Local Racing
Dewease Does it Again at Port Royal Speedway
PORT ROYAL, PA (September 12, 2020): Seven was the lucky number for Lance Dewease, as he scored yet another victory in the Tuscarora 50 at Port Royal Speedway. The breaks went his way on this momentous night and he cashed in to the tune of $53,000. He inherited the lead in his heat race when Cale Thomas retired early and that put Dewease into the redraw for the feature event. He drew the pole position. And then, while chasing the leader with thirteen laps remaining, Rico Abreu’s car broke, putting Dewease on the point for the restart.
“Sometimes you have the fastest car but you still don’t win if the breaks don’t go your way. Tonight, the breaks went in our favor,” Dewease said. Dewease quickly added, though, that his team gave him a good car again this night. “I could drive it,” he said confidently.
Dewease was a little disappointed with his performance during the first half of the race. Although he led the first 17 laps, “I got a little too conservative with the lapped cars and I let Rico get by me,” said Dewease. “I thought that I’d be OK when we got back to traffic again.” Dewease was right. He was closing in on Abreu, but the clash of fan favorites never materialized because Abreu’s car broke before Dewease got back to within a car length or two.
Dewease’s seven wins in the Tuscarora 50 took place in four different decades. “To do it in four decades (actually, only 26 years) means two things,” he said. “I’m old. and I’ve been pretty good at his for a pretty long time.” Dewease added that he has been fortunate to drive for some very good people over that span. “I was here when they almost closed this place down,” Dewease recalled. “Steve O’Neil came in as promoter and he started to turn things around, and then they ran him off. They brought him back a few years later and he’s really improved this place.” Dewease was quick to acknowledge the contributions of the hard-working track crew, the dedicated Fair Board, and the loyal fans for making it all possible.
Dewease and Abreu were on the front row for the fifty lapper. T.J. Stutts made repairs to his motor after the heat race and lined up third, with Tyler Courtney next to him. The home town hero, Dylan Cisney started fifth, with the remaining re-draw position going to Anthony Macri. Tony Stewart and Kerry Madsen were in row four, with Danny Dietrich and night one winner, Cory Eliason, in row five. Then came Freddie Rahmer, Jr., and defending race champion, Aaron Reutzel. Buried deep in the pack were track points champion, Logan Wagner, and Kyle Larson. They rolled off in nineteenth and twenty-second respectively.
As anticipated, Dewease surged ahead of Abreu at the drop of the green. Stutts settled into third, but his night ended early. Just four laps into the race, his engine failed him again, and he was through for the night. On the ensuing restart, Dewease again cruised ahead of Abreu, with Macri now holding down the third position. Courtney and Kerry Madsen held down fourth and fifth. Then came Cisney, Tony Stewart, Eliason, Rahmer, and Reutzel.
Larson was climbing through the pack with relative ease. He reached twelfth by the lap four restart and within a couple of laps, he cracked the top ten. His forward progress slowed a bit, as he may have shifted into a conservation mode to save his equipment for the second half of the race.
With ten laps complete, Dewease was into traffic and Abreu started to challenge him for the lead. Soon thereafter, Abreu made his first bid for the lead in turn one, but Dewease calmly turned back under him in turn two to regain the lead as they raced off the corner. Abreu continued to apply the pressure and he succeeded in sliding ahead of Dewease while the two were picking their way through the slower cars.
Abreu led Dewease to the halfway mark, when the race was stopped for fuel. Dewease sat calmly in his car under the red while his veteran crew made some minor adjustments to the car. They also ground the tires to prevent them from sealing up during the stoppage, which was a trick employed by several of the racers, including Abreu, Macri, and Cisney. Meanwhile, Reutzel’s team was making a wing change and some major adjustments in an effort to find more speed for the All Stars points leader.
When racing resumed, Abreu had the point followed by Dewease, Macri, Courtney, Cisney, Madsen, Eliason, Larson, Reutzel, and Rahmer.
Abreu took off, but Dewease was close enough to try a slider for the lead. It did not work, as Abreu kept his momentum up by racing hard on the cushion. Abreu opened a few car lengths advantage over Dewease, but as he started to close in on the slower cars, Abreu’s car began to get loose in the corners. Dewease began to close in as Abreu bounced his car off the outer walls a couple of time.
