Contact: World Racing Group Kevin Kovac, World of Outlaws Late Model Series P.R. Director 704-254-7929 * [email protected][email protected]>
World of Outlaws Late Model Series Returns On Friday (Aug. 29) To Continue Bedford Speedway's Emergence
BEDFORD, PA - Aug. 25, 2008 - Last year's inaugural World of Outlaws Late Model Series event at Bedford Speedway served as a hallmark moment for the historic track's promotional team of J.R. Keifer, Jim Maybury and Dr. Dave Horne.
The renowned national tour's return engagement this Friday night (Aug. 29) promises to take the half-mile Keystone State oval to even loftier heights.
DKM, Inc.'s Keifer, who began operating Bedford with Maybury seven years ago and added Horne to the mix last season, said last year's blockbuster WoO LMS program has built anticipation for Friday's 50-lap, $10,000-to-win special to an unprecedented level.
"There's a lot of excitement about the World of Outlaws coming back to Bedford," said the 50-year-old Keifer, a former dirt-track driver whose facility drew a huge crowd and a field of over 40 dirt Late Models for the 2007 WoO LMS show. "Last year's race was one of those nights where the sun, the moon and stars all line up and everything works out great - there was a good surface, good car count, good racing and a good crowd. It definitely got us some respect and it's the reason why so many people are talking about this Friday's show.
"Now we're going to try to make this year's show even more special. We know all the drivers will do a great job on the track, but it's up to us promoters to add to the ambiance so fans will have an even better time than they did last year."
In that vein, Keifer and Co. have added a fireworks display to Bedford's 2008 WoO LMS spectacular, which has been moved to the attractive Labor Day holiday weekend as opposed to last year's late-September date.
Adding another element of freshness to Friday's Outlaws competition, the speedway is sporting a new racing surface since most of the WoO LMS regulars last visited. DKM, Inc. applied for and received grant money from the state to obtain 600 truckloads of clay, which was laid down following the 2007 season in what was the first complete resurfacing of the fairgrounds track in two decades.
The resurfacing continued the steady capital improvement project