By: Dave Harclerode
BEDFORD, PA – The Three State Flyer Series was in Bedford Friday night for the final race of the season, and Jason Covert picked up his third win of the season at the historic speedway. The win was also his third win of the season in the series. Matt Sponaugle picked up his second win of the season in the Limited Late Model division, and Bill Henney won his third race of the season in the Street Stocks. Rick Potter won his first race in the Hobby Stock division since 2002, and Robert Pluta won his first career win at Bedford in the 4 Cylinder division.
In Super Late Model action, Jason Covert thrilled fans in an exciting 35 lap Three State Flyer series main event. Covert started fourth, and second starting Jeremy Miller took the early lead. Miller kept a wicked pace, with Chuck Clise, Covert, and JT Spence in tow. Covert worked his way to second, and it wasn’t long until the front runners caught lapped traffic. A scary moment happened for second running Covert in turn two when he made contact with a lapped car and suffered some cosmetic damage to the right rear of the car. The yellow came out for the incident as the lapped car of Keith Killander was disabled for the evening. When racing resumed, Covert took to the bottom of the speedway and the leader Miller ran the highside. Within a few laps, the pair once again caught lapped traffic and Covert made a daring move in turn 3 to take the lead with 17 laps to go. Covert lasted few several late race cautions to take the victory over Miller, Chuck Clise, Jack Pencil from ninth, and JT Spence. Rounding out the top ten was Jeff Miller, Brian Booze, Ricky Elliott, Matt Parks, and Derek Byler. Chuck Clise won the dash, and Clise, Jeremy Miller, and JT Spence won the preliminary heats.
Matt Sponaugle stole the lead from Travis Stickley on the second lap of the Limited Late Model feature, and dominated the entire event. Rick Singleton started in the eleventh position and battled to the second spot, but there was nothing in the tank for Sponaugle. Following Sponaugle and Singleton was Mike Altobelli, Jr., DJ Troutman, and Stickley. Matt Cosner was sixth, and Donnie Farlling, Chris Harr, Tim Smith, Jr., and Matt Howsare completed the top ten. Sponaugle and Howsare won the heats.
Bill Henney started on the pole for the $1,000 to win Street Stock special, but took the win the hard way. Dave Brown was the early leader as Henney faded to third behind Donald Wyles. Henney, driving the absolute highest line on the speedway possible worked his way back into the lead to take the win in a very exciting feature event. Brian Duffy came home second from his seventh starting position, and Dave Brown was third. Rich Swope and Greg Hainsey completed the top five. Sixth through tenth went to Bob Jay, Tom Warren, Paul Gambol, Ernest Goss, Jr., and Jesse Snyder. Duffy and Daryl Whetstone won the heat events.
Rick Potter led the majority of the Hobby Stock feature before Brian Duffy, driving Travis Group’s number 7, stole the lead with just a few laps to go. However, Duffy failed a post race tech inspection and Potter was declared the winner. Bill Replogle, Charlie Walter, Lou Wannyn, and Chad Gambol completed the top five. Duffy and Reed Stickel won the heats.
Robert Pluta started on the pole and led every lap to take the 4 cylinder season ender. Andrew Pluta came home second, Casey Fleegle third, Steve Frederick fourth, and Mike Lauffer fifth. Lauffer and Andrew Pluta won the qualifying heats.
The Bedford Speedway congratulates it’s five champions: Jeff Rine in the Late Models, Rick Singleton in the Limited Late Models, Bill Henney in the Street Stocks, Bill Replogle in the Hobby Stocks, and Paul Crynock, Jr. in the 4 Cylinders. Visit the web at www.bedfordspeedway.com through the off-season to stay informed for information regarding the banquet and the 2011 season.
