August 30
Bedford Speedway,
Bedford, PA
Sanction: Jay's Automotive United Late Model Series (Labor Day 55) - $7,055
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated August 31, 3:01 pm)
Eckert earns $7,055 for Bedford ULMS victory
Labor Day 55
- Rick Eckert
- Ross Robinson
- Jason Covert
- Bryan Bernheisel
- Jared Miley
- Dylan Yoder
- Andy Haus
- Matt Sponaugle
- Gregg Satterlee
- Chuck Clise
- Shaun Jones
- Gene Knaub
- Max Blair
- Travis Stickley
- Drake Troutman
- Nathan LaSalle
- Mason Zeigler
- Mike Lupfer
- Austin Hubbard
- Clinton Hersh
- Mike Wonderling Jr.
- Jeff Rine
- Billy Wampler
- Jason Dobson
- Jeff Johnson
Rick Eckert poses in victory lane after capturing Bedford's Labor Day 55.
What won the race: Completing a march forward from the 10th starting spot, Rick Eckert of York, Pa., overtook Jason Covert for the lead on lap 52 en route to winning Friday night's 32nd annual Labor Day 55 at Bedford Speedway. Eckert earned the $7,055 victory in the Zimmer's United Late Model Series-sanctioned event by 2.149 seconds over Ross Robinson.
Quotable: "I think it was 1994 since I stood on this (winner's) stage," said Eckert, a championship-winning regular at Bedford in the late '80s and early '90s. "I was the young guy then. Now I’m the old guy. It’s great to come back and get a win finally."
Key notes: Eckert's triumph was his second of 2019 and third of his career in ULMS competition. ... Eckert grabbed the lead on lap 52 when Covert bobbled over the cushion off turn four, opening the door for Eckert to make an inside run. ... Robinson passed Covert for second on lap 53 to claim a career-best ULMS finish. ... Covert settled for a third-place finish after leading laps 17 and 21-51. ... Mason Zeigler was the dominant force for much of the race's first half, leading all but one of the first 20 laps. Covert snuck by him in traffic to lead lap 17, but Zeigler regained command the following circuit and stayed there until a broken universal joint ended his bid on the 20th circuit. ... Gregg Satterlee ran second through the race's middle stages before running into trouble while third on lap 53; he finished ninth. ... The event marked the ULMS tour’s first-ever visit to Bedford and first race of the circuit’s Labor Day weekend tripleheader in the Keystone State. … Bedford hosts the Mason-Dixon Shootout Series on Sunday.
On the move: Georgetown, Del.'s Ross Robinson started 14th and finished second.
Winner's sponsors: Eckert’s Rocket Chassis is powered a Jay Dickens Racing Engine and sponsored by S.L. Shenberger Dump Truck Service, Suburban Bowlerama, Drydene Performance Products, P.P.C. Lubricants, Firehouse Subs, M&M Painting & Construction, Eckert Trucking and All About Wraps.
Points chase: Entering the weekend, Max Blair (459 points) of Centerville, Pa., led Mike Wonferling Jr. (358), Jason Dobson (275), David Scott (262) and Greg Oakes (198).
Current weather: Clear with Mist and Fog, 62°F
Car count: 34
Fast qualifier: Austin Hubbard
Time: 19.117 seconds
Polesitter: Mason Zeigler
Heat race winners: Andy Haus, Mike Lupfer, Austin Hubbard, Gregg Satterlee
Consolation race winners: Jared Miley, Shaun Jones
Provisional starters: Jeff Johnson
Next series race: March 19, Williams Grove Speedway (Mechanicsburg, PA) $3,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.