BEDFORD SPEEDWAY
"The Track Racing Legends Built"
Track Address:
Rte. 30 West
Bedford, PA 15522
Office Address:
108 Short St.
Bedford, PA 15522
814-623-0500 (Raceday)
814-623-0826 (Office)
www.bedfordspeedway.com
APRIL 18, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DICKSON MASTERS NEW SURFACE, WINS BEDFORD OPENER
By Dave Harclerode
BEDFORD, PA - Beautiful weather greeted fans for Bedford Speedway's season
opener, as everyone was anxious to see the new track surface in action. The
newly clayed surface was in good condition, and the season opener helped track
officials identify a few areas that need some attention. Overall, most drivers
commented that the track was in great condition for April racing, and there were
several grooves available for racing. Nick Dickson held off a huge starting
field to win the Miller Auto Parts Super Late Model main event, and Mike
Shoemaker started his season off on a good note by winning the Bedford Valley
Petroleum Limited Late Model feature. Jim Sayler returned to victory lane for
the first time in 3 years when he won the TC Race Cars Street Stock feature, and
Bedford Speedway neighbor Reed Stickel, Jr. won the Ritchey Sandblasting
feature. Mike Lauffer won the first ever Thomas Chevrolet FWD 4 cylinder event
at the speedway.
There were 28 Super Late Models in the pits, and all 28 started the main event.
Nick Dickson took off from his second starting spot to control the the start of
the Super Late Model feature, with Super Late Model rookie Randy Burkholder on
his tail. Burkholder and third running Scott Haus ran side by side for many laps
until Burkholder was finally able to shake free and set his sights on the
leader. Another class rookie, Mike Altobelli, Jr. was also making a strong
showing. Starting 12th, Altobelli picked cars off as he headed for the front.
Likewise, veteran driver Steve Everhart was making an impressive run towards the
front of the pack. At the finish, it was Dickson picking up his 5th career
Bedford win, followed by the two rookies of Burkholder and Altobelli, Jr. Scott
Haus came home fourth, and was followed by '07 track Champ Jack Pencil, Ron
Delano, Jr., Wayne Johnson, and Steve Everhart finished 8th, all the way from
his 28th starting spot. Chuck Clise and Eric Zembower completed the top ten.
Heat winners were Pencil, Haus, and Jeff Rine.
Derek Byler looked to have a sure win in the Limited Late Model feature event,
but a flat tire in the late stages of the race soured his chances. Byler, who
held off Chad McClellan for many laps until McClellan's night ended early,
endured several cautions as his left rear tire slowly leaked off air. It finally
gave out, and Mike Shoemaker assumed command. Shoemaker held of '07 track champ
Tim Smith to claim his 13 career Bedford Limited Late win. Smith came home
second, and was followed by Donnie Farlling, Rance Garlock, and Craig Perigo.
Sixth through tenth went to George Beckett, Derek Byler, who rebounded nicely
from the flat tire, Andy Teno, Steve Bard, and Chad Walter. Shoemaker and
McClellan won the heat events.
Jim Sayler drove from his 8th starting spot to the front to win his 11th career
Street Stock feature. Sayler, who has been absent from the speedway for atleast
one season, made his return a good one. Jim was the '04 and '05 division champ,
and it was only fitting that he do battle with 3-time division champ Bob Jay.
Jay, who had to tag the tail of the field after stopping to avoid a spinning
Ricky Potter, made a great charge through field, but fell short as Sayler took
the checkered. Donald Wyles started the season off on the right foot finishing
third, with Brian Duffy fourth, and Daryl Whetstone finished fifth. Whetstone,
who was a regular competitor at Bedford in the seventies and early eighties,
brought a camaro bodied #78 that made every fan over the age of 35 have a brief
moment of wonderful flashbacks to the days when late models were truly stock
cars. Rounding out the top ten were Kerry Molovich, rookie driver Ricky Potter,
Louis Orris, Greg Imler, and Johnny Harr. Sayler and Whetstone won the heat
events.
Reed Stickel, Jr, who lives across the street from the speedway and admits that
he used to just drive his Hobby Stock to the track instead of hauling it,
started on the pole and led every lap to win his 5th career feature at Bedford.
