Cosner Grabs Bedford Opener
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Matt Cosner rallied late to score a big Late Model win as the 2022 season opened Friday at Bedford. It was Cosner’s 12th career Bedford win but his first since June of 2017.
In other action, John Miller came from the last row to grab his first ever Bedford Semi Late win in his Mustang. That win along with Cosner’s effort marked the first time in years with two Fords in Bedford’s Victory Lane.
Mike Altobelli continued his EMod domination with a convincing win, before Derek Hinish took the controversial Pure Stock event and defending champion Todd Price closed the evening with 4Cylinder success.
By pill draw in the season opener, the Late Model feature had Jeff Rine on the pole. When Rine grabbed the lead at the start, most in attendance figured the race was over, especially as Rine moved away to a large early lead. But Cosner had other ideas. Along about halfway, Cosner began to close the distance on the leader and by lap 18, as the pair danced through traffic, he was all over Rine.
With the race going caution free, the fleet pair continued to encounter traffic and Cosner zipped into the lead on lap 21. From that point he raced to the win over the field, lapping up to 10th place finisher Brian Booze.
Drake Troutman started and finished third, followed by Andy Haus and Travis Stickley, who started ninth. Troutman and Nathan Lasalle won the heats. The race went all 25 laps without a caution, the third Bedford feature to do so in the last 4 events
Greg Hainsey started on the Semi Late pole and was the early leader. but e drew a crowd at the front led by Brian Weyandt Jr in a team Pork Sell car. Weyandt made the move, on Hainsey, but broke on lap 7. retiring to the pits.
Bill Replogle then took up the chase but there was a 4 car mob at the front. On lap 8, Just as Replogle eased by Hainsey for the lead, John Miller zipped them both and took over. While Replogle and Hainsey continued their battle, Nick Bechtel arrived and passed them both, taking second on lap 12.
But Bechtel never closed on Miller, scoring second at the line. Replogle, Hainsey and Travis Calhoun completed the top 5/ Calhoun and Hainsey won the heats.
Mike Altobelli converted a rare up front start position into a EMod rout as he dominated that event. Donnie Farlling, driving a Beckett team car, took up the early chase but Altobelli was never seriously challenged.
Behind Altobelli, Drake Troutman, Alyssa Rowe, Mitch Thomas and the Taylors battled in a race which went almost all green laps but no one threatened the leader. Troutman got by Farlling on lap 8 for the honor of chasing Altobelli but finished second. Evan Taylor, Farlling and Thomas completed the top 5. Beay Aikey, Evan Taylor and Farlling won the heats.
Pole sitter Ky;e Deneen led the early Puer Stock laps, but Derek Hinish ran him down. The pair collided on lap 4 with Deneen spinning and Hinish in the lead. From that point Hinish had to hold off a furious challenge from Charlie Clise but hung on for the win. Dalton Weyandt rallied to take third on the last lap ahead of Anthony Fama and Jason Haggerty. Deneen and Dalton Ritchey won the heats
Todd Price was the early 4 Cylinder leader but he led a 9 car mob at the front. Lap after lap they ran in a herd but Price hung on. Action was halted wildly as Brian Livengood crashed hard into the turn 4 wall, bringing out the red flag.
On the restart, Price held off the gang as they allbanged around to score the win. Ernie Hewitt was second at the line ahead of Jay Talley, Brian Riggleman and Shawn Smith. Riggleman, Michael Boring and Josh Corbin won the heats.
LATE MODEL 25 LAPS 1 Matt Cosner, Jeff Rine, Drake Troutman, Andy Haus, Travis Stickley, Nathan Lasalle, Brian Bernheisel, Jeff Miller, Chuck Clise, Brian Booze, Tim Smith, Wayne Johnson, Brian Benton, JW Weaver, Deshawn Gingrich. Colby Frye, Devin Weyandt, Devin Frey, Matt Sponaugle DNS Brandon Householder
SEMI LATES `15 LAPS 1 John Miller Nick Bechtel, Bill Relogle, Greg Hainsey, Travis Calhoun, Andrew Sltough, Kyle Weyandt, Laura Chamberlain, Erik Weyandt, Jeremy Fama. Brandon Grubb, Bob Jay, Bob Torquato, Brian Weyandt J, Willie Ling, Laura Reilly, Cale Martin, DNS Bradlee Means
EMOD 20 LAPS 1 Mike Altobelli, Drake Troutman, Evan Taylor, Donnie Farlling, Mitch Thomas, Jonathan Taylor, Alyssa Rowe, Steve Rex, Jacob Whitt, Troy Johnson, Kevin Van Horn, Dan Patterson, Josh Frankenberry, Brady Daniels, Billy Van Meter David Green, Justin Milburn, John Whitfield, Beau Aikey, Blaine Sellers, Brandon hoover,
PURE STOCK 15 LAPS 1 Derek Hinish, Charlie Clise, Dalton Weyant, Anthony Fama Jason Haggerty, Jim Frost, Kyle Deneen, Cortland Rush, Bill Sheehan, Denver Dishong, Dalton Ritchey, Barry Clark, Kevin Weyandt, Ryan Beckett, Cody Jarvie, Zach Frost
4 CYLINDER 12 LAPS 1 Todd Price, Ernie Hewitt, Jay Talley, Brian Riggleman, Shawn Smith, Roger Fagan. Luke Harbor, Colton McNaney, Dalton Long, Richard Athey, Jason Woods, Shawn Melty, Josh Corbin, Colin Welsh, Darrin Chesney, Jimmy Delozier, Brian Livengood, Matthew Jones, Dustin Kinser, DNS Michael Boring. Deanna Datillio, Derek Long, Adam Plubell, Tyler Beckett.. .
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