The impacts, while seemingly minor, took their toll on Abreu’s car. With Dewease closing in, the leader slowed drastically and the caution was displayed for him on lap 37.
Dewease took the point, with Macri second, Courtney third, Cisney fourth, and Madsen fifth. Larson was up to sixth and Logan Wagner was next in line. Eliason, Reutzel, and Spencer Bayston were racing in the top ten at that point.
When the green light flashed on again, Macri spun his tires, and Dewease was able to open up a comfortable advantage. Cisney bolted into third and he started to press Macri for second Courtney was fending off the advances of Larson, while Reutzel was struggling with Madsen and Eliason. Reutzel’s attempt for the repeat ended a few laps later when he slowed after striking the wall one too many times.
This set up a ten lap run to the checkers, which Dewease was able to complete without difficulty. Macri and Cisney had the fans excited as the two young lions traded slide jobs several times per lap. Their contest, while entertaining, kept them both from chasing down the leader.
Macri finally broke free of Cisney with three or four laps left in the race. By then, Dewease had an insurmountable lead. Cisney had his hands full with Larson in the final few rounds of the speedway, but he was able to maintain third for an all-Posse podium. Larson claimed fourth and he also earned the hard charger bonus, with Eliason getting fifth. Logan Wagner was sixth, followed by Courtney, Bayston, Kerry Madsen, and Rahmer.
The heat winners were Macri, Dewease, Stutts, Abreu, Courtney, and Cisney. Remarkably, both Macri and Stutts nursed damaged engines to the finish line in their respective heats. Macri’s crew made an engine change and Stutts’ team made repairs to make the A Main grid.
The B Main win went to Logan Wagner. The race was marred by two major crashes. Instead of throwing the checkered flag with two cars spun to the inside of turn two on the last lap, All Stars officials called for a yellow, requiring the field to complete two more laps before the finish would be official. While several racers were fighting for the final transfer spots on what would have been the last lap, three cars entered turn three side by side. Unfortunately, several cars flipped, one leaving the track. At least three cars were destroyed and several others were heavily damaged. So, the field again tried a green-white-checker finish. This time, as the cars were headed to the checkered flag, there was contact between the ones fighting for the last transfer position. Both cars tumbled wildly into the first turn, collecting yet another car. Both the sixth and seventh place cars were destroyed. Fortunately, no drivers were hurt in either wreck.
The C Main winner was Shane Stewart.
Macri was the night’s fastest qualfier, turning a lap of 15.271 in Group A. Group B’s fastest racer was Kerry Madsen, at 15.478.
A non-qualifiers race was held before the A Main in an effort to widen the track and to slick it off for the feature. Lucas Wolfe picked up the win, which was worth $2,000 and a guaranteed starting spot in the 2021 Tuscarora 50. Brett Michalsk, Tyler Walton, Curt Stroup, and Tyler Bear completed the top five.
Port Royal will be idle until October 9-10, when the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series comes to town. The following week will be the first Speed Showcase 200 for the Modifieds of the Short Track Super Series. The fun will start Thursday, October 15 with a 40 lap feature. Friday will be qualifications and the 200 lapper will be held Saturday. Sportsmen will be the support division each night. The Blue Collar Nationals for the 305 Sprints and Limited Late Models will be pushed back a week to October 24 to accommodate the STSS Modifieds.
Dirt Racing
Flick Dominates Sprint Finale at Tri-City and Clinches Championship; Reitz, Whitling, Potosky, and Urey also Score
FRANKLIN, PA (September 3, 2023): There was no doubt that A.J. Flick was on a mission at Tri-City Raceway Park. In the Diehl Chevrolet Sprint Car finale, he took the lead coming through turn two on the opening lap and he never looked back. In fact, his eyes were fixed forward, as he lapped all but two competitors in the non-stop affair.
Also scoring wins were Chad Reitz in the Pitt Stop Pub 358 Modifieds, Bobby Whitling for the second night in a row in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, Mike Potosky in the A & MP electric, Inc. UMP Modifieds, and Matt Urey in the 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks.
The Old Skool Kool Vintage Tour also presented a pair of races. The Stock Car win went to Larry Walters. The Modified win belonged to Paul Bacchus.
