By Doug Watson
Bedford PA- Winchester Virginia’s Kyle Hardy took full advantage of his front row starting spot and would go on to claim his first win of the season in Saturday night’s 25 lap Late Model feature at Bedford Speedway. This event served as a tuneup to the season ending Keystone cup which will be run next Friday and Saturday, October 24th and 25th, which Hardy took the checkered flag in the 2023 version pocketing $23,000 for his efforts.
Hardy and Matt Sponaugle lead the field to green with Hardy surging into the race lead as the field raced off turn number two. As Hardy was setting a blistering pace, 2025 track champion Jeff Rine had come from his seventh starting spot to the runner-up position at the halfway point in the event and was set to make one of his patented late race Bedford charges. Rine’s opportunity came as a lap 22 caution set the stage for another dramatic run to the checkered flag. When the green was displayed, Hardy took off with Rine a close second and on the white flag lap Rine briefly took the lead in turn two before Hardy did a crossover move to resecure the lead which he would hold until the finish. “That Jeff Rine, He’s somebody down here and he really raced me clean, he’s got a lot of class.” Hardy stated in victory lane. “We always have a lot of fun running over here at the end of the year, we really haven’t had the best luck here, even though we won the Keystone race a few years back.Tonight we went with a tire we knew could win, but next week it’s 60 laps and it’ll be a guessing game but to win here tonight helped us a bunch.” Rine settled for a hard fought runner up performance with Spike Moore, Matt Cosner and 21st starting Trever Feathers completing the top five. Heats for the 21 entries went to Nathan LaSalle, Moore and Sponaugle.
It would be a career night for Everett Pennsylvania’s Kolby Weaver as he scored his first career Laurel Highlands 305 Sprint Car win in their 20-lap event. Weaver was on a mission as he came from his sixth starting spot to take the race lead from Jarrett Cavalet on the 10th lap and would then runoff to score the breakthrough win. “It’s such a relief to finally win one, we’ve been close all year.” The happy wInner stated in his post race interview. “I think I bounced it off the wall a few times running the top, but that’s where I knew I had to be and a big thanks to everyone who helped us finally get here.” Cavalet settled for second with Kasey Weaver, Braden Varner and Cole DeWease completing the top five.
In support class action Chubby Childers took the win in the 15 lap Semi Late main over Ryan Sager, Brian Weyandt Jr, 2025 track champion Kyle Weyant and Bob Jay. Wayne Brenize scored the four-cylinder win over 2025 champion Tom Brady, Jason Diehl, Braden Powell and Darin Chesney. Scott Mitchell closed the program with a win in the 15 lap Crown Vic contest over Eddie Vogel, Noah Swank, Byler Aikey and Kainen Brown.
Late Models (25-laps)
Kyle Hardy, Jeff Rine, Spike Moore, Matt Cosner, Trever Feathers, Matt Sponaugle, Shawn Shoemaker, Kyle Lee, JT Spence, Jim Bernheisel, Tyler Ritchey, Frankie Gordon, Ryan Christoff, Drew Weiser, Del Rougeux, Lincoln Smith, Bryan Bernheisel, Nathan LaSalle, Alex Ferree, Treyton Lee DNS-Clinton Hersh
305 Sprints (20-laps)
Kolby Weaver, Jarrett Cavalet, Kasey Weaver, Braden Varner, Cole DeWease, Josh Spicer, Robbie Bartchey, Colton Hendershot, Reed Thompson, Michael Alleman, Ryan Lynn, Landon Price, Croix Beasom, Alyssa Cullum, Todd Lynn, Tim Robertson, Landon Tressler DNS-Jim Kennedy
Semi Late (15-laps)
Chubby Childers, Ryan Sager, Brian Weyandt Jr, Kyle Weyant, Bob Jay, Jeff Snowski, Dennis Conrad, Travis Calhoun, Dalton Weyant DNS-Cody Jarvie
Four Cylinder (15 laps)
Wayne Brenize, Tom Brady, Jason Diehl, Braden Powell, Darin Chesney, Donald Hillegass, Tyler Beckett, Allen Ohler, Todd Price
Crown Vic (15-laps)
Scott Mitchell, Eddie Vogel. Noah Swank, Byler Aikey, Kainen Brown, Allen Harding, Brennan Shroyer, Dan Patterson, Keith Koppenhaver, Ed Vogel Jr, Paul Crynock III, Kyle Beckett, TJ New, Madison Sponaugle, Quinten Beasom, Jake Waugh