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We have rained out for May 16. See you May 23!
Speedway News See Video of Opening Day Legends Car Fire....Click Here MORE NATIONAL PRESS FOR BETHEL MOTOR SPEEDWAY Bethel Motor Speedway to Host RACEceiver National Tour Race August 1st BETHEL, NY – May 13 – The management at Bethel Motor Speedway announced today that the speedway would be the site of a RACEceiver National Tour race this summer. The quarter-mile asphalt track located in upstate New York is slated to host the event on Saturday, August 1st. “We are extremely excited about this development,” stated the track management. “We feel that we have made some great strides towards developing a strong Legends and Bandolero program at Bethel, and this is just another step in what we feel is a very positive direction.” The race, a 50-lap event, will replace the regular 30-lap Legends event scheduled to be run at Bethel on that date. It will be a national qualifier, and the event winner will receive a provisional starting spot for the Asphalt Nationals to be held later in the year. Already in 2009, Legends races at Bethel have attracted quite a bit of talent from across the Northeast and beyond. Among those who have competed at the track are 2008 New Jersey State Asphalt Semi-Pro champ Mike Alcaro; 2008 New York State Asphalt Semi-Pro champ Kevin Nowak; Minnesota talent Tim Brockhouse; young talents such as Derek Hopkinson, Max Zachem, and Johnnie Gloor IV; and numerous others. “We have already seen quite a bit of driving talent converge on Bethel in 2009, and this will be the perfect opportunity to bring a wealth of talent together on the speedway,” track management said. “It will give some of the very talented drivers in the Northeast a chance to showcase their abilities, and possibly earn a shot at competing in the Asphalt Nationals. We are thrilled that Bethel Motor Speedway can play a part in making that possible for the Legends drivers in the Northeast.” Further details will be released in the coming weeks, and will be made available on the track’s web site at www.bethelmotorspeedway.com. Specific questions can be directed to legendstockny@yahoo.com. Your Bethel Motor Speedway continues to get National Press Coverage. BETHEL, NY- MAY 13- Holy Moly, Bethel Motor Speedway’s Brian Krummel places 6th for SHOCK OF THE WEEK... Pro Shocks “THIS WEEKS BIG SURPRISE IN SHORT TRACK RACING” Click PRO Shocks logo below for full story.  Krummel Tops List of Winners at Bethel Motor Speedway

 Bethel, NY – May 9 – Brian Krummel, known as “BK Speed” on dirt tracks, made his first attempt at racing his Dirt Sportsman car on the asphalt at Bethel Motor Speedway this past Saturday, and he couldn’t have been happier with the result as he wound up in Victory Lane. “I didn’t know what to expect,” he stated in his post-race interview. “This is my first time racing up here, on asphalt and in this kind of car. I’ve got a feeling I’ll be back here. Bethel Motor Speedway is awesome.”

 
It was a learning experience of sorts for Krummel, who learned quickly how to master the paved surface. “It’s just so hard when you’re trying to catch the guy in front of you to try to go into the turns slower,” he explained. “It’s not that easy but it worked out. I had a feeling if I got out into the lead, I could try to smooth it out a little bit and it worked out perfect.”

Jeff Hager started the race on the pole, and Mike McKerrell joined him on the front row. McKerrell grabbed the top spot at the drop of the green, and Krummel darted from his fifth place starting spot to the second spot on the initial lap. Greg Morgan came to third. In the early laps, Krummel looked to the inside of McKerrell, but could not make the pass for the lead. Just prior to the halfway point of the event, the leaders came up on lapped traffic.

“I had seen that (the lapped car) coming up and he (McKerrell) was better than me,” Krummel stated, “and it worked out where he got hung up on the bottom and I had an opening.”

On lap 12, Krummel went to the outside, leaving McKerrell behind the lapped car of Tony “Skitch” Squicciarini, and putting himself out front. Krummel went on to win the caution-free event, followed by McKerrell and Morgan.

