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Last Updated
March 20, 2008 4:29 PM

A MESSAGE FROM THE BEDFORD SPEEDWAY TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT

The following is a list of drivers who have sealed engines for the 2008 season. We are extremely pleased that so many have decided to participate in this program and have made it a success.

If you are a racer (Limited Late, Street Stock or Hobby Stock) without a sealed engine and would like information, please contact Todd Bechtel at 814-793-3478..

Limited Late Models:             Street Stocks:                             Hobby Stocks:

Robbie Black                           Bill Heney                                Derrick Hinish
Derrick Blyler                           Bob Jay                                    Reid Stickel
Brian Leslie                            Brian Duffy                               Charlie Walter
Mike Shoemaker               Daryl Whetstone                            Chuck Weyant
Matt Sponagle                       Jim Saylor                                  Tyler Ritchey
Howie Buzzard                                                                      Brandon Lasalle
Mike Stiffler                                                                             Jason Gilland
Rance Garlock                                                                      Marcus VanMeter
Travis Stickley
Kyle Wiser
Chad Walters
Tim Smith
Brandon Hoover
Jake Griffith
Al Shawver
Matt Kosner
Terry Kline
Don and John Hedge
Andy Fries
Matt Emerick
Rick Singleton
Andy Teno
Chad McClellan
George Beckett
Donnie Farling
Travis Calhoun
Brian Lowery
Jamie Swank (Sponagle Car 2)
Curtis Heath

ATTENTION ::: Concerning Raceceiver:

Bedford Speedway has selected TC Warehouse as the authorized dealer for the raceceivers.  The raceceivers part number LP1600 comes with a headset, holster clip and battery for the price of $150.00.  These will be mandatory in all 5 divisions.  We are sorry for the expenses to be incurred and have made a deal with Chuck at TC Warehouse to let you pay for them over a three week period.  Payments will be $50, $50 and $50.  You must supply Chuck with somebody on your team’s valid driver’s license for each night until they are paid for.  This is strictly a safety issue and we appreciate you cooperation. Again TC Warehouse will be the authorized distributor and will be bringing them to the track, including practice day.  You can reach them at 1-800-296-3760. 

PS.
Management at Bedford Speedway would like to personally thank Chuck Clise at TC Warehouse for stepping up to the plate for the drivers in this case and remember they have sponsored the Street Stock division for going on 7 years now.  Try to support those who support you. 

Sincerely,

JR Keifer  Co- Promoter Bedford Speedway

"The Mike Sotosky-Bedford Speedway/107.5 B-Rock Speed Racer dedication song of the week"   
      
Bedford Speedway Public Address Announcer Mike Sotosky proudly teams up with Bedford County's home for great Rock-n-Roll 107.5FM WBVE "B-Rock" to highlight one of our Bedford Speedway Stars each event during the 2008 racing season with their very own, exclusive driver introduction music. 

Opening night, Friday April 18th's highlighted Driver - Super Late Model Driver #15B Shane Beegle and his intro song??  "The Lumberjack" by Jackyl

Friday April 25th's  "Speed Racer Driver dedication of the week?" - TBA

Attention Limited Late Model Drivers! 

Bedford Speedway is proud to welcome T&A Racegraphix of Manns Choice, Pa to our corporate sponsorship family!!  To commemorate this 2008 partnership, T&A Racegraphix President and CEO Travis Vance, will graciously provide a complete graphic and lettering package to our 2008 Limited Late Model Point Champion!  Travis will provide all of his design expertise and vinyl, absolutely free! 

So good luck to all Bedford Speedway racers for a safe and successful 2008 season.  But a special good luck to all of you Limited Late Model drivers, one of whom will be receiving a complete lettering and vinyl package for 2009, courtesy of T&A Racegraphix.  More info regarding all T&A Racegraphix product and services available by calling (814) 285-7931.

Bedford Speedway and DKM Racing proudly welcomes back for 2008 the "LaSalle Engine and Chassis-Bedford Speedway Race Report" which will air for the three consecutive days following a Bedford Speedway event.  100.9 WAYC-FM, 107.5 WBVE-FM along with 1310AM WBFD will once again be the radio home for this exclusive Bedford Speedway racing recap show.  
       
