Late Model star Mason Zeigler jumped into an Emod to participate in the Troutman memorial fallfest weekend at Bedford and came away with a big win Friday night. For Zeigler, it was his second big Bedford win in a row as he was also the victor in the Late Model Labor Day 55 in the track’s previous program. The win in the 30 lapper was worth $4000 for the happy winner. In the companion event, Rick Potter emerged from an early race dogfight to score the 20 lap Semi Late victory.
Pre race favorites Ethan Dodson and Kyle Strickler led the 25 cars to the green flag and it was Dodson with the early lead. Strickler was in hot pursuit until he brushed the wall in turn one on lap four, losing several spots. Zeigler was the benefactor of Strickler;s miscue as he jumped into second and took off after Dodson.
With the opening laps going all green, the two leaders began to encounter sometimes heavy lapped traffic by lap 12. Zeigler closed on Dodson but the pair was soon joined by a fast closing Dave Hess Jr as they weaved among the lappers.
Zeigler finally made his move, taking the lead from Dodson on lap 20 Hess also got by the early leader and was all over Zeigler for the lead when the only caution in the race flew on lap 25 with the leaders mired in deep heavy traffic. On the restart, with open track ahead, Zeigler and Hess got away from the field with Dodson in hot pursuit. In a separate battle, Glen Elliott got by George Dixon for fourth as they battled with Mike Altobelli.
Over the last 5 laps, although Hess gave it a great effort, Zeigler held on for the win. Hess, Dodson, Glenn Elliott, owner of the winning car, and George Dixon completed the top 5. Strickler nursed his wounded car to an 11th place finish. Heats for the 48 cars were won by Strickler, Hess, Zeigler and Dodson. Evan Taylor and Jonathan Taylor won the twin B events. Mike Meck was the track high point provisional.
With the event spinning off with only the one interruption, 24 of the 25 starters were around at the end, 17 on the lead lap. with only Ray Kable retiring early.
In the preliminary Semi Late event, Greg Hainsey started up front in his 16 year old car and was the early leader. But life at the front wasn’t easy for Hainsey as Rick Potter and Nick Bechtel joined him at the front. Lap after lap Hainsey held on as the group went three wide several times
Potter edged by Hainsey to score the lead just as the caution flew for a spinning car in turn one After that, Potter ran off as Hainsey and Bechtel went at it for the duration of the event. Behind the leaders, Bill Replogle Dave Brown and Travis Calhoun had their own three way battle to the finish.
After the wild early race battle, Potter ran pretty much uncontested for the win, ahead of Hainsey, Bechtel, Brown and Replogle. Bechtel and Potter won the heats.
EMOD 30 LAPS Mason Zeigler, Dave Hess Jr, Ethan Dodson, Glenn Elliott, George Dixon, Mike Altobelli Jt, Curt Spalding, Drake Troutman, Chris Arnold, Justin Cullum,
Kyle Strickler, Dan Davies, Bud Watson, Jonathan Taylor, Nate Young, David Stremme, Jacob Marker, Evan Taylor, Austin Holcomb, Joel Watson, Ty Norder, Jared Spalding, Troy Johnson, Mike Meck, Ray Kable III DNQ Rick Hulson, Brady Daniels, Travis Clower, Todd Palmer, Jimmy Jesmer, Tim Peterson, Derek Deusenberry, Alyssa Rowe, Darin Hoover, Amber Mills, Jason Sage, Braden Barry. Allen Whitt, Doug Penny, Michael Wilhelm, Ridge Bookwalter, Tom Wakefield, Mike Pappas, Brandon Inglish, Mike Eschrich, Ryan Dolin, Jacob Whitt, Mitch Thomas
SEMI LATE 20 LAPS Rick Potter, Greg Hainsey, Nick Bechtel, Dave Brown, Bill Replogle, Travis Calhoun, John Miller, Devin Weyandt, Kyle Weyandt, Bradlee Means, Erik Weyandt, Josh Bumberger, Bill Pluta, Laura Reilly, Kyle Beckett, Kyle Deneen, Zach Frost,