Flick, who also won his heat race, noted that the track was in excellent shape for the feature event. “The track was a little narrow the last two weeks, but it was great tonight. It did not take any rubber. I have a tendency to over think things sometimes, but I listened to my dad, and he said to let things go for the feature.” That obviously was a good call. The car was flawless.
Flick apologized to the fans for the low car count. “I feel that we have to do something. Merle Black supports us, he has not cut the purses. The fans have been great and we hope that we can get more cars and more fans to help him keep this track going. It is one of the best in Western PA.”
In the final race of the season for the Diehl Chevrolet 410 Sprint Cars, Jack Sodeman, Jr. started on the pole with A.J. Flick next to him. Flick was seeking his second track championship. Andy Cavanaugh and Bob Felmlee were in row two. Felmlee entered the race second in points, 25 behind Flick. Andy Priest and Steven Bright were in the third row. The fourth row belonged to Bodey McClintock and Cameron Nastasi.
Flick rode the outside line to take the lead from Sodeman going through turns one and two on the opening lap. Felmlee raced along in third, ahead of Priest, Cavanaugh, McClintock, Nastasi, and Bright.
As the laps clicked away, Flick’s lead got bigger and bigger. He had more than two-thirds of a lap on Sodeman and he was within striking distance of putting Felmlee one lap in arrears by the time that the checkers fell.
At the finish, it was Flick, Sodeman, Felmlee, Priest, Cavanaugh, McClintock, Bright, and Nastasi.
Flick took the preliminary. There was no B Main.
In the Pitt Stop Pub closer, Tom Holden started on the inside of row one. Chad Reitz was his wingman. Colton Walters and Ayden Cipriano were in row two, The third row belonged to Anthony Antus and Macey Adamic. The final row had Lenny Liebold, III and Steve Slater.
Reitz took the early lead, with Cipriano in second, followed by Holden, Walters, and Liebold. Cipriano raced in the outside groove to take over the point on lap two. He held command through most of the race.
Consecutive restarts on laps fifteen and sixteen made the difference, however. On the first one, Cipriano used the outside line to hold Reitz off. But on the second try, Reitz went into turn one a little bit harder. The car freed up and he crowded Cipriano. There was no contact, but the veteran’s aggressive move made the pass work.
Reitz led the rest of the way, with Cipriano taking second to lock up his first track championship. Walters and Holden fought for third on those restarts, and Walters came out on top. Fifth went to the only distaff driver, Adamcik. Liebold, Antus, and Slater completed the field.
The heat race win went to Reitz. There was no B Main.
For Reitz, the win came in his return to racing after a nineteen-year absence. “It feels good to get the win here at Tri-City. It is my home track. I only live a few minutes from here. My goal was to win one for the season and we accomplished that on the last night.
In the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stock twenty-five lapper, Jackson Humanic drew the pole. Moving up to the front row was Nathan Yeaney. Rod Laskey, and Gary Miller, Jr. were in row two. Matt Bernard and Bobby Whitling were in row three. Josh Seippel and Chris Withers made up row four. The fifth row paired Russ Coyne and Pat Fielding. The sixth was Tim Bish and Mike Miller. Buried in the last row was defending champion Tyler Wyant, who was looking to claim his second title.
Yeaney grabbed the lead, with Humanic, Whitling, Gary Miller, Laskey, Bernard, Josh Seippel, Withers, Mike Miller, and Coyne following. A caution for a three-car tangle that eliminated Charlie McMillen and substantially damaged Brayden Seippel necessitated a restart with one lap complete.
Humanic assumed command on lap two and Whitling took over third one lap later. Whittling chased down Humanic to take the lead on lap five.
Whitling maintained control through a couple of restarts, with Humanic staying close. Josh Seippel raced along in third. The next several positions were changing hands with some frequency involving Wyant, Mike Miller, Bish, Fielding, and Schneider.
A number of late race cautions provided extra drama. Humanic tried to roll the outside to take the lead away from Whitling, but he was not successful. However, on the next try, the maneuver worked to perfection. Unfortunately, a caution bunched the field up again, and Whitling was able to return the favor.
For the final restart, with three to go, Whitling changed the script. He took the inside line. He got the advantage over Humanic coming off turn four and he led the rest of the way without any challenges.