Airtimes are as follows:  100.9 WAYC - Saturday, Sunday & Monday mornings at 9:20
                                        107.5 WBVE -  Saturday, Sunday & Monday mornings at 9:30
                                        1310 WBFD-AM  - Saturday, Sunday & Monday mornings at 9:40

So race fans, make sure you tune in every morning following a Bedford Speedway event on any one of those fine Bedford County Radio Stations for results, news and interviews of your favorite Bedford Speedway Drivers on the Bedford Speedway Race Report, brought to you by Lasalle Engine and Chassis.

Drivers:

Exciting news for Bedford and Hesston.   Ryan Lynn, Promoter of Hesston and the Promoters of the Bedford Speedway are hooking up on some exciting things for  08’.  There will be a bounty program for the Limited Late Model division  for anybody who can win Friday and Saturday.  In case of a rain out it could be a Saturday and then a Friday deal.  At any rate it is  between two consecutive nights at Bedford and Hesston.  The bounty will be a $400 bonus.

Also Todd Bechtel will continue to seal motors for Bedford and Hesston and their respective classes.  Those seals will be honored.

There also will be a couple of weekends we are working on now that we’ll do a double header, Bedford and Hesston  together for larger purses.  This is exciting news for both tracks and hopefully the drivers and fans.  

Sincerely,

JR Keifer Co-Promoter Bedford Speedway
Ryan Lynn Promoter Hesston Speedway

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

BEDFORD SPEEDWAY PRESENTS AWARDS AT ANNUAL BANQUET

By Dave Harclerode

BEDFORD, PA -  The Bedford Speedway held it's annual awards banquet at the Bedford Elks Country Club on December 1st.  A packed house enjoyed good food, driver interviews, and news about the '08 season from promoters DKM, Inc., which consists of JR Keifer, Jim Maybury, and new edition Dr. Dave Horne.

Super Late Model driver Jack Pencil was crowned champion for the fourth time in the division.  Other Super Late Model award winners were Shawn McGarvey - Rookie of the year, Greg Fetters - Hard Luck Award, and Greg Fetters - Most Improved.  Scott Rhodes won the Fan's Choice Award, voted on by the fans on Bedford's website. 

Tim Smith, Jr. won the Limited Late Model point title, his second at Bedford.  Travis Stickley was named Rookie of the year, Randy Burkholder won the Hard Luck Award, and Brian Lowery received the Most Improved award.

Bob Jay earned his third career Street Stock Championship.  Chris Chamberlain earned Rookie of the year, Jason Douglas recieved the Hard Luck award, and Mike Stiffler won the Most Improved award.

Chuck Weyant won Hobby Stock points title, the second of his career at Bedford.  Matt Thomas was named Rookie of the year, Jason Gilliland received the Hard Luck Award, and Mandy Jay won the Most Improved award.

Other award winners on the night were Super Late Model racer Wayne Johnson, and Tech man Todd Bechtel.  Wayne and Todd will be representing Bedford Speedway the ARCH Fan Club banquet.

With the addition of 600 loads of new clay, Bedford's management announced an aggressive schedule for the 2008 season.  The season will kick off on April 18th with a regular point show consisting of Super Late Models, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, and FWD 4-cylinders.  Highlights of the season include the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series on April 25th, the AMA Grand National Motorcycles on June 27th, 410 Sprintcar PA Speedweeks on June 29th, the Independent Racing Series for Late Models on July 11th, and the World of Outlaw Late Models will be hosting the annual Labor Day 55 on August 29th.  A complete schedule is expected to be available in one to two weeks.

Photo Credit - Jim Bowser

L to R:  Bob Jay - Street Stock Champ, Jack Pencil - Super Late Model Champ, Tim Smith, Jr. - Limited Late Model Champ, and Chuck Weyant - Hobby Stock Champ.

The 2007 Champions....
By: Dave Harclerode

Winning a points championship is the summit of all local racer's goals. It proves that a driver was not only good, but better than all of his or her peers on a weekly basis throughout the season. Earning a championship engraves a driver's name in the record books, and gives them bragging rights for years to come. Four drivers will be crowned champion at the Speedway Banquet in December, and all of these drivers have carried this honor in the past at Bedford.

