Georgetown, Del.’s Matt Hill wasted no time inserting himself into the battle. Charging from his second row starting spot, Hill quickly began pressuring the leaders, showing his nose lap after lap and keeping the pressure steady. His persistence paid off as he found an opening and powered into the top spot.
Once Hill seized the lead, the race for first was essentially over. The Georgetown native settled into a smooth, fast rhythm, expertly handling lapped traffic and building a commanding advantage over the field. By the time the checkered flag waved, Hill had cruised to a decisive victory, crossing the line with a substantial gap over runner-up Trevor Collins, while Scott faded to third to round out the podium.
LJ Walbert grabbed the win by a fender over Scott Trice in the Delaware Super Trucks.
Robbie Strain found victory lane for the first time this season in the Delmarva Chargers at Georgetown Speedway.
Sean Metz was the overall and modified winner for the Southern Delaware Racing Club, while Kerry King picked up the Late Model division victory.
Submitted By: Chad Cathell