Racers notes and some things of interest regarding the upcoming Bedford racing season which kicks off on Saturday March 24th with an open practice session
Pit Parking: This season the parking in the pit area will be reorganized, to allow for better sightlines of the track for the fans. The current layout of parking has grown outdated as the racers rigs have continued to get bigger and taller, blocking parts of the track for the fans.
A new pit area, outside of turn four has been constructed for the Late Models & Late Model Sportsman to use. Parking in the infield will now be limited to Mod, PS, SL & 4C. Those trailers remaining in the infield will be parking on the frontstretch side, while the backstretch side will be used as a hot pit area for the Late Models.
Late Models parking in the new outside pit area will enter and leave the track via a new access road constructed outside turn 3 and 4. Teams parking their rig in the outside pits will now be able to enter and leave the track without obstructing the view of fans, while also preventing congestion in the infield. Fans will still be able to watch pit activities in the infield, while also having an open view of the whole track.
Annual Car Show: The Spring racecar how will again be held in conjunction with the Bedford Home Garden & Lifestyle Show on Sunday April 8th. The Home & Garden Show takes place Saturday & Sunday all day at the Jordan Building on the fairgrounds. The car show portion of the event will take place on Sunday from Noon to 3pm. All racers are welcome to bring their cars out to the show on Sunday to meet and greet with their fans.
Bedford Fair Racing: For the first time in 20 years there will be two nights of racing at the Annual Bedford Fair, with Sunday and Friday racing events planned. There will be four divisions racing each night, with a full racing program of heats and features for each division. The Sunday July 22nd Fair Race will honor the life and driving career of the late Elmer Ruby. Ruby, known as the Artemas Charger, drove a modified and a sprint car throughout the region with wins at numerous tracks. Friday nights racing program will honor the memory of Frank Dunkle, the racer and longtime respected Bedford area businessman who passed away last year.
Fan Special Nights: This year the speedway will be hosting $2.00 admission night on Friday 29th. Racing that evening will be Modifieds, Semi Lates, Pure Stocks & Four Cylinders, each racing 20 laps. As is tradition, the Friday after the fair in August will again be $5.00 admission night for fans. For the 12th season in a row Bedford fans will not see in increase in prices. Regular Friday night admission for the pits and grandstands will continue to remain the same as they have since 2007. To go along with no increase in prices, each division will receive a purse increase this season.
Special Events: Bedford has teamed with a number of area tracks for a series of Late Model special events. The Tri-Track Late Model Challenge Series presented by KRS Graphics will include a race at Bedford on June 1st, Port Royal on June 2nd, and Williams Grove on June 8th. All three series races will pay points towards the overall point fund with each feature event paying a minimum of $3,000 to win. We are also partnering with Winchester, Hagerstown, Georgetown, Potomac & US 13 in the Clash for Cash Series with each of those races paying $3000 to win and having an overall point champion.
In addition as part of the Inaugural Keystone Cup in September several qualifying races are scheduled. The champion of the Tri Track Series will be receiving an automatic qualifier along with the winners of the qualifying races at Georgetown Speedway and Tyler County Speedway in July.
This year we will again be teaming up with Winchester as part of our 82nd Anniversary Billy Winn Classic. With both tracks celebrating their first race in 1936, each will be hosting identical $8200 to win, $600 to start 50 lap events. Bedford will kick off the weekend on Friday July 13th, and the following night Winchester will be in action.
The Mason-Dixon Shootout Series will be visiting Bedford three times this season for $1000 to win shows. At the Memorial Day show they will be running topless, as part of a topless weekend after visiting Hagerstown the night before. In July the series visit will be part of a weekend mini-series for extra money along with Williams Grove, and Hagerstown. The Mason-Dixon Series has partnered with many of the area tracks to help unify the Late Model Sportsman division under a common rules and purse package for the racers benefit.
Additional developments for the 2018 season will be posted on this website throughout the spring.
