9.23.22 Bedford Speedway Results
Kyle Strickler made the long tow to Bedford worthwhile as he swept to the big EMod win at Bedford Friday night. It was a repeat performance for Strickler as he won one of the annual Fallfest events at the track last year. Strickler made it look easy as he led flag to flag in the 39 lap event honoring DJ Troutman.
In the companion event, Bill Replogle rallied late and emerged from a wild finish to take the dramatic Semi Late event.
Kyle Strickler was the man to beat all night as he won his heat qualifyer and also the dash, earning the pole starting position. Then he took off at the drop of the green and never looked back. As Strickler led, Ethan Dotson settled in at second, but he was hounded by 2022 track champion Mike Altobelli from the start.
Altobelli finally got by for that spot with a lap 27 pass but he was unable to threaten Strickler who zipped away from the field after each of the restarts. Altobelli, once in the spot, was able to claim second at the finish ahead of Dotson and track regular George Dixon, who quietly took fourth. Jonathan Taylor climbed through the field to take fifth at the finish, but the big mover was Dave Hess who came from 19th to sixth at the end.
In earlier qualifying, Dotson, David Stremme, Dixon, Stricker, Altobelli and Beau Aikey won the six heat races for the 47 entrants. Richard Gibson and Hess won the twin B events. Strickler won the Dash.
After the big event, DJ Myers easily took the special extra event featuring the non qualifiers. He was followed by Ryan Ayers, Brandon Hoover and Ray Kable.
Much as the Pure Stocks the night before, the Semi Lates featured the race of the season for the class. Pole sitter Jesse Snyder broke out to the lead at the start and pulled away from the field early on. But as the race went on, Brian Weyandt started to noticeably close. But Weyandt was dragging Bill Replogle with him and by lap 15, they were both challenging the leader.
As the laps counted off the drama increased as the trio encountered lapped traffic. With two laps to go, Weyandt made the move for the lead but Replogle was thinking the same move. The trio all banged together on the front stretch while threading the lapped cars and Replogle emerged at the front. Weyandt slid into second as Replogle took the win as Snyder was third. Travis Calhoun and Nick Becjtel competed the top 5. The finish was well timed for Replogle as his car died just after the finish and had to be pushed to the scale and the visit to the stage. Snyder and Khi Swanger won the heats.
In the finale, the 8 retired drivers who had participated in the 1993 Challenge of Campion event at the track in 1993 held a special reunion event in current borrowed Semi Late cars. Jack Pencil and JR Keifer ran together at the front before Pencil claimed the win, ahead of Keifer, Dion Lasalle, Brian Weyandt, Eric Zembower and Jim Deneen trailed Mike Altobelli was a early dropout and Chuck Lasalle did not start after the motor issues in the Semi Late feature winner car which he was scheduled to drive..
EMOD 39 LAP 1 Kyle Strickler, Mike Altobelli. Ethan Dotson, George Dixon, Jomathan Taylor, Dave Hess, Drake Troutman Evan Taylor, Donnie Farlling, Joel Watson, Brian Shaw, Beau Aikey, Richard Gibson, Jacob Marker, Geoff Parson, Troy Johnson, Rick Hulson, TJ Dehaven, David Stremme, Mitch Thomas, Michael McGee, Mike Pappas, Jarrod Spalding, Nate Young, Dan Davies
EMOD NON QUALIFYER 15 LAPS 1 DJ Myers, Ryan Ayers, Brandon Hoover, Ray Kable, Andy Anderson, Travis Cottle, George Beckett, Cole Perrine, Tom Wakefield, Mike Escrich, Ryan Dolan, Blake Sellers, Mike Meck, Michael Wilhelm, Jacob Whitt, Justin Milburn, DNS Brandon Inglish, Ridge Bookwalter, Brian Householder, Mike Duck, David Green, Rodney Hartman
SEMI LATE 20 LAPS 1 Bill Replogle, Brian Weyandt J, Jesse Snyder, Travis Calhoun, Nick Bechtel, Kyle Weyandt, Josh Gustaf, Andrew Stough, John Miller, Josh Baumgartener, Erik Weyant, Bradlee Means, Cale Martin, Tim Brindle, Bob Jay, Rick Potter, Khi Swanger, DNS Laura Reilley