9.2.22 Bedford Speedway Results
The 2022 version of the Bedford Labor Day 55 featured something for everyone: great racing, lots of green flag laps, late race drama and a late race rally by the winner, Matt Cosner. It was Cosner’s third 2022 win at the track and he became the first Bedford regular to win the event since 2017/ The win was worth over $12.000 to the happy winner.
Mason Zeigler and Rick Eckert led the stout field to the green flag and it was Zeigler with the early lead. Eckert hounded Zeigler lap after lap until he finally effected a pass for the lead on lap 22. While the lead duo captured the main attention, many were watching Gregg Satterlee climbing through the field slowly. Without the aid of a caution in the early laps, Satterlee was up to fourth by the time of Eckert’s pass, and kept climbing.
It took almost 20 green flag laps for Satterlee to catch and pass Ross Robinson for third, but only three more to zoom by the fading Zeigler for second. a move he made just as Nathan Lasalle brought out the first caution on lap 44. That event changed the entire complexion of the race as Satterlee is known for late race heroics in extra distance Bedford races.
On the restart, Satterlee pounced on Eckert, whose car seemed not nearly as strong as it had been in the earlier laps. Eckert held on but Satterlee made his presence known. The pair came down the front stretch side by side on lap 52 as Satterlee amped up the pressure with Robinson and a fast closing Dylan Yoder in hot pursuit. But it all ended a lap later as Satterlee spun wildly entering turn three. Robinson evaded the sliding 22 but Yoder was not as lucky and the pair collided hard, causing the red flag to fly.
On the restart with only two laps to go, Robinson and Matt Cosner lined up behind Eckert in the mandated Delaware restart procedure. Eckert though did not get a good start and Robinson and Cosner sandwiched him three wide as they all charged down the front stretch trading paint. Cosner, from the outside emerged entering turn one as the leader as Robinson also got by Eckert for second.
With open track ahead, Cosner ran off the last two laps for the win as Robinson trailed. Eckert, with his car clearly off the pace, fell back as much of the field rushed by. At the finish, Cosner crossed the line almost two seconds ahead of Robinson. Alex Ferree was third ahead of Eddie Carrier and defending winner Michael Norris, who had started 18th and 19th in the field.
In qualifying action, Alex Ferree, Tyler Emory, Eckert and Cosner won the heats. Spike Moore and Eddie Carrier win the twin B events. Qualifying festivities were hard on 2022 track champion Jeff Rine as he stumbled in his heat and the B, having to take the track provisional. Second in track points Tim Smith was similarly doomed as his qualified car failed to fire after driver introductions getting credit for 25th.
By comparison, the companion EMod 25 lapper was the complete opposite of the smoothly run Late Model event. It took 4 tries to get an initial lap in and then there were 12 more caution events during the feature.
George Dixon inherited the initial lead And held off a late charge to score the win. While Dixon held on after each restart, Mitch Thomas and Donnie Farlling provided the entertainment as they battled seriously for second. Mike Altobelli caught them but cold not get by their battle for many laps.
Finally when Altobelli got by for second on lap 16, Dixon was up to the challenge and held him off for the win. Farlling took third after Thomas retired late with a flat tire. Brandon Hoover who started at the rear after a first lap spin, was fourth and Jacob Marker was fifth. Thomas and Marker won the heats.
Mike Altobelli clinched the 2022 EMod championship by simply starting the event.
LATE MODEL 55 LAPS1 Matt Cosner, Ross Robinson, Alex Ferree, Eddie Carrier, Michael Norris, Bryan Bernheisel, Brian Booze, Justin Weaver, Mason Zeigler, Dan Angellichio, Spike Moore, Tyler Emory, Jared Miley, Rick Eckert, Deshawn Gingrich, Gregg Satterlee, Dylan Yoder, Dave Stamm, Colby Frye, Nathan Lasalle, Jeff Rine, Matt Sponaugle, Danny Snyder, Darryl Charlier, Tim Smith, DNQ Jim McBee, Brad Feight, Chuck Clise, Danny Kiento, Larry Neiderer, Travis Stickley, Gene Knaub
EMOD 25 LAPS 1 George Dixon, Mike Altobelli J, Donnie Farlling, Brandon Hoover, Jacob Marker, Travis Cottle, Bruce Dreistadt, Wyatt Marker, Ryan Dolan, Tommy Hughes, Mike Meck, Mitch Thomas, Brian Corbin, Troy Johnson, David Green, Brady Daniels, George Beckett, Steve Axtell, Bill Vanmeter, Dan Patterson, DNS Ridge Bookwalter