Derrick Hinish finished second, Charlie Walter third, Brandon LaSalle fourth,
and young Tyler Ritchey fifth. Ray Shepherd, Ryan Beckett, Kevin Brown, Jamie
Kohan, and Travis Group completed the top ten. Hinish and Bill Replogle were the
heat winners.
A small field opened the season for Bedford's newest division, the front wheel
drive four cylinders. Mike Lauffer won the inaugural event from the fourth
starting spot, and was followed to the line by Jeff Treece, Cindy Rhodes, Juan
Ryan, Dave Lambert, Ed Vogel, Irvin Fleegle, Paul Crynock, and Bill Noll rounded
out the field. There were no qualifying events for small field of cars.
Next Friday at the speedway, The Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series makes it's
first ever visit to Bedford. Paying $7,000 to win and $500 to start, some of the
nation's best drivers will be on hand. Pit gates open at 1pm, with general
admission gates opening at 5pm. Hot laps start at 7pm sharp, and time trials
will begin at 7:30. General admission is $25, and $35 for the pits. Also on hand
will be the ultra competitive Bedford Valley Petroleum Limited Late Models,
racing for $1,000 to win. There will be a driver autograph session from 5:30pm
to 6:15pm Call the speedway office at 814-623-0500 or visit
www.bedfordspeedway.com for
more information.
SUPER LATE MODELS
FEATURE: 1. Nick Dickson 2. Randy Burkholder 3. Mike Altobelli, Jr. 4. Scott
Haus 5. Jack Pencil 6. Ron Delano 7. Wayne Johnson 8. Steve Everhart 9. Chuck
Clise 10. Eric Zembower 11. Waylon Wagner 12. Todd Snook 13. Shane Beegle 14.
Rodney Sweitzer 15. Andy Martz 16. Tom Decker, Jr. 17. TJ Wright (DNF) 18. Derek
Sala (DNF) 19. Jeff Rine (DNF) 20. Larry Wright (DNF) 21. Rick Singleton (DNF)
22. Greg Fetters (DNF) 23. Chris Harr (DNF) 24. Shawn Claar (DNF) 25. Scott
Rhodes (DNF) 26. Gene Kain (DNF) 27. Matt Parks (DNF) 28. Matt Sala (DNF)HEAT 1:
Pencil, Singleton, Harr
HEAT 2: Haus, Johnson, Delano
HEAT 3: Rine, Fetters, Burkholder
LIMITED LATE MODELS
FEATURE: 1. Mike Shoemaker 2. Tim Smith, Jr. 3. Donnie Farlling 4. Rance Garlock
5. Craig Perigo 6. George Beckett 7. Derek Byler 8. Andy Teno 9. Steve Bard 10.
Chad Walter 11. John Hedge 12. Chad McClellan 13. Kyle Wiser (DNF)
DNS: Brian Lowery
HEAT 1: Shoemaker, Byler, Smith
HEAT 2: McClellan, Perigo, Walter
STREET STOCKS
FEATURE: 1. Jim Sayler 2. Bob Jay 3. Donald Wyles 4. Brian Duffy 5. Daryl
Whetstone 6. Kerry Molovich 7. Ricky Potter (DNF) 8. Louis Orris (DNF) 9. Greg
Imler (DNF) 10. Johnny Harr (DNF) 11. Jeff Chipikitis (DNF) 12. Bill Pluta (DNF)
13. Shawn Ringler (DNF) 14. Joe Pluta (DNF)
DNS: Scott Grubb
HEAT 1: Sayler, Jay, Molovich
HEAT 2: Whetstone, Harr, Imler
HOBBY STOCKS
FEATURE: 1. Reed Stickel, Jr. 2. Derrick Hinish 3. Charlie Walter 4. Brandon
LaSalle 5. Tyler Ritchey 6. Ray Shepherd 7. Ryan Beckett 8. Kevin Brown 9. Jamie
Kohan 10. Travis Group 11. Bill Replogle (DNF) 12. Chuck Weyant (DNF) 13. Justin
Milburn (DNF) 14. Mandy Jay (DNF)DNS: Clay Logsdon, Justin Vaughn, Jeff Treece
HEAT 1: Hinish, Stickel, Walter
HEAT 2: Replogle, LaSalle, Jay
FWD 4 CYLINDERS
FEATURE: 1. Mike Lauffer 2. Jeff Treece 3. Cindy Rhodes 4. Juan Ryan 5. Dave
Lambert 6. Ed Vogel 7. Irvin Fleegle 8. Paul Crynock 9. Bill Noll
BEDFORD SPEEDWAY
"The Track Racing Legends Built"
Track Address:
Rte. 30 West
Bedford, PA 15522
Office Address:
108 Short St.
Bedford, PA 15522
814-623-0500 (Raceday)
814-623-0826 (Office)
www.bedfordspeedway.com
MARCH 08, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
BEDFORD POISED AND READY FOR EXCITING '08 SEASON
By Dave Harclerode
BEDFORD, PA - The Bedford Speedway is prepared for what is without a doubt the
most exciting season ever in the track's 72 year history. A brand new surface,
and a very diverse schedule featuring some of the finest sanctioning bodies in
the nation will surely put a smile on the face of anyone who passes through the
Bedford Fairgrounds gates this year. The Miller Auto Parts Super Late Models,
Bedford Valley Petroleum Limited Late Models, TC Race Cars Street Stocks,
Ritchey Sandblasting Hobby Stocks, and the newly added Thomas Chevrolet Front
Wheel Drive 4-Cylinders will form the base for the regular weekly shows, which
as the past few seasons have proven, are a highlight on their own. Promoter JR
Keifer commented on the upcoming season, "I feel fortunate to have a track that
has grown each season, especially with so many tracks struggling year after
year. We're very lucky to have the support of the fans and drivers like we do,
and it's greatly appreciated. It's the driving force behind the entire staff's
hard work When we first took over the promoting duties at Bedford in 2002, we
decided that we needed to walk before we run. Well, with this year's schedule,
we're definitely running."
Over 600 loads of red clay, sifted to half of an inch, was put on the track in
the fall. The new surface was graded into shape, and left to settle over winter.
The addition of so much clay will mean that the promoting trio of DKM, Inc. will
be busy the next few weeks adding height to the turn 3 and 4 wall, along with
some adjustments to the frontstretch wall. The new clay has been the buzz all
winter for drivers and fans alike. It's been nearly 20 years since the entire
speedway was completely resurfaced in this manner, and the anticipation for the
season to get underway is high.
The season will open with a practice on Friday, April 11th so drivers can get a
handle on the new surface and shape of the speedway. Many drivers take advantage
of any practice time, but it will be important for area drivers to utilize this
practice because the season officially kicks off with the first points race on
Friday, April 18th with a 5 division show.
The first special of the year will be Friday, April 25th when the LUCAS OIL Late
Model series makes it's first ever stop at Bedford for the First annual Paul
Beamer Memorial. The Super Late Model event will pay $7,000 to win, and the
Limited Late Models will also be on hand racing for $1,000 to win. Two
unsanctioned shows will highlight the month of May. First will be the 30 lap
Super Late Model Spring Championship on Sunday, May 25th. The race will pay
$2,500 to the winner. All 5 divisions will be on hand, racing for extra money.
Friday, May 30th will be a 5 division show with both Late Model divisions going
topless, which is always a fan favorite.
Just as the summer weather kicks into high gear, so does the racing action. On
Friday, June 27th the American Motorcycle Association will make their first
visit to the big oval in many years. Nationals plus singles will be on hand. Two
days later, the 410 Sprint Cars roll into town for Bedford's segment of the PA
Speedweeks. July will see the Independent Racing Series for Super Late Models
make their first ever visit to Bedford on Friday, July 11th, and everyone loves
the annual Great Bedford Fair races, which will be held on Friday, July 25th.
The World of Outlaw Late Models will return on Friday, August 29th after a very
successful show in 2007. There's also potential for some racing action in
September and October, and announcements about those races will be released
later in the season. "We are definitely excited about this season", commented
promoter JR Keifer. "Both Jim Maybury (co-promoter) and I are very happy about
bringing Dr. Dave Horne into the promoting mix, and I think the three of us work
together well."
Several other key items dot the Bedford schedule, including kid's car rides,
kid's bike races, Williams Grove Old Timers Association night, double purses,
twin features, and other specials. The entire schedule and other information can
be found at www.bedfordspeedway.com
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