Two non regular classes produced two first time winners at the Bedford Speedway Friday night. In the first 2023 visit of the 305 sprints, David Grobe scored his first ever Bedford victory, while Dalton Bigler dominated the Limited event to score his first ever win. In other action, Mike Altobelli scored another EMod win while Kyle Weyant won the Semi Late race before Dalton Ritchey closed the evening with the Pure Stock win.
Daulton Bigler started on the Limited event pole by the luck of the draw and pretty much made a shambles of the field in that 20 lapper. The event got off to a rough start as Dustin Arnold managed to get the worst of a frontstretch melee and flip his 18A as the field completed lap 2.
After that red flag delay, things were relatively calm as Bigler pulled away from the field over the remaining 18 laps. Shawn Shoemaker got by Kadlin Bard on lap 5 for second and Devin Weyandt got by for third a lap later. They wrestled for position for the duration, but Bigler was long gone, Weaving through lapped traffic was not problem for Bigler, who won by a large margin over Shoemaker and Weyandt. Trent Brenneman and Matt Parks trailed. Shoemaker and Bard won the heats.
It was a blissfully happy Victory Lane celebration as Bilger’s car owner and grandfather is Ken Riland, who last won a Bedford Limited event in June of 1993, almost 30 years ago,
David Grube had to wrist wrestle his way to the front of the 305 20 lapper. Dylan Shatzer was the pole sitter and early leader as the field went ten green laps before a slowdown. That yellow placed Grube, who had climbed to second, on Shatzer’s bumper and he made good on the restart, booming by in turn 1. Shatzer fought back but eventually fell back into the clutches of Mike Alleman for his spot.
At the finish, Grube who had decided only late in the week to tow to Bedford, with the win over Shatzer, Alleman, Kenny Heffner and Josh Spicer. Grube, Spicer and Shatzer won the heats.
The area EMod kingpin, Mike Altobelli J charged to yet another win in that 20 lapper. Brandon Inglish was the early leader, chased closely by Donnie Farlling over the first four laps. On that lap the race was red flagged as a grinding crash occurred in turn three among both Taylor brothers, George Dixon and a few others who were able to continue. That crash saw some Taylor airtime and created a lengthy delay.
On the restart the top two resumed their battle but were suddenly joined by a charging Altobelli. Altobelli got by Farlling on lap six and Inglish a lap later before running off to yet another win. Farlling secured second as the leaders filed through heavy traffic and finished in that position trailed by Jacob Marker and Glen Elliott who came from deep in the pack, and Inglish. Farllung and Jimmy Jesmer won the heats.
The Semi Late event started off raggedly as Laura Chamberlain slowed on the back stretch and was impacted by Brandon Grubb. After things settled down, Kyle Weyant blasted from third to take the lead from Cale Martin on lap 2 and never looked back. Greg Hainsey jumped on Weyandt’s rear bumper and chased him for the duration but could not effect a pass.
At the finish it was Weyant, Hainsey, Brian Weyandt J, Andrew Stough and John Miller. Stough and Miller won the heats.
The Pure Stocks went all green to end the evening. Due to his low point average, Dalton Ritchey started on the pole and led from the start. It was a ten car mob for the first few laps before Ritchey started to pull away and the field dwindled. Dorian Ritchey took up the chase to the other Ritchey but was no match as the Ritcheys finished one-two. Charlie Clise, after starting eighth as the most recent winner, came all the way to third, followed by Derek Hinish and Kyle Beckett. Clise and Darian Ritchey won the heats.
LIMITED 20 LAPS Daulton Bigler, Shawn Shoemaker, Devin Weyandt, Trent Brenneman, Matt Parks, Jacob Piper, Kailyn Bard, Ryan Sager, Madeline Miller, Wes Bonebrake, Cuyler Upperman, Brandon Bard, Eddie Cornett, Brandon Bowman, Bryan Benton, Dustin Arnold, Tom Decker J, DNS Ron Fink, Matt Murphy, Laura Reilly
305 SPRINTS 20 LAPS David Grobe, Dylan Shatzer, Mike Alleman, Kenny Heffner, Josh Spicer, Austin Reed, Steve Kennewell, Kruz Kepner, Brad Mellott, John Scarborough, Donnie Hendershot, Scott Frack, Logan Jones, Reed Thompson Drew Young, AJ Barton, Dale Scgweikert, Kasey Weaver, Ron Aurand. Matt Kline, Bill Shehan, Ben Miklos, Owen Dimm, Colton Hendershot, Jim Kennedy, Ryan Lynn
EMOD 20 Laps Mike Altobelli, Donnie Farlling, Jacob Marker, Glenn Elliott, Branddon Inglish, Jimmy Jesmer, David Stremme Cody Oliver, Ridge Bookwalter, Brandon Hoover, David Green Brandon Grossman, Dan Patterson, John Whitfield, Mike Meck, Evan Taylor, Matthew Jones, Tommy Hughes, George Dixon, Jonathan Taylor
SEMI LATE 15 LAPS Kyle Weyant Greg Hainsey, Brian Weyandt J, Andrew Stough, John Miller, Josh Bumberger, Travis Calhoun, Bill Replogle, Bradlee Means, Laura Reilly, Cale Martin, Dalton Weyant, Bob Jay, Laura Chamberlain, Kyle Deneen, Brandon Grubb
PURE STOCKS 15 LAPS Dalton Ritchey, Darian Ritchey, Charlie Clise, Derek Hinish, Kyle Beckett, Denver Dishong, Barry Clark, Ron Lewis, Mark Shope, Cody Jarvie, Jay Talley, Madison Miller. Brandon Mongold, Cody King DNS Brock Bunn