Whitling collected a cool thousand dollars for the win. Humanic was second. Bish, Schneider, Josh Seippel amde up the top five. Mike Miller, Coyne, Cole Miller, Gary Miller, Jr., and Jimmy Fosnaught were the next finishers.
The heat winners were Humanic and Whitling. There was no B Main.
Tyler Waynt’s finish of seventeenth, while below par, was good enough to bag his second championship in a row in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stock division.
Tri-City Raceway Park would like to thank a bevy of sponsors who raised extra money and special gifts for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks for both feature races held over the weekend. RK Virgile Scrap & Iron, through its owner Randy Wyant, put $1,000 on the top for the payout each night. Mark McIver of Shaffer’s oil sponsored all of the cautions for the weekend. Oil Valley Outdoor Services and Oil Creek Family Camp Grounds split the hard luck awards. Integra Shocks presented a free set of racing shocks to a lucky racer. Rod Laskey and Gibson Hill Automotive presented a lap leader bonus to the racer at the front of the pack on lap eighteen. Josh Seipple presented a case of Les Friction Racing Oil for a lucky driver. In addition, extra money was donated for the purses courtesy of White Star Racing and Driver Aaron Smith, Jones Notary, PJ Concrete and Excavation and driver Pat Fielding, Billy’s Garage, Langworthy Services. Ringgold Plumbing and Heating and driver Tim Bish, Slider Racing Chassis and driver Bobby Whitling, Kevin Irwin and Jaqulin Irwin Pro Stock Fans, Bernards Electrical Services and driver Matt Bernard, Pete Stearns and Venango Automotive, Grandview Autobody, Griffen Collision & Design, and ABL Creations and Ash Blossom. Without their generosity and support, these events would not have been possible.
The 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks were the final race of the evening. Thomas Warren had the pole for that, with Tim Dragar next to him. Chad Greeley was in third, with Bill Fuchs in fourth. Row three paired Dillon Morrison and Joe Campbell. The fifth row consisted of Tim Callahan and Matt Urey. Row six had Zack Swartz and Adam Aley.
Urey raced to the front in his speedy Honda and led to the checkers. Campbell, Morrison, Callahan, and Warren completed the top five. Ben Aley, Greeley, Jared Hall, Tim Dragar, and Justin Dragar rounded out the top ten.
Campbell and Morrison split the heat wins. There was no B Main.
Urey clinched the championship by a substantial margin.
The Old Skool Kool Vintage Tour was back with a pair of feature events. Larry Walters repeated as the winner in the Stock Car class, followed by Foxie Sumner and Steve Tanner. In the Modified class, Paul Bacchus prevailed over Tim Beatty. Allen Guthrie and Allen Clarke were next. The heat winners were Sumner and Guthrie in the Stocks and Modifieds, respectively.
Information about the 2024 season at Tri-City Raceway Park can be obtained by calling the track office at 724-967-4601, or by e-mailing the office at tricityracewaypark2020@gmail.com. Or, you can check the web at Tri-CityRacewayPark.com, or the Facebook page at Tri City Raceway Park.
Tri-City Raceway Park is located just a few miles north of Franklin, PA, at 3430 State Route 417 in Oakland Township. Professional auto racing was presented in a family friendly atmosphere most Sunday evenings from May through Labor Day weekend. The race night for 2024 has yet to be determined.
Diehl Chevrolet 410 Sprints: A.J. Flick, Jack Sodeman, Jr., Bob Felmlee, Andy Priest, Andy Cavanaugh, Bodey McClintock, Steve Bright, and Cameron Nastasi.
Pitt Stop Pub 358 Modifieds: Chad Reitz, Ayden Cipriano, Colton Walters, Tom Holden, Macey Adamic, Lenny Liebold, III, Anthony Antus, Steve Slater.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks: Bobby Whittling, Jackson Humanic, Tim Bish, Chris Schneider, Josh Seippel, Mike Miller, Russ Coyne, Cole Miller, Gary Miller, Jr., Jimmy Fosnaught, Brayden Seippel, Pat Fielding, Nathan Yeaney, Chris Withers, Ron Boardman, Matt Bernard, Tyler Wyant, Andrew Hammond, Rod Laskey, Aaron Smith, Charlie McMillen, Randy Wyant (DNS).