Bedford, Pa's Jack Pencil earned his 4th career Super Late Model Championship ('00, '02, '04, '07), and now only needs one more championship to tie Tom Peck for the most Super Late Model career championships at Bedford. Jack also owns two Semi-Late championships ('93, '95). Jack had a great season, but early on it appeared that he wouldn't have a shot at winning the title. He opted to miss the third point race of the season to attend a MACS race (Jack is also a former MACS champion), and despite winning on opening night, his bid for the points title looked bleak. But Jack proved to be a worthy competitor, and fought his way back through the standings as the season progressed.  Jack won 3 feature events this season, and it was the second win that probably was the most memorable. On June 22nd, he won his 50th career Bedford feature event (all divisions combined). Jack had already won more features than any other driver in Bedford's history, but 50 wins was surely a benchmark he was hoping to attain. He won his final race of the season on July 6th, which was his 20th career Super Late Model win, putting him 6th on the all-time division list, and one win behind legends Tom Peck and Turk Burket. Jack had 3 heat wins to match his feature wins, and finished third twice this season. With some of the toughest regional competition competing regularly at Bedford over the years, Jack has proven his worth. To go along with the 4 championships and 20 Super Late Model wins, he has also won atleast one feature in each of the past 5 years, and has won atleast one feature in 10 out of the last 11 years. The Championship came down to the wire, with Jack holding a slim lead over Wayne Johnson prior to the last point race of the season. The MACS were racing in the area on the same night as the Labor Day 55 (final point race), and many wondered which would take priority for Pencil and his # 14 racing team. Jack chose wisely, finished a solid 5th place in the Labor Day race, and earned the championship. Wayne Johnson finished second in the point standings, tying his career best at Bedford. Wayne was 125 points behind Pencil, and had one heat win to his credit. Scott Rhodes was the champion the past 2 seasons, and brought home a 3rd place point finish this year.  Scott was 145 points behind the leader, won 2 heat races, and was winless in the feature column for the first time since 2001. Jeff Rine had high hopes of a better season finish, but had to settle for fourth in the standings after a first lap crash in the final point race ruined any chance of advancing his standing on the point sheet. Jeff was 185 points behind the leader, had one feature win, and 3 heat race wins.  Chris Harr also had 3 heat wins on the season, and earned a 5th place finish in the final standings. One interesting note: JR Keifer and DKM have only had 2 Super Late Model Champions in the 6 years they've been promoting Bedford - Jack Pencil and Scott Rhodes. Just to throw one more amazing Pencil stat out there, Jack has a 3.75 average point standings finish over the past 13 years. That includes his first full season in a late model, and also the year he followed the MACS series exclusively and missed several Bedford point shows. That possibly may be the most impressive statistic of them all.

Tim Smith earned his second career Bedford Limited Late Model title, with the first coming in 2003. Tim had 3 feature wins and 5 heat race wins this season. His 3 feature wins gives him 21 career Bedford Limited Late wins, solidifying his spot as the all-time division feature win leader. He's also the all-time heat race win leader for the division with 23. Tim has won atleast one feature every season for the past six years, but it hasn't been all domination. After setting the county on fire in 2003, Tim also had very successful seasons in '04 and and '05, but the 2006 season wasn't as kind. He did pick up one feature win, but Tim was well off his typical multiple win / high point finish season. Maybe it was a change of luck, equipment, or attitude, but the Tim Smith that normally blisters the Bedford surface was back in '07, especially through mid-summer. Tim picked up his first win of the season June 22nd, and followed that up with a win on July 6th, from the 9th starting position. Quite a remarkable night, both Jack Pencil and Tim won their 20th career feature that night in their respective division, both started in the 9th position, and both used the high groove to their advantage. Tim won his final feature of the year August 17th, winning the second part of the twin 15 event. Two time champ Mike Shoemaker followed Smith in the standings, 195 points back. Shoemaker, the '06 champ, had 2 feature wins and 3 heat race wins. Shoemaker also follows Smith on the all-time division feature win list, 9 wins back.  Donnie Farlling had his best point finish ever at Bedford, finishing the season third. Farlling was at the top of the standings all season, and although he went winless in the feature column (he did have one heat win), Donnie was consistent each week. Following Farlling was Shawn Claar, who had 3 feature wins and 2 heat race wins. Claar could have been a champion contender, but missed one race early in the season, and had some bad luck late in the season. Despite those few negative weeks, Claar had an outstanding performance the remainder of the season and proved he'll be a force in the coming years. Craig Perigo rebounded from a disappointing '06 season to earn a 5th place finish in '07.  Perigo drove his heart out each week, and earned one feature win and one heat race win for the year. The Limited Late Model division as a whole had a great season, probably the best Limited Late racing Bedford has ever seen. With great car counts, and 9 different winners, the division is turning into the great competition it has always showed so much promise to be.