 BMS Modifieds

John Cote’s undefeated streak in the BMS Modified division was brought to an end by “Stormin’” Norman Barnes, who had his rearview mirror full of Cote’s car for the majority of the caution-free event. “John’s a tough competitor and a good driver,” Barnes stated after the race. “My car wasn’t running right and I’m surprised I held him off.”

 

Barnes started the race on the outside pole, alongside Dan Wood. Barnes immediately jumped out to the lead, and John DeMarmels came to second. By lap two, however, Cote worked his way past DeMarmels for second. Barnes and Cote ran nose to tail, distancing themselves from the rest of the field. Cote got alongside Barnes on lap seven, but could not make the pass and was forced to settle back into second. As the race progressed, DeMarmels was able to close the gap between himself and the leaders, but he was unable to get close enough to make a pass. Barnes made slight contact with the lapped car of Wood with two laps remaining in the event, but he was able to hold on to the lead and claim the win. Cote was second, and DeMarmels was third.
  ECS Pro-Stock Division

“It was a good race,” Clarence Palmer commented about the 25-lap ECS Auto Stores Pro Stock event, and for good reason, as he made the comment while standing in Victory Lane this past weekend. “I’m excited. It’s been a long time. I feel really good about it.”

 Ken Hopkins Jr. started on the pole, with Billy Policastro on the outside pole. Policastro got out to the early lead, with Hopkins Jr. second and Joe Barnes third. Hopkins Jr. and Barnes then put on a side-by-side battle for the second spot. Barnes grabbed the position, and Jesse Hilger made his way past Hopkins Jr. for third on lap two. The caution came out on lap five, as the cars of Hopkins Jr. and Jim Helt slid into the infield, hooked together. Another caution came quickly on the restart for an incident involving Barnes, Hilger, Charlie Howe Jr., and Gene Palmer. As a result of the caution, Policastro was joined on the front row for the restart by Mark Sylvester. Policastro once again grabbed the lead, and he was followed by Sylvester and Helt. On lap 12, Sylvester looked to the inside of Policastro, and Sylvester took over the top spot on lap 13. Contact between Sylvester and Policastro, however, resulted in Sylvester spinning in turn two, which brought out the caution. This handed the lead for the single file restart to Helt, with Clarence Palmer in the second spot. Palmer used an inside pass to grab the lead from Helt on lap 14. Howe Jr. came back from his involvement in the earlier caution to take second from Helt on lap 20, only for Helt to regain the spot one lap later. Palmer went on to win the event. Helt was second, with Howe Jr. third.

 
BMS Street Stocks 
Gary VanOrden was able to continue his winning streak in the Street Stock class, but it was a hard-fought victory as the driver was involved in an early race caution. “It was a great race,” VanOrden stated in Victory Lane after the 15-lap event. Vinny Stanton started on the pole, with VanOrden on the outside. VanOrden grabbed the lead early, but spun following contact from Stanton on lap one, bringing out the caution. Brent Shaddock restarted on the pole, with Tommy Johnson on the outside pole. Johnson got out front, and VanOrden quickly worked his way back into the second spot and began to challenge Johnson for the lead. The only caution of the event came on lap seven, as Stanton leaked fluid around the track. The double-file restart pitted Johnson and VanOrden against each other on the front row. VanOrden was ahead by mere inches as the duo crossed the line to complete lap eight, and he moved his car out front the following lap. Over the final five laps of the race, VanOrden was able to build his lead and claim the win. Johnson was second, and John Woinoski finished third. 
 
 4 Cylinder Senior 
Paul Curry broke Larry O’Donnell’s winning streak in the 4 Cylinder Senior division, coming from the third starting spot to claim victory in the 20-lap race. Patty Falkena started on the pole and was joined on the front row by Ed Lindstadt. Falkena grabbed the early lead, but Lindstadt was able to work his way past her for the top spot on lap one. Curry used an outside pass to grab the second spot on lap six. On lap eight, Woody McGibbon took over third, setting the stage for a three-way battle for the lead between Lindstadt, Curry, and McGibbon. Curry was able to get his car alongside Lindstadt’s, and the two ran side-by-side until Curry grabbed sole possession of the lead on lap 14. McGibbon tried to make an outside pass to get by Lindstadt on lap 17, but the end result was a caution as McGibbon slid through the infield after making contact with Larry O’Donnell’s car. Curry had the pole for the single file restart, and was able to keep his car out front to take the win. Lindstadt finished second, and O’Donnell was third.

