FEATHERS WINS BEDFORD MACS 50 LAPPER
By Dave Harclerode
BEDFORD, PA - The MACS Super Late Models were on hand Friday evening, and Bo Feathers led all 50 laps to take home the five thousand dollar grand prize. The racing surface was in excellent condition as 42 drivers attempted to make the final cut for the 24 car A-main field. The Bedford Valley Petroleum Limited Late Models were also on hand, and Craig Perigo earned his first victory of the season. In Ritchey Sandblasting Hobby Stock action, Chuck Weyant took the checkered for the second time this season.
The MACS have a long storied history with the Bedford Speedway, and each and every show over the years has been exceptional. The evening started with time trials, and Jeremy Miller set fast time with a best lap of 20.436, less than half a second off the track record set last year by Tim McCreadie. After the 5 heat races and 2 great B-Mains, the 24 car field lined up for the main event. Four time Bedford Champ Rick Eckert sat on the pole, with Bo Feathers along side. Feathers, who won earlier this season at the speedway, immediately grabbed the lead and was in control. Feathers flew around the big oval seemingly effortless, as the rest of the field battled for position. Jack Pencil brought out the first caution when he suffered a mechanical failure, and the field lined up and took the green under the Deleware restart format. The field bunched up, causing a recoil effect that piled up a portion of the field in turn four. Eliminated from competition was Nick Dickson, Gary Stuhler, DJ Troutman, and Steve Everhart. On the next restart, Feathers again was in command, with Eckert, Greg Fetters, and Jeremy Miller in tow. Bedford regular Ron Delano was on the move from his 13th starting spot, as was Jason Covert from his 17th starting spot. Delano thrilled local fans as he ran the topside of the track, steadily improving his position. Delano, who had worked his way all the way up to fourth place by the half way mark, suffered a left rear flat, ending his great run. Local racers Greg Fetters and Scott Rhodes were also having great runs, with Fetters hanging just outside the top five, and Rhodes battling his way from 15th to the top ten. Another Bedford regular also looked to have a top five finish in his hand was Jeff Rine, but he too suffered a flat tire. As Feathers checked out on the field, Jeremy Miller took 2nd from Eckert, and Jason Covert and Robbie Blair battled for the fourth spot for several laps. Covert, the 2nd B-Main winner, eventually got by Blair and secured the position. At the end it was Feathers taking the checkered first, followed by Miller, Eckert, Covert, and Blair. Fetters maintained his solid run and finished 6th, and first time Bedford racer Matt Lux took home 7th. Rhodes came up 8th, and was followed by Jim Bernheisel and Mike Balzano. A hard crash on the first lap eliminated Howie Bussard, Brian Lowery, Al Sharver, and Jim Leidy. Qualifying heat wins went to Josh Richards, Blair, Nick Dickson, Jeff Rine, and Matt Lux. B-main winners for the two races were Jack Pencil and Jason Covert. Eckert won the dash.
Craig Perigo won his first Limited Late Model feature of the season on a night paid the winner $1,000. Perigo, who started on the pole, led flag to flag, but was challenged hard by Mike Altobelli, Jr. Perigo maintained his line on the bottom of the speedway, and Altobelli was determined to make the pass on the inside. Perigo was consistent lap after lap, and Altobelli, who raced him clean, was right there waiting for that one mistake. The mistake never happened, and Perigo came home the winner over Altobelli, George Beckett, Travis Calhoun, and Andy Teno. Sixth through tenth went to Derek Byler, Shawn Claar, Tim Smith, Jr., Donnie Farlling, and Robbie Black. Smith and Calhoun won the heats.
Chuck Weyant finally broke Derrick Hinish's win streak in the Hobby Stock division, picking up his second win of the season. Reed Stickel gave chase, but didn't have enough to over take the blazing fast Weyant. Bill Replogle finished third, ahead of Shawn Dunmeyer and Mandy Jay. Weyant and Hinish won the heats.
The speedway will be taking a night off this coming week, and the historic track will return to action on July 27th for the Great Bedford Fair Sweepstakes, featuring Super Late Models, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, and Hobby Stocks.
SUPER LATE MODELS - 42 cars
FEATURE (50 laps): 1. Bo Feathers 2. Jeremy Miller 3. Rick Eckert 4. Jason Covert 5. Robbie Blair 6. Greg Fetters 7. Matt Lux 8. Scott Rhodes 9. Jim Bernheisel 10. Mike Balzano 11. Wayne Johnson 12. Rod Conley 13. Eric Zembower 14. Jeff Rine 15. Dan Stone 16. Doug Drown 17. Josh Richards 18. Ron Delano 19. Nick Dickson 20. Gary Stuhler 21. DJ Troutman 22. Steve Everhart 23. Jack Pencil 24. DJ Myers
HEAT 1: Josh Richards, Jeremy Miller, Greg Fetters
HEAT 2: Robbie Blair, Wayne Johnson, Bo Feathers
HEAT 3: Nick Dickson, Rick Eckert, Scott Rhodes
HEAT 4: Jeff Rine, Ron Delano, Mike Balzano
HEAT 5: Matt Lux, Gary Stuhler, DJ Myers
B-MAIN 01: Jack Pencil
B-MAIN 02: Jason Covert
FAST TIME: Jeremy Miller
DNQ: Jeff Miller, David Williams, Chuck Clise, Davey Johnson, Rodney Sweitzer, Dave Troutman, Scott Haus, Mark Banal, Devin Friese, Shawn Claar, Andy Martz, Shane Beegle, Travis Dillman, Craig Vosbergen, Jim Leidy, Keith Killander, TJ Wright, Coleby Frye
LIMITED LATE MODELS
FEATURE: 1. Craig Perigo 2. Mike Altobelli, Jr. 3. George Beckett 4. Travis Calhoun 5. Andy Teno 6. Derek Byler 7. Shawn Claar 8. Tim Smith, Jr. 9. Donnie Farlling 10. Robbie Black 11. Travis Stickley 12. Randy Burkholder 13. Steve Bard 14. Al Shawver 15. Brian Lowery 16. Howie Bussard 17. Jim Leidy
HEAT 1: Smith, Bussard, Beckett
HEAT 2: Calhoun, Claar, Teno
HOBBY STOCKS
FEATURE: 1. Chuck Weyant 2. Reed Stickel 3. Bill Replogle 4. Shawn Dunmeyer 5. Mandy Jay 6. Jason Gilliland 7. Ray Shepherd 8. Mike Siegele 9. Mark Shope 10. Justin Milburn 11. Bob Brumbaugh 12. Terry Thomas 13. Derrick Hinish 14. Eric Weyant
DNS: Devin Weyandt
HEAT 1: Chuck Weyant, Replogle, Stickel
HEAT 2: Hinish, Gilliland, Brumbaugh
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