In the Street Stock division, it was Bob Jay versus the world (or so it seemed). Most fans didn't wonder if Bob would win, they wondered how long it would take until he was in the lead. Jay was fearsome, possibly even keeping some competitors away for fear of losing. Bob scored atleast 145 out of a possible 150 points every night this season but two. That is truly amazing. Bob could put his Ford in victory lane regardless of starting position, and he undoubtedly had one of the most dominating street stock seasons in Bedford's history. Bob had 7 feature wins and 4 heat race wins on the season. He's second on the division's all-time win list with 20 wins, and only needs one more to tie leader Kevin Weyandt. He's won atleast one feature every year the past 6 seasons, and this year's championship is his third career Street Stock title ('02, '03, '07). Bob also owns one Hobby Stock Championship ('00), and is the all-time feature win leader in that division. Even with Bob having so much success, young Brandon Hoover hung tough in the points standings and finished second, 195 points back. Brandon has yet to win his first feature, but did win one heat race this year. His skill level improved each week, and by the end of the season he was primed and ready for that first win. With another years worth of valuable experience under his belt, Hoover will be a tough customer in '08. Michael Stiffler tied his season standings from last year with a third place finish, but this season has to be sweeter. Michael picked up his first ever Bedford victory, and also won one heat race. The good looking Camaro ran at the front all season, and a mid-season DNF hampered his bid for the championship. Donald Wyles finished fourth in the standings for the third time in his career, but like Stiffler, he was able to earn his first career Bedford victory back in May. Wyles also had one heat race win. Jason Douglas put in his best career Bedford effort, and that earned him a fifth place point finish.  Douglas, who ended the '06 season upside down in a creek over the turn four wall, didn't disappoint the crash loving fans this season either when he barrel rolled his # 5 street stock in turns 1 and 2 after contact with another car on July 1st. Jason didn't give up, put the car back together, and finished the season, gaining valuable experience in the process.

Chuck Weyant had the best season of his career at Bedford, and won his second Hobby Stock Championship ('05, '07). Chuck had a career best 5 feature wins, placing him 4th on the all-time division win list with 10 career wins. Chuck is the division's all-time heat race winner, and his 9 heat wins this season puts his total at 27. Consistency has always been on Chuck's side, and this year he scored atleast 130 out of a possible 150 points every week but one. In a division where competitors often run inches apart, Chuck's weekly good finishes are the result of skill behind the wheel, and very little about luck. Race track neighbor Reed Stickel, Jr. had his best career Bedford season. Reed finished 115 points behind Weyant, and was in contention for the championship all the way to the end. Reed earned two feature wins and 6 heat race victories. Derrick Hinish also had his best Bedford season ever, finishing third in the point standings. Hinish won his first feature ever on opening night, and ended up with 6 wins by the time the season was over. Derrick added 9 heat race wins, and probably would've given Weyant a scare for the championship had it not been for an early season disqualification and a late season missed race. Second generation driver Brandon LaSalle matched his 2006 effort, bring home another fourth place season finish. LaSalle also was in contention for the championship, but trouble mid-season ended his shot at the title. Mandy Jay earned her best Bedford point finish with a fifth. Jay posted career best finishes at Bedford with a second and third, and is the first female in Bedford's history to finish in either position in a regularly contested feature event. Jay has a bright future in racing, and hopefully will become the first female feature winner ever at Bedford in the near future.