   4 Cylinder Junior In the 4 Cylinder Junior feature, Jonathan McGibbon won his third feature in as many weeks, though Opening Night feature winner Billy Curry did not make it an easy task. Gary VanOrden Jr. started on the pole, with Curry on the outside. Curry got out front on the start, and McGibbon quickly shot to the outside to take over second. McGibbon wasted no time in challenging for the lead, as he looked to the inside of Curry on lap four. Curry held on to the spot, forcing McGibbon to settle back into second behind him. Curry and McGibbon, running nose to tail, began to pull away from the rest of the field. Behind them, Mike Travis got underneath VanOrden Jr. for third on lap nine. The event reached the halfway point one lap later, and McGibbon mounted a full-force challenge for the lead, going to the inside of Curry. The two ran side-by-side for several laps, swapping the lead by mere inches several times before McGibbon was finally able to get out front on lap 14. Over the final laps, McGibbon was able to begin distancing himself from Curry and the remainder of the field. McGibbon collected the win, with Curry second and Travis third. “I can’t believe how good this car handles,” McGibbon commented after the race. “To tell you the truth, I didn’t like the inside.” 
 

Next Saturday, May 16th, Bethel Motor Speedway will present John Marcinak Memorial Night. On the schedule for the first time in the 2009 season are Dirt Vintage cars. They will be joined by the Dirt Sportsman, BMS Modified, ECS Auto Stores Pro Stock, Street Stock, and 4 Cylinder classes. INEX Legends and Bandoleros will return to action at Bethel on May 23rd. Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m., with hot laps at 5 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. Grandstand admission is just $5. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.bethelmotorspeedway.com. 

 

Dirt Sportsman Feature Finish (25 laps): 1. Brian Krummel, 2. Mike McKerrell, 3. Greg Morgan, 4. Danny Hedges, 5. Tony Squicciarini, 6. Bob Harless, 7. Jerry Curry, 8. Eddie Walters, 9. Jeff Hager.

 

BMS Modified Feature Finish (20 laps) 1. Norman Barnes, 2. John Cote, 3. John DeMarmels, 4. Dan Wood. DNS – Jim Fugel.

 

ECS Auto Stores Pro Stock Feature Finish (25 laps): 1. Clarence Palmer, 2. Jim Helt, 3. Charlie Howe Jr., 4. Joe Barnes, 5. Bobby Policastro, 6. Jesse Hilger, 7. Mark Sylvester, 8. Ken Hopkins Jr., 9. Skip LaPolt, 10. Glenn Aumick, 11. Gene Palmer.

 

Street Stock Feature Finish (15 laps): 1. Gary VanOrden, 2. Tommy Johnson, 3. John Woinoski, 4. Brent Shaddock, 5. Vinny Stanton.

 

4 Cylinder Senior Feature Finish (20 laps): 1. Paul Curry, 2. Ed Lindstadt, 3. Larry O’Donnell, 4. Patty Falkena, 5. Diane Hughson, 6. Woody McGibbon, 7. George VanAiken, 8. Russell Sniffen. DNS – William VanAiken.

 

4 Cylinder Junior Feature Finish (20 laps): 1. Jonathan McGibbon, 2. Billy Curry, 3. Mike Travis, 4. Gary VanOrden Jr., 5. Amber VanOrden, 6. Jamie Elliott, 7. Robert Beech. Brockhouse.htmlhttp://www.bethelmotorspeedway.commailto:legendstockny@yahoo.comhttp://www.bethelmotorspeedway.com/http://www.speed51.com/2009_Stories/ProShock/5_13.htmlhttp://www.ecsautostores.com/shapeimage_4_link_0shapeimage_4_link_1shapeimage_4_link_2shapeimage_4_link_3