A & MP electric. Inc. UMP Modifieds: Mike Potosky, David Scott, Steve Rex, Garrett Clavert, Brandon Grossman, Alec Siekkinen, Donny May.
4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks: Matt Urey, Joe Campbell, Dillon Morrison, Tim Callahan, Thomas Warren, Ben Aley, Chad Greeley, Jared Hall, Tim Dragar, Justin Dragar, Bill Fuchs, Zack Swartz, Adam Aley.
Old Skool Kool Vintage Stocks: Larry Walters, Foxie Sumner, Steve Tanner.
Old Skool Kool Vintage Modifieds: Paul Bacchus, Tim Beatty, Allen Guthrie, Allen Clarke.
Dirt Racing
Rudolph wins Mod Tour Race and Clinches BRP Championship; Whitling Tops Pro Stocks, Urey takes Mini Stocks
FRANKLIN, PA (September 2, 2023): Erick Rudolph took the feature win and the championship crown to conclude the twenty-sixth season of the BRP Modified Tour. He passed Rex King, Jr. just before halfway and he maintained a comfortable advantage the rest of the way.
Also taking wins on the holiday special were Bobby Whitling and Matt Urey in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, and 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks, respectively. Larry Walters and Tim Beatty prevailed in the Old Skool Kool Vintage action.
“It’s plenty of pressure to defend the championship, Rudolph noted.” But he did not let the stress wear him down. Rudolph explained that King “was able to get through lapped traffic better tahn me.” But he had four cautions in the second half to keep the track clear for the most part.
Dave Murdick and Kyle Fink had the front row for the season-ending thirty-five lapper. King Jr. and Chas Wolbert made up row two. Chad Reitz and Garrett Krummert were in the third row. Jeremiah Shingledecker and J.R. McGinley had row four. The fifth paired up Rudolph and Trevor Wright. The sixth matched Jeff Walters and Brad Rapp.
Murdick took the lead at the start of the event. King nestled into second, followed by Wolbert, Krummert, Rudolph, and Fink. McGinley slowed the pace three laps into the event. That realignment allowed King to sweep into the lead on the next completed lap.
Wolbert sustained a flat soon thereafter, and that put King out front for the restart. He held control ahead of Murdick, Krummert, Rudolph, Shingledecker, Fink, Wright, Walters, Rapp, and Austin Eyler.
On the next round of the big half mile, Rudolph took up second and Krummert also nudged ahead of Murdick, and Shingledecker.
On lap sixteen, Macey Adamik brought out the first of her three cautions. On the restart, Rudolph slid past King on the inside of turn three. King got another shot at Rudolph two laps later when a two-car skirmish involving Walters and Rodney Beltz stopped the race.
While Rudolph maintained his lead the rest of the way, several cautions punctuated the flow of the race. Throughout, Rudolph stayed out front, with King in second. Krummert hovered in third until Shingledecker drove by with just a couple of laps left in the contest.
Atthe checkers, it was Rudolph, King, Shingledecker, and Krummert. Rapp, Murdick, McGinley, Wright, and Eyler completed the top five.
Krummert, Rudolph, and King topped the three heat races. There was no B Main.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply twenty-five lap A Main had a number of cautions and one red flag interrupt the action. But Bobby Whitling was not phased by the interludes.
Following Whitling atthe checkers were Jackson Humanic, Pat Fielding, Rod Laskey, and Jimmy Fosnaught. Charlie McMillen, Matt Bernard, Aaron Smith, Randy Wyant, and Tim Bish completed the top ten. Matt Bernard passed ten cars on his way to seventh to earn the $100 bonus for the hard charger.
Tyler Wyant and Whitling scored in the preliminaries. There was no B Main.
Matt Urey regained his leading role in the 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks. He came from seventh to get the win. Dillon Morrison, Chad Greeley, Ben Aley, and Jesse Armstrong had the top five positions covered. Justin Dragar, Bill Fuchs, Zach Swartz, Tim Drager, and Thomas Warren completed the top ten.
Tim Drager and Bill Fuchs got the heat race wins. There was no B Main.
