Bedford Speedway hosted the Jay’s Auto Wrecking ULMS Late Models for the annual Labor Day 55. Thirty seven drivers entered the event with Chalk Hill, PA driver Mason Zeigler winning the $12,055 that was up for grabs.

Chew on This Jerky Rookie of Year and series point leader Tyler Emory set Lindemuth Laser Etching Fast Time to start the evening and was one of the four heat winners along with Coleby Frye, Alex Ferree and Bryan Bernheisel. Consolation winners were Jay’s Auto Wrecking Elite drivers, Ryan Montgomery and Logan Zarin to set the field for the Labor Day 55.

Alex Ferree and Coleby Frye set the pace for the 55 lap main event with Ferree in the Lynn Geisler #1Cochran Automotive Rocket jumping out to the lead Ferree blew out to a serious lead in the first few laps, but Coleby Frue, after falling back a bit early on, began to make a challenge as the pair negotiated heavy lapped traffic by lap 12. Frye closed noticeably after about lap 20, bringing Mason Zeigler and Matt Cosner with him.

Frye presented a serious threat to the leader until a lazy spin brought out the first caution on lap 29. Zeigler, who had started fifth in the field, had reached third by that time and posed as a threat to the leaders, joining the battle up front.

On the restart, Frye was all over Ferree until he brushed the first turn wall on lap 38 and fell back to regroup. Frye’s slip allowed Mason Zeigler to move into second and he made the most of his position. Zeigler actually got the lead with a perfectly executed slide job in turn one on lap 40, but Ferree responded with a crossover move and retook the spot in turn two..

After having gone 29 green laps to start, the event was plagued with several cautions in the late laps, one of which proved pivitol to Max Blair who got caught up with Frye on a lap 44 restart and heavily impacted the front stretch wall, retiring from the event.

That yellow closed Zeigler and also Matt Cosner on the leader and set up the race’s dramatic moment. Zeigler got a great jump on a lap 38 restart and went into turn one side by side with the leader. The pair got together with Ferree spinning. During the caution, Zeigler stopped on the track for some cosmetic work, but by ULMS rules was allowed to maintain the lead.

Zeigler’s body damage did not slow him down as, with Cosner in hot pusuit, he then led the last 7 laps to score the $12000 win. Cosner took second at the line, followed by Frye, Kyle Hardy, who knifed through from deep in the pack and Jeff Rine. Tyler Emory, Frye, Ferree and Bryan Bernheisel won the heats for the 37 entries, Ryan Montgomery and Logan Zarin won the B events.

Kyle Lee, who had dramatically closed on the point lead over the late season, was a retiree after a skirmish on lap 37. That retirement, coupled with Jeff Rine’s top 5 finish nailed yet another Bedford track title for Rine.

ULMS LATE MODEL 55 LAPS Mason Zeigler, Matt Cosner, Coleby Frye, Kyle Hardy, Jeff Rine, Dylan Yoder, Logan Zarin, Tyler Emory, Ryan Montgomery, Bryan Bernheisel, Dylan Cecce, Chuck Clise, Dave Stamm, Jakob Piper, Alex Ferree, Justin Weaver, Max Blair, Kyle Lee, Michael Norris, Matt Sponaugle, Jason Covert, Colton Flinner, Gregg Satterlee, Dan Stone DNS RJ Dallape, Tim Smith, Ron Fink, Mitch Thomas, Andrew Wylie, Dan Angellichio, Clinton Hersh, Andrew Yoder, Drake Troutman, Mike Lupfer, Tyler Horst, Jeff Miller, Nathan Lasalle.

The 2023 United Late Model Series is proudly supported by Jay’s Automotive, Close Racing Supply, Lindemuth Laser Etching, Chew on this Jerky, Jay’s Auto Wrecking, The Cushion, Precise Racing, Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic, Lias Tire, American Racer Tire, , Insinger Performance, VP Race Fuels, Carpy’s Custom Screen Printing, DirtDefender, Neff Landscaping, Keizer Wheels, Genesis Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, Integra Shocks, Cousins Designs, Garage Crawl, Mary Norgrove Notary Public, Hot Shoe RaceWear, and MACH Auto.