This Friday night will be the 27th running of the Late Model Labor Day 55 Lap Classic, sanctioned by the Three State Flyers. The winner of the 55 Lap feature will be earning a $5055 payday. Also in action will be the Semi Lates, Modifieds, Pure Stocks and Four Cylinders. Friday night gates open at 5:00, with warmups at 7:00 and racing at 7:30. General Admission will be $22, with kids 12 and under free and pit admission $32.
Sunday Bedford will return to racing action with the final points race for the Late Model Sportsman, Pure Stocks and Four Cylinders. They will be joined by special visits by the Laurel Highlands 305 Sprints and the Penn Mar Vintage Club. The Late Model Sportsman will be racing 25 laps for $1000 to win. Sunday gates open at 4:00, with warmups at 6:00 and racing at 6:30. General Admission will be $10, kids 12 and under free and pit admission will be $25.
With points racing complete, Bedford will then take a few week break with racing resuming for the annual Fall Fest on Friday and Saturday nights September 19th and 20th.
This will be the 27th running of the Labor Day Classic at Bedford, run in various forms and distances. When Chuck Brannon won the first race in 1988 it a 40 lap affair. The following year the race expanded to its traditional 55 lap distance for the first time, and has been that way for most years since. Traditionally the 55 is the longest, richest, and most prestigious event of the year on the Bedford schedule. Dylan Yoder is the defending champion of the 55, taking his first career Bedford win in last season’s event.
Sunday nights racing program is dedicated to the memory of Billy Winn, one of the most famous racers of the 1930’s and the winner of the first auto race at the Bedford Speedway on September 5th 1936. Since that first AAA Sanctioned event, the speedway has been in nearly continuous operation for the past 78 seasons. Bedford is the oldest currently operated track in Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest in the country.
Bedford Labor Day Classic Winners
1988- Chuck Brannon
1989- Jeff Smith
1990- Tom Clise
1991- Rick Eckert
1992- Rick Eckert
1993- Tom Clise
1994- Bob Salathe
1995- Nathan Durborow
1996- Andy Fries
1997- Roy Deese
1998- Lynn Geisler
1999- Jack Pencil
2000- Todd Ritchey
2001- Scott Haus
2002- Jack Pencil
2003- Jack Pencil
2004- Scott Haus
2005- Gary Stuhler
2006- Jeremy Miller
2007- Gary Stuhler
2008- Steve Francis
2009- Cancelled
2010- Cancelled
2011- Nick Dickson
2012- Jason Covert
2013- Dylan Yoder