In the Old Skool Kool Vintage Series, Larry Walters topped teh Stock Car go. Foxie Sumner, Brian Lederhouse, and Steve Tanner followed. In the Modifieds, Tim Beatty, Paul Baccus, Jim Kurpakis, and Allen Guthrie, were the front runners.
BRP Modified Tour: Erick Rudolph, Rex King, Jr., Jeremiah Shingledecker, Garrett Krummert, Brad Rapp, Dave Murdick, Chas Wolbert, Trevor Wright, Austin Eyler, Wally Wade, Chad Reitz, Mark Frankhouser, Shawn Kozar, Kevin Green, Macey Adamik, Rodney Beltz, Kyle Fink, Lenny Liebold, III, Colton Waters, Jeff Walters, J.R. McGinley.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks: Bobby Whitling, Jackson Humanic, Pat Fielding, Rod Laskey, Jimmy Fosnaught, Charlie McMillen, Matt Bernard, Aaron Smith, Randy Wyant, Tim Bish, Brayden Seippel, Andrew Hammond, Josh Seippel, Tyler Wyant, Russ Coyne, Curt J. Bish, Andy Buckley (DNS).
4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks: Matt Urey, Dillon Morrison, Chad Greeley, Ben Aley, Jesse Armstrong, Justin Drager, Bill Fuchs, Zack Swartz, Tim Dragar, Thomas Warren, Adam Aley (DNS).
Old Skool Kool Vintage Stocks: Larry Walters, Foxie Sumner, Brian Lederhouse, Steve Tanner.
Old Skool Kool Vintage Modifieds: Tim Beatty, Paul Baccus, Jim Kurpakis, Allen Guthrie, Dave Phillips (DNS), Allen Clarke (DNS).
BEDFORD, PA (September 1, 2023): When a racer wins one of the most historic Super Late Model Races in the region, he should be ecstatic. Especially when the race is sanctioned by the ULMS and when it pays a hefty $12,055 to the winner. But Mason Zeigler was noticeably subdued after taking his second triumph in the annual Labor Day 55 classic.
Zeigler got to victory lane after he tangled with Alex Ferree on a lap 47 restart. Ferree led from the start and he withstood a similar move several laps earlier. Zeigler again threw a wicked slider at Ferree, and there was heavy side-to-side contact between them. Both cars got sideways, Zeigler checked up, and maintained his forward momentum. However, Ferree spun to the top of the track. Rather than taking his position at the rear of the field, Ferree called it a night.
Zeigler was greeted by a cascade of boos and derogatory remarks when he drove up onto the fairgrounds stage. “I didn’t deserve that win,” he said sheepishly. “I got loose and I doored him. Alex is my buddy. I’m going to try to make it right with him. It would be different if we were rivals, but he’s my buddy. I’m sorry to all the fans to stink up a show like that.”
Ferree and Coleby Frye started on the front row for the holiday special. Matt Cosner was inside row two sporting a throwback paint scheme. Max
Blair was his dancing partner. Zeigler rolled off in third, with Tyler Emery on his flank. Gregg Satterlee and Brian Bernheisel had row four to themselves. Jeff Rine, who was eventually crowned as the Bedford Speedway points champion, lined up in row five, along with Dylan Yoder.
Michael Norris and Jason Covert made it an even dozen. Further back in the field were Kyle Hardy, Kyle Lee, Ryan Montgomery, Logan Zarin, Justin Weaver, Colton Flinner, Dan Stone, and Jakob Piper.
Ferree and Frye charged into turn one at the start of the fifty-five lap A Main held under the ULMS banner. Cosner, Emery, Blair, Zeigler, Bernheisel, Satterlee, and Yoder were sorting themselves out. The top five remained unchanged as Ferree began to distance himself from Frye, even as he entered lapped traffic around lap ten.
Seven rounds later, the traffic picked up as Ferreee was still cruising out front. However, due to the other cars, which were fighting for positions, Ferreee got held up and Frye closed in to a couple of car lengths behind the leader.
Blair moved into fourth on lap twenty-three and he was closing in on Cosner. Meanwhile Ferree got into a safe position and he started to pull away from Frye and Cosner once again.
Ferree’s advantage was swept away with the display ofn the first caution twenty-nine laps into the contest. For the first Delaware couple-file restart, Ferree was all alone out front, with Frye, Cosner, Blair, Zeigler, Emery, Bernheisel, Jeff Rine, Hardy, and Norris making up the top ten. Norris surrendered his preferred spot, though, when he pitted with a flat right rear while the field was under the caution.
