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Godwin Looks to Boost Promising Start

KENLY _ Young Benson driver Jentry Godwin attempts to boost a promising start to his sophomore season in the Late Model Stock auto racing ranks in Saturday night’s Bailey 300 program at Southern National Speedway.

Godwin, the 23-year-old driver of the No. 11 Thunderbird, registered a career-best second-place finish in the 2001 opener and was headed for another top-five finish in his second start when encountering late-race problems.

Godwin enters Saturday night’s 100-lapper in fifth place in the division points standings. Jamey Caudill of Four Oak sets the pace.

Also scheduled Saturday night are features of 100 laps in Late Model Sportsman, 50 laps in Pro Trucks and 25 laps in Stock Four-Cylinder and Stock Look-Alike.

In moving up from the Super Stock ranks, Godwin fared well enough in Late Model Stock in 2000 to be proclaimed Rookie of the Year and his father, Lane, was recognized as the division’s top crew chief. Jentry Godwin’s best finish was seventh.

But the runner-up finish in the 2001 opener provided Godwin a tremendous boost. He started on the outside front row, with veterans Caudill, 2000 champion Big Jim Kelley of Newport and Wilson’s Billy Ray Lucas in his midst. Onlookers doubted Godwin could stay up front. However, the young Benson driver never faltered.

“I was just as shocked as everybody else,” Godwin said of starting on the front row. “I had butterflies. But once they threw the green flag, they left me. It was time to race.”

“The car was a little loose. But the longer we ran, the better it got. We tested Thursday (before Saturday’s race). This is just a big momentum builder.”

Godwin intends to benefit from a year’s experience against talented competitors and a refurbished race car.

“We put on new springs and new shocks,” Godwin said. “About everything on it now is new. The car has been refurbished. It’s a really good car.”

While Godwin’s performance and confidence levels have escalated, the financial situation remains a pressing concern. He believes he could be even more competitive with additional sponsor help.

“We scraped and scrounged to buy tires,” Godwin said.

The green flag drops for Saturday night’s first feature at 7:30.