Nearly 300 Bedford Speedway drivers, crew members and fans gathered inside the Bedford Elks Ballroom on Friday evening January 25th to bring an official close to the 2018 racing season with the annual Bedford Awards Banquet.
Honored at the banquet were the top ten point finishers in the Late Models, Late Model Sportsman, Semi Late, Modified, Pure Stock and Four Cylinder divisions.
Late Model Champion Jeff Rine was presented with his awards in recognition of his fifth Bedford Super Late Model title. Rine, of Danville, piloted the potent Elbin family #92 to four feature wins this season including a thrilling victory in the $15,000 to win Bedford Keystone Cup in September.
With his fifth Bedford title in hand Rine moves ahead of Bedford legends Rick Eckert and Scott Haus who have four each, and is now tied at five with Tom Peck. Only Jack Pencil has more Bedford Late Model championships with seven. Rine was also the champion at Port Royal Speedway this season, adding that title to his overall five Bedford and 12 Selinsgrove Speedway championships.
Claiming his first Bedford Championship was Justin Weaver in the Late Model Sportsman division. Weaver, of Williamsport, MD had two feature wins this year. Weaver had a great season throughout the region, also winning the Hagerstown title on Saturday night as well as taking the Mason- Dixon Shootout Series title.
Modified champion Drake Troutman was honored for his first Bedford title. Troutman, a third generation racer residing in Hyndman, won three features in 2018. This was only his second full time season in a modified after moving up from the go cart ranks. Drake joins his father DJ, the 2015 Late Model champion as Bedford titlists.
Bill Replogle was the champion in the ultra-competitive Semi Late division. Replogle, hailing from East Freedom found victory lane three times this season in Bedford competition. This was his first Semi Late title, to go along with his two prior Pure Stock championships.
Also winning their first Bedford titles were Claysburg’s Kyle Weyant in the Pure Stocks and Everett’s Todd Price in the Four Cylinders. Weyant had a busy season running double duty each week, also finishing fourth in the Semi Late division points. Weyant backed up a consistent season with one feature win in 2018. Price had three Four Cylinder wins this season.
Longtime Late Model competitor Chuck Clise was honored with the annual Charlie Walter Memorial Sportsmanship Award in recognition of his constant help and support of his fellow racers through the years. The sportsman award is in honored of the multi-time Bedford track champion who tragically lost his life several years ago.
Bedford now looks forward to the upcoming racing season with on track activity will commencing on Saturday afternoon March 30th, with a test and tune session open to all racers.
The 2019 racing season will officially kick off on Friday night, April 5th with the 83rd Anniversary Opening Day. In action that night will be the Late Models racing for $2000 to win, joined by the Modifieds, $750 to win, Semi Lates, $400 to win and Pure Stocks $250 to win.
On Sunday April 7th the speedway will host the annual race car show held in conjunction with the Bedford Chamber of Commerce Home & Garden Show. Immediately following the car show will be an on track test and tune session open to all racers.
Friday night racing continues throughout the summer, every week until Labor Day, with the occasional Sunday and holiday shows also on the schedule. As is tradition the Super Late Models will continue to headline Bedford racing, with a strong weekly program being augmented by several special events. The 2019 Bedford racing season will conclude at the end of September with the $15,000 to win Keystone Cup Classic for the Late Models.
Bedford Speedway hosted its first auto race on September 5th 1936, with Depression-era star Billy Winn taking the win. Over the past 83 years the track has hosted some of the greatest names in racing history. The speedway is located at the intersection of I-99 & US 30, with easy access from PA Turnpike exit 146, just blocks from beautiful downtown Bedford, PA. The large fairgrounds oval plays host to weekly Friday night racing, as well as a diverse mix of special events.
Visit www.bedfordspeedway.com for more event information or visit Bedford Speedway on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for more Bedford updates.