Frye took a run at the leader on the green, but Ferree was up to the task. He remained ahead of “Superfly.” Due to Norris’ misfortune, Lee moved into the top ten. Six laps later, Lee brought out caution number two when he stopped at the entry to turn three.
On the ensuing restart, Zeigler was lined up in third, but he would not stay there for long. Entering turn one, he made a bold move to the inside of Ferree. Zeigler grabbed the lead briefly, but Ferree rode the rim to regain the advantage coming off turn two.
Chuck Clise called for the next caution on lap 44, when he spun on the front stretch. He did not hit any other cars or the inside wall, so he was able to regain the roster. Blair was not so fortunate on the restart, though. He tangled with Hardy and Frye, and spun to the inside a bit closer to the flagstand. Blair’s car sustained some damage to the right front corner, and he needed assistance from a tow truck to get back to the pits.
Lee brought out another caution just three laps later, setting up Zeigler’s aggressive inside move that changed the complexion of the race. Zeigler was able to keep moving and Ferree retired from the race, much to the dismay of the large crowd on hand. Ferree was a sentimental favorite as his car owner, Lynn Geisler, won the Labor Day 55 back in 1998 under the MACS sanction.
However, Zeigler stopped to get some sheet metal pulled from around the right rear. He was able to retain his point position for the final green of the night.
Zeigler got away cleanly and Cosner hovered in second. Frye rallied in the final eight laps, but he could not make up any positions on Zeigler or Cosner. Frye, Hardy, and Rine took the next three positions.
Yoder, Zarin, Emery, Montgomery, and Bernheisel completed the top ten.
Four heat races were presented, with the checkers going to Emery, Frye, Ferree, and Bernheisel. The B Mains were split between Montgomery and Zarin. The evening’s fastest qualifier was Emery, with a lap of 19.479 in Group A. Zeigler did have fast time, but his lap was disallowed for leaving the track in turn four instead of turn two after his rapid run. He was one of a handful of racers who suffered that fate. The top runner in Group B was Ferree, with a time of 19.601.
In the Mid-Atlantic Modified go, Donnie Farling raced to the front from his outside pole position. Drake Troutman ran along in second, followed by john Whitfield, Brandon Hoover, and Mitch Thomas, who was doing double duty.
Mike Altobelli moved ahead, taking second in traffic with a dozen laps in the books. Although a caution came out almost immediately, Altobelli had the advantage at the flagstand so he started on the pole.
Altobeli took the checkers ahead of Farling, Drake Troutman, Jacob Marker, and Ridge Bookwalter. Nabbing positions six through ten were Whitfield, Dave Troutman, Bruce Dreistadt, Tom Wakefield, and Ryan Dolan.
Preliminaries belonged to Altobelli and Mitchell. There was no B Main.
Bedford Speedway will be back in action on Sunday, September 3, with Championship Night for the Late Model Spportsmen, Semi Late Models, Pure Stocks, and Four Cylinders.
Then, the three-day Dave Toutman Memorial will be held Thursday through Staurday, September 21 through 23. Racing will return with the Annual Keystone Cup for the Super Late Models on October 20 and 21. Friday support will come from the Semi Late Models, Pure Stocks, and Four Cylinders. The Late Model Sportsmen and the Mid-Atlantic Modifieds will add to the show on Staurday, which is the season finale.
Flick Dominates Sprint Finale at Tri-City and Clinches Championship; Reitz, Whitling, Potosky, and Urey also Score
Rudolph wins Mod Tour Race and Clinches BRP Championship; Whitling Tops Pro Stocks, Urey takes Mini Stocks
Zeigler Apologetic After Labor Day 55 Win, Altobelli Annihilates Modified Field
Farnham and Vigneri Haul Tri-City Loot Across the Border; Mollick, Scott, Seippel, and Morrison Also Score
Blair Cress, Jr. Buys Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway
Zeigler Apologetic After Labor Day 55 Win, Altobelli Annihilates Modified Field
Flick Dominates Sprint Finale at Tri-City and Clinches Championship; Reitz, Whitling, Potosky, and Urey also Score