Bernheisel Relives The Old Days At Bedford
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April 3rd, 2023
For the first time since 1988, Jim Bernheisel scored the big Late Model win in action at Bedford Sunday night. It was his second career Bedford win, coming 34 years after he was one of the gang of 13 non repeat winners 34 seasons ago.
At the other end of the spectrum, Dalton Weyant made his first ever Semi Late start and scored his first ever Semi Late win in that event. Mitch Thomas scored his second ever track Emod win before Weyant jumped into his old Pure Stock car and took a second win for the night. Shawn Smith ended the evening with a rousing 4 Cylinder win.
Bernheisel started on the pole in the pill draw Late Model 25 lapper event and made the most of his luck by getting the jump on the start. He opened up a sizeable lead over the first 22 all green laps but action was hot behind him.
Colton Flinner took up the chase early as Michael Lake and Jeff Rine went at it hard for third. Rine and Lake banged off each other hard on lap 14 but kept running. After trading the spot several more times, Lake took sole possession of third and quickly moved in on Flinner.
Lake made repeated wild moves on Flinner but Flinner repelled each foray until Lake took the spot on lap 22. But after repeatedly testing the high line, Lake managed to hit the third turn wall one lap later causing the caution.
On the restart, a revitalized Flinner made a daring move on Bernheisel for the lead, but Bernheisel powered right back by and held on for the win. Rine challenged Flinner over the closing laps but settled for third, ahead of Spike Moore and Jon Lee. Rine, Lee and Lake won the heats.
Greg Hainsey took the early Semi Late lead in his 16 year old car. He opened up a margin in the first few laps, but Bob Jay, Travos Calhoun and and John Miller were closing fast. In that tight racing for second, a chain reaction bump took place with Miller spinning on lap 9. New second place man Calhoun spun a lap later relieving Hainsey of his closest challengers.
But Dalton Weyant was on the move. He squeezed by Jay for second at the white flag and made a last ditch outside move to nip Hainsey by 5 feet at the finish line. Jay, Brian Weyandt Jr and Bill Replogle completed the top 5. Calhoun and Nick Bechtel won the heats.
Mitch Thomas took off early and dominated the EMod event. Drake Troutman and Mike Altobelli moved into second and third early and put on a show battling, but they did not close on Thomas as the trio danced among lapped traffic.
After a late race caution, Troutman shook off Altobelli and made a run at Thomas but Thomas took the win. Troutman, Altobelli, Jimmy Jesmer and Donnie Farlling trailed. Altobelli and Troutman won the heats.
Dalton Weyant liked his earlier trip up on the stage so much that he repeated it in the Pure Stock event. He was the early leader but Charlie Clise gave him fits almost every lap. Repeatedly Clise was able to get alongside Weyant but was unable to complete the pass. In a finish almost as close as the Semi Late finish, Weyant held on by 10 feet for the win. Dalton Ritchey and Derek Hinish, who waged a race long battle for third finished that way. Kyle Beckett was fifth. Clise and Weyant won the heats.
Shawn Smith came from deep in the field to claim the 4 Cylinder finale. He shot by Casey Fleegle on lap 3 then held off Brad Marker for the win. Derek Long and Fleegle trailed, Josh Corbin and Long win the heats.
LATE MODELS 25 LAPS Jim Bernheisel, Colton Flinner, Spike Moore, Jeff Rine, Jon Lee, Brian Booze, Justin Weaver, Drake Troutman, Matt Cosner, Deshawn Gingrich, Bryan Bernheisel, Matt Sponaugle, Dylan Lewis, Chuck Clise, Brandon Dillinger, Bo Lockwood, Tyler Emory, Michael Lake, Khi Swanger, Wayne Johnson DNS Cory Lawler, Nathan Lasalle, Danny Beatty, Bryan Benton
SEMI LATE 15 LAPS Dalton Weyant, Greg Hainsey, Bob Jay, Brian Weyandt J, Bill Replogle, Kyle Deneen, Kyle Weyandt, Josh Bummy, Laura Chamberlain, Nick Bechtel,, John Miller, Bob Torquato, Travis Calhoun, Laura Reilly, Brandon Grubb, Andrew Stough, Tony Catlett
EMOD 20 LAPS Mitch Thomas, Drake Troutman, Mike Altobelli J. Jimmy Jesmer, Donnie Farlling Jacob Marker, Brandon Inglish, Troy Johnson, Alyssa Rowe, Brandon Hoover, Jacob Whitt, Matt Lorshbaugh, Bill Vanmeter, John Whitfield, Matthew Jones, David Green, Scott Heath, DNS Allen Whitt
PURE STPCK 15 LAPS Dalton Weyant, Charlie Clise, Dalton Ritchey Derek Hinishm Kyle Beckett, Darren Ritchey, Mark Shope, Tom Lewis, Madison Miller, Denver Dishong, Jay Talley, Cody Jarvie, Chris Troutman, DNS Dominik Weyandt, Barry Clark, Kevin Weyandt
4 CYLINDER 12 LAPS Shawn Smith, Brad Marker, Derek Long, Casey Fleegle, Colin Welsh, Jason Corbin, Harlan Group, Steve Martin, Todd Price, Jeff Markett, Allen Robinson, TJ Cornell, George Shope, Duane Wotring, Jimmy Delozier, Matt Kauffman, Isaac Exley, George Shore J, Christopher Kauffman, Isaac /hoover, Ernie Hewitt, Richard Athey, Hayden Kline
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