CORNMAN BAGS OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS IN BEDFORD STREET STOCK SPECIAL
By Dave Harclerode
BEDFORD, PA - The Bedford Speedway had their annual Walt Aikey Memorial Street Stock Special Friday evening, and Daniel Cornman led all 30 laps to take home the $600 winner's share plus over $400 in lap money, which was generously donated by fans and local businesses. The Super Late Models had the week off, but the Limited Late Models stepped up and put on a great show for the late model diehard fans. Shawn Claar won his second feature of the season, and he too earned an extra $225 in lap money on top of his winnings. Charlie Walter won for the first time in his career at Bedford in the Hobby Stock division, and received an extra $175 in lap money on top of his prize money.
The Walt Aikey memorial has become an annual event that many in the TC Race Cars sponsored Street Stock division look forward to. It's the highest paying event for the division at the Speedway, and cars from all over the region are invited to come and take on the Bedford regulars with a "your own track's rules" format. Daniel Cornman, a regular at the Rock Speedway in Cumberland is no stranger to Bedford. His win Friday night was his 13th Street Stock win of his career at Bedford, he fended off some of the best in the business. Bill Henney, the 2006 Aikey Memorial winner was knocking at the door for the second half of the 30 lap event, but Cornman was up for the challenge, keeping Henney at an arm length all the way to the checkered. Jamie Swank came home third, and Donald Wyles was the first Bedford regular across the line in fourth. Greg Cornell finished fifth, and was followed by Scott White, Brandon Hoover, Greg Hainsey, Terry Wyles, and Bob Jay. Jay, who has been on a hot streak at Bedford, dropped out of the race with a broken rear while running fourth. Donald Wyles and Henney won the qualifying events.
In Bedford Valley Petroleum Limited Late Model action, Shawn Claar was victorious, but not without a fight. Tyler Hershey, Tim Smith, Jr., and Andy Fries all battled relentlessly until Fries finally secured the spot and started reeling in race leader Claar. Fries appeared to have everything working in fine condition and was giving Claar a very serious challenge for the top spot when a caution came out with four laps to go. The caution was unkind to Fries, and a mechanical malfunction ended his strong bid for the win. In the final laps, Smith slipped by into second, and followed Claar to the checkered. Fries battled a broken suspension part and came home third, followed by Hershey and Mike Altobelli, Jr. Unfortunately, Altobelli refused to allow a post race engine seal check, and was disqualified. Robbie Black was then scored in the fifth spot, with Andy Teno sixth, Randy Burkholder seventh, and Jerry Bard, Bob Dunn, and Mike Shoemaker rounding out the top ten. Teno was the hard charger, advancing 11 positions. Hershey, Fries, and Bard won the heat race events.
Charlie Walter ran a fine race to win the Ritchey Sandblasting Hobby Stock feature. Relatively a newcomer, Charlie held many of Bedford's top Hobby Stock drivers at bay on his way to victory. Following Walter was Chuck Weyandt, Reed Stickel, and former division ace Shawn Wyles, who just recently came out of retirement. Mandy Jay was fifth, and sixth through tenth went to Brandon LaSalle, Jason Gilliland, Eric Weyant, Ray Shepherd, and Justin Milburn. Walter and Stickel won the heats.
The Classic Cars were on hand for the first time ever at Bedford, and the 305 engine, coupe bodied, street stock style chassis cars put on a great show. Bill Brown, Sr. won this inaugural event, fending off a hard charging Glenn Elliott, who came all the way from the 13th starting spot. Kurt Welsh, Brian Diehl, and Joe Snodgrass rounded out the top five. Completing the top ten was Roland Brown, Jack Yingling, Jim Crocker, Joe Alder, and Mike Schultz. Brown, Sr. and Welsh won the heat events.
The Miller Auto Parts Super Late Models will be back in action this Friday, along with Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, and Hobby Stocks for a regular 4 division show. Also included will be another round of kid's car rides, which will start at 6:15pm. Hot laps will begin at 7pm, with racing at 7:30. Coming Friday, August 17th - it's Twin 20's for the Super Lates, and Twin 15's for the Limited Lates. There will be $500 added to the Street Stock purse, and the Hobby Stocks will be racing for double purse. Please call the speedway office with questions regarding this schedule change on the 17th.
STREET STOCKS
FEATURE (30 laps): 1. Daniel Cornman 2. Bill Henney 3. Jamie Swank 4. Donald Wyles 5. Greg Cornell 6. Scott White 7. Brandon Hoover 8. Greg Hainsey 9. Terry Wyles 10. Bob Jay (DNF) 11. Jarrett Walker (DNF) 12. John Harr (DNF) 13. Michael Stiffler (DNF) 14. Patrick McDonough (DNF) 15. Brian Duffy (DNF) 16. Shane Molovich (DNF)
DNS: Ken Singer
HEAT 1: D. Wyles, Harr, Hainsey
HEAT 2: Henney, Swank, Cornman
LIMITED LATE MODELS
FEATURE: 1. Shawn Claar 2. Tim Smith, Jr. 3. Andy Fries 4. Tyler Hershey 5. Robbie Black 6. Andy Teno 7. Randy Burkholder 8. Jerry Bard 9. Bob Dunn 10. Mike Shoemaker 11. Lincoln Ritchey 12. Brian Lowery 13. Howie Bussard 14. George Beckett 15. Travis Stickley 16. Ashley Barrett 17. Travis Calhoun (DNF) 18. Eddie Cornett (DNF) 19. Rick Singleton (DNF) 20. Craig Perigo (DNF) 21. Danny McAllen (DNF) 22. Donnie Farlling (DNF) 23. Mike Altobelli, Jr. (DQ)
HEAT 1: Hershey, Smith, Altobelli
HEAT 2: Fries, Black, Claar
HEAT 3: Bard, Dunn, Burkholder
HOBBY STOCKS
FEATURE: 1. Charlie Walter 2. Chuck Weyant 3. Reed Stickel 4. Shawn Wyles 5. Mandy Jay 6. Brandon LaSalle 7. Jason Gilliland 8. Eric Weyant 9. Ray Shepherd 10. Justin Milburn 11. Kevin Hinish (DNF) 12. Derrick Hinish (DNF) 13. Davey Gross, Jr. (DNF) 14. Mark Shope (DNF)
DNS: Matt Thomas
HEAT 1: Walter, Wyles, Jay
HEAT 2: Stickel, D. Hinish, Shope
CLASSIC CARS
FEATURE: 1. Bill Brown, Sr. 2. Glenn Elliott 3. Kurt Welsh 4. Brian Diehl 5. Joe Snodgrass 6. Roland Brown 7. Jack Yingling 8. Jim Crocker 9. Joe Alder 10. Mike Schultz 11. Phil Alexander 12. Charlie Summers 13. Kevin Palmer 14. Matt Wallace 15. Brooks Coleman 16. Al Daniels 17. Neal Reamer 18. Charlie Weaver 19. Allen Daniels
HEAT 1: Brown, Sr., Elliott, Weaver
HEAT 2: Welsh, Snodgrass, Daniels
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