Proving persistence pays off, Matt Cosner wrestled the lead late from Justin Weaver and scored the Late Model win at Bedford Friday night. It was Cosner’s 18th career win at the track and he became the third different winner in the 3 week old 2023 season.
In other action, Bob Jay, former champion of the class, won his first Semi Late event in over three years, Drake Troutman was the EMod winner, Charlie Clise took the Pure Stock main and Javid Fairall closed the evening with the 4 Cylinder win.
Justin Weaver started on the Late Model front row and jumped out to the early lead in that 25 lapper. But after pulling away early, he was joined in close proximity at the front by Matt Cosner. Preferring the low groove to Weaner’s high groove choice, the race was on between them. Lap after lap the pair went at it, often side by side, in a battle interrupted only by a few minor caution breaks.
But, while the top two attracted the most attention, eyes soon drifted to Kyle Lee who had started sixth and had clawed his way to third by lap 8. He ran down the lead duo giving Cosner more to worry about than just Weaver. But as the laps wound down, it appeared that Weaver;s groove was wearing out slightly and Cosner was getting stronger. Finally on lap 19, Cosner inched by for good and took over. But h the last 6 laps would not be easy. Lee cleared Weaver on lap 20 and instantly closed on Cosner. The pair took the white flag side by side but Cosner defended his position and held for the win by less than a half second over the feisty Lee..
Drake Troutman also got by Weaver late to take third, Weaver and Alex Ferree completed the top 5.Chuck Clise and Lee won the heats.
For the second week in a row it was a Ford in Semi Late victory lane as Bob Jay did the trick. Due to a rough start to the 2023 season, Jay was the pole sitter for the event and took the early lead. Jay received almost instant pressure from Kyle Deneen but held off the youngster lap after lap. But closing fast was Nick Bechtel. Bechtel had moved to third and was closing fast until his motor violently and spectacularly exploded on lap 8. The resulting fireball and track cleanup halted action but Jay and Deneen r continued their battle when racing resumed.
Deneen retired three laps later allowing Andrew Stough to challenge Jay, but he fell short at the finish. Brisn Weyandt Jr and John Miller came from deep in the field to claim the next two spots, Bill Replogle took fifth. Kyle Weyandt and Kyle Deneen won the heats.
By the luck of the draw, Drake Troutman started on the EMod pole and led the event flag to flag. Mike Altobelli Jr got to second but never threatened Troutman, Mitch Thomas, George Dixon and Donnie Farlling trailed the pair. Cody Oliver, Scott Heath and Troutman won the heats.,
Denver Dishong was the early Pure Stock leader but he drew a mob at the front. Six cars challenged Disgong but he hung on. As the laps wound down, Charlie Clise threaded his way into second and concentrated on Dishond. After several attempts were thwarted, Clise finally forged ahead to score the win. Dishong held off the rest of the mob to score a season best second at the line, followed by Kyle Beckett, Cody Jarvie and Derek Hinish. Jason Haggerty and Kyle Beckett won the heats,
The 4 cylinder finale was wild from start to finish. Action was halted on lap one as newcomer Cody Hedrick took a wild flip in turn one. That cleanup caused a red flag but intense action resumed on the restart, Todd Price was the early leader but ten cars fought for the chance to challenge him. Price;s car got sick on lap 6 and he surrendered the lead to Javid Fairall before retiring. Fairall then held off the mob to score the win. Colin Welsh, Darren Howsare, Josh Corbin and Shawn Smith trailed. Harlan Group, Brad Marker and Howsare won the heats.
LATE MODEL 25 LAPS Matt Cosner Kyle Lee Drake Troutman, Justin Weaver, Alex Ferree, Matt Sponaugle, Spike Moore, Jeff Rine, Jon Lee, Gene Knaub, Chuck Clise, Bryan Bernheisel, Khi Swanger, Logan Zarin, Tyler Ritchey, Brian Booze, Wayne Johnson, Ernie Millon, Nathan Lasalle
EMOD 20 LAPS Drake Troutman, Mike Altobelli. Mitch Thomas, George Dixon, Donnie Farlling, Cody Oliver, Dan Davies, David Stremme, Brandon Hoover, Glen Elliott, Ryan Dolan, Brandon Inglish, John Whitfield, Amber Mills. Mike Meck, Scott Heath, David Green, Matthew Jones, Tommy Hughes, Dan Patterson, Ed Vogel
SEMI LATES 15 LAPS Bob Jay, Andrew Stough, Brian Weyandt J, John Miller, Bill Repkogle, Dalton Weyandt, Josh Bumberger, Travis Calhoun, Kyle Weyandt, Greg Hainsey, Laura Chamberlain, Laura Reilly, Bradlee Means, Kyle Deneen, Tony Catlett, Nick Bechtel, Cale Martin
PURE STOCKS 15 LAPS Charlie Clise, Denver Dishong, Kyle Beckett, Cody Jarvie, Derek Hinish, Damian Ritchey, Mark Shope, Tom Lewis, Madison Miller, Jason Haggerty, Dominik Weyandt, Brad Bookwalter, Barry Clark, DNS Dalton Ritchey
4CYLINDERS 12 LAPS Javid Fairall, Colin Welsh, Darren Howsare, Josh Corbin, Shawn Smith, Derek Long, Tom Brady, Kirklyn Strauser, Wayne Brenize, Ernie Hewitt, Josh Borland, Haydem Kline, Matt Kauffman, Jimmy Delozier, Kordell Hauger, Dwayne Watring, Karl Bailey, Richard Athey, Bradley Ross, Dustin Stine, Todd Price. Brad Marker, Harlan Group, Cody Hedrick DNS Harold Crawford
