Matt Cosner rose to the occasion and crushed a tough Late Model field to claim the Milt Miller Cup at Bedford Friday night. The 35 lap event, held in the memory of former racer Milt Miller, was worth $3000 to Cosner and was his first 2016 win at the track. Greg Hainsey held off a mob in a wild three wide dash to the finish to gain the Semi Late event, before Rick Hulson scored his first ever EMod win. Ryan Peer closed the exciting evening with a 4Cylkinder win
When fast timer and heat winner Gregg Satterlee drew the pole for the event, most people figured the race was already decided. And Satterlee did not disappoint as he shot off at the drop of the green. But the first lap was never completed as a ten car pileup erupted in turn three and the red flew. After cleanup operations, the field realigned for a start just as a shower hit the track and everyone went to the pits.
After a short rain delay, the race restarted but another crash in turn one again delayed the completion of lap one. For the third try, the field lined up single file and as predicted Satterlee shot off at the start. But Cosner was in hot pursuit.
Satterlee and Cosner had pulled away from the field by the time Chuck Clise stalled in turn four to bring out what would be the only caution on lap 11.
On that restart, Cosner pounced, and grabbed the lead away from Satterlee one lap later. Once in front, Cosner just drove away while Satterlee fell into the grasp of a charging Allen Brannon. Jason Covert also came alive on that restart, getting by Jeff Rine for fourth and joining Brannon in harassment of Satterlee.
But Cosner was moving out of the area code , opening up distance with every passing lap as Brannon and Satterlee went at it hard as the event ended with 24 consecutive green laps. At the finish it was Cosner the winner by almost a half lap. Brannon finally squeezed by Satterlee on the last lap to get second at the line. Covert and Rine trailed. Chad Hollenbeck, Satterlee and Cosner won the heats.
By far the wildest race of the program was the Semi Late 15 lapper. Greg Hainsey and Don Wyles both got by pole starter Joe Pluta at the start and held their own personal battle as the field went 11 laps green.
But they were soon joined at the front as Travis Calhoun soon arrived and brought a mob. Ultimately there were six cars in the front pack and the pressure mounted. Two late cautions, on lap 11 and on lap 13, set up a dramatic finish as Wyles turned up the pressure on Hainsey and Greg Cornell joined the mix.
On the last lap Wyles got under Hainsey and Cornell made it three wide at the finish line, but Hainsey held on for the crowd pleasing win. Wyles and Cornell also got into the finish line picture with Calhoun and Bob Jay just behind. Cornell and Justin Michael won the heats.
Alyssa Rowe and Brandon Lasalle traded the EMod lead over the first two laps, but Rowe went pitward during a lap three caution. On that restart, Rick Hulson entered the picture. He got by new second place runner Deanna Groves on lap four and took the lead one lap later. Groves pitted one lap later leaving Lasalle to chase Hulson to the finish. Derek Deusenberry came from 17th to grab third on lap eight but advanced no further. Mike Reynolds and Ken Singer completed the top five. Rowe, Reynolds and Hulson won the heats.
Ryan Peer went from third to first on the first lap of the 4Cylinder event and held off Wayne Brenize for the distance. Tom Brady, Darren Howsare and Chris Reckner trailed. Brenize and Howsare won the heats.
LATE MODEL 35 LAP 1 Matt Cosner Allen Brannon, Gregg Satterlee, Jason Covert, Jeff Rine, Chad Hollenbeck, Dave Troutman, DJ Troutman, Andy Haus, Travis Stickley, Tyler Horst, Eric Zembower, Dylan Yoder, Chuck Clise, Justin Weaver, Justin Kann, Brian Booze, Matt Sponaugle, Darrass Deneen, Matt Parks, Troy Swindell, Jeff Johnson, DNS Gene Knaub
EMOD 20 LAPS 1 Rick Hulson Brandon Lasalle, Derek DeusenberryMike Reynolds, Ken Singer, James Sparks, Bill Pluta, Brian Dobie, Jim Sayler, Deanna Groves, Ed Vogel, Justin Milburn, Brian Fyfe, Mike Meck, Andy Swope, John Whitfield, Dan Lowery, Alyssa Rowe, Vigi Zuccollotto
SEMI LATE 15 LAPS 1 Greg Hainsey, Don Wyles, Greg Cornell, Travis Calhoun, Bob Jay, Lou Wannyn. Dave Whetstone, Jesse Snyder, Chad Gambol, Justin Micvhael, Tom Warren, Joe Pluta, Jarrod Brown, DNS Scott Sturtz
4 CYLINDER 12 LAPS 1 Ryan Peer, Wayne Brenize, Tom Brady, Darren Howsare, Chris Reckner, Steve Martin, Phil Best, Tyler Beckett, Todd Price, Joe Means, Steve Frederick, Morgan Price, Josh Fetters, Colby Crawley, DNS Chris Strout,
