Matt Sponaugle rose to the occasion and scored the big Late Model win at Bedford Speedway Friday night. It was Sponaugle’s fifth career Lat Model win at the track but his first in almost two years. In other action, chronic 2018 winners continued domination in two classes as Mike Altobelli Jr and Wayne Brenize continued Emod and 4 Cylinder domination. Jesse Snyder rallied for a dramatic last lap win in Semi Late action while Josh Frankenberry won the wild Pure Stock event.
After several weeks of road tripping, former track big winner Matt Cosner returned. After hard luck in his other two 2018 visits, Cosner’s low point average earned him the Late Model pole and he took off at the start for the early lead.
But Sponaugle had other ideas. After charging from fourth to second on the first lap, Sponaugle chased Cosner, and began to close. Sponaugle was only a few lengths behind as the first caution flew on lap nine for Wayne Johnson who stopped in turn two. That slow down was to prove pivotal as Cosner drifted to a halt on the front stretch with a broken fuel line.
On the restart, Sponaugle shot out ahead of DJ Troutman before Bryan Bernheisel snatched second spot a lap later. Bernheisel gave chase but Sponaugle pulled away with every lap. A second caution on lap 16 found Jeff Rine in the picture as he had secured third and was all over Bernheisel on the restart.
Sponaugle pulled away over the last nine laps to secure the win. Rine heavily pressured Bernheisel before settling for third, ahead of Chuck Clise and Allen Brannon. Cosner and Bernheisel won the heats.
As the most recent winner, Mike Altobelli Jr started eighth in the Emod event. Brian Duffy in a team car was the pole sitter and broke out into the lead but Altobelli was the big mover as he successfully evae a big first lap pileup and restarted second in the field. Altobelli shot by Duffy on lap two and sped away for yet anothr Emod win. Duffy held off Drake Troutman for the duration, often in exciting lapped traffic action to secoue second at the line, a big one two finish for the Harding family team.
Troutman, Ken Singer and Justin Milburn completed the top five. Altobelli and Troutman won the heats.
The best race of the night was the Semi late 15 lapper. Greg Hainsey was the early leader but Chris Chamberlain closed on the leader after taking second on lap 5. Chamberlain closed but brought along Jesse Snyder and Bill Replogle to make it a 4 way mob at the front. For six laps the gang went two by two in tight formation but Hainsey hung on. The picture changed on lap 12 as Snyder and Chamberlain tangled with Chamberlain spun.
On the restart, Snyder applied the pressure on Hainsey and slid by as the white flag flew. Snyder then ran off to secure the win. Hainsey held off Replogle for second at the line. Dave Whetstone and Kyle Weyanst completed the top five. Mark Patterson and Boyd Brode won the heats.
The Pure Stock 15 lapper was action packed. Josh Franjenberry was the pole starter but Delmar Donivan grabbed the lead at the start. Frankenberry refused to give up and hounded Donivan lap after lap as the crowd at the front grew.
Frankenberry finally inched by on lap 10. Second running Donivan spun in front of the field a lap later moving Darren Howsare and Kyle Weyandt up into the fray. Donivan’s exciting ride continued as he managed to flip down the front stretch on the restart causing a red flag.
With things settled down, Frankenberry led the last five laps to secure the win. Howsare, Barry Weyandt, Kyle Weyandt and Laura Chamberlain trailed. Shawn Shoemaker and Frankenberry won the heats.
Adam Plubell led the 4 Cylinder event as a six car mob battled. Wayne Brenize caught the group and began to work his way through. Finally on lap six, Brenize slid by Plubell for the lead and ran off to another win. Todd Price ran second ahead of Steve Frederick, Chris Reckner and Kyle Frankenberry. Price and Devin Iser won the heats.
LATE MODEL 25 LAPS 1 Matt Sponaugle, Bryan Bernheisel, Jeff Rine, Chuck Clise, Allen Brannon, Wayne Johnson, Jayme Beck, DJ Troutman, Nathan Lasalle, Andy Fries, Matt Cosner, Justin Michael, Dave Troutman, DNS Rob Black
EMOD 18 LAP 1 Mike Altobelli Jr, Brian Duffy, Drake Troutman, Ken Singer, Justin Milburn, Alyssa Rowe, Joe Pluta, Mike Meck, Sam Reeder, Ken Summers, Beau Aikey, Ryan Peer, Dave Brown, DNS Jamie Kohan
SEMI LATE 15 LAP 1 Jesse Snyder, Greg Hainsey, Bill Replogle, Dave Whetstone, Kyle Weyandt, Brian Weyandt Jr, Scott Sturtz, Mark Patterson, Tom Brady, Cale Martin, Chubby Childers, Chris Wolfe, Chris Chamberlain, Ryan Whetstone, Boyd Brode, DNS Bob Jay
PURE STOCK 15 LAPS 1 Josh Frankenberry, Darren Howsare, Barry Weyandt, Kyle Weyandt, Laura Chamberlain, Tim Brown, Erik Weyandt, Shawn Shoemaker, Nathan Gilliland, Dave Riley, James Foor, Charlie Clise, Dakota Foor, Trent Clark, Reed Stickel, Preston Imler, Delmar Donivan, Nick Bechtell, Denny pittman, Dalton Ritchey, DNS Travis Group.
4 CYLINDER 12 laps 1 Wayne Brenize, Todd Price, Stevbe Frederick, Chris Reckner, Kyle Frankenberry, Bill Shehan, Adam Plubell, Jeremy Miller, Bryan Ickes, Billy Perino, Michael Carlyle, Kevin Banzoff, Rusty Martin, Dalton Long, Dustin Kinser, DNSKarl Bailey Steven Martin, DQ Chris Graybill
