Bedford Speedway
Pencil flies to UFO victory at Bedford
BEDFORD, Pa. (July 4) — Hometown driver Jack Pencil raced to a $3,000 victory Wednesday at Bedford Speedway, the first of his career on the UFO Race Championship Series.
Pencil took the checkers at the 5/8-mile oval over Jason Covert of York Haven, Pa. D.J. Troutman of Hyndman, Pa., Jeff Rine of Danville, Pa., and Scott Haus of Hamburg, Pa., rounded out the top five.
Three tries were required to get the main event under way with polesitter Chuck Clise of Frostburg., Md., finally taking control and building a healthy lead over 10 laps. Haus held the second spot early with Pencil marching forward to take the runner-up spot after three laps.
Further back, Covert and 11th-starting Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., were ripping through the pack. By the time Pencil eased by Clise to take the lead on the 17th lap, Covert reached the top five with Satterlee just behind.
Pencil was in cruise control out front while Covert continued his assault, moving into third on the 20th lap after overtaking Clise and Rine on one circuit. He took second from Troutman on the 25th lap just before Satterlee’s race ended with a blown tire.
On the restart with 10 laps remaining, Covert challenged Pencil, but the leader scooted away. Covert kept it interesting but couldn’t make the pass the rest of the way.
Notes: Pencil’s Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Stoystown Auto Wreckers and The Penguin Self Serve. ... Pencil has three victories overall at Bedford this season; he’s the track’s only repeat winner. ... A passing storm briefly delayed the program more than an hour. ... Zane Weicht won the Semi-Late Model feature. ... Drivers failing to make the main event: Matt Sala, Mike Altobelli Jr., Tom Decker Jr., Rick Singleton, Jeremy Miller and Tom Decker III. ... UFO competitors return to action July 21 at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway for a $5,000-to-win event.
UFO @ Bedford: (1) Jack Pencil, (2) Jason Covert, (3) D.J. Troutman, (4) Jeff Rine, (5) Scott Haus, (6) Brian Booze, (7) Dylan Yoder, (8) Jim Yoder, (9) Chuck Clise, (10) Keith Barbara, (11) Matt Parks, (12) Andy Haus, (13) Matt Sponaugle, (14) Scott LeBarron, (15) D.J. Myers, (16) Jon Hodgkiss, (17) Lincoln Ritchey, (18) Gregg Satterlee, (19) Justin Kann, (20) Jamie Lathroum, (21) Shawn Claar, (22) Chris Harr, (23) Jerry Bard, (24) Steve Campbell, (25) Wayne Johnson, (26) Greg Fetters. Heat race winners (among 31 cars): S. Haus, Parks, Rine, Covert. Consolation winner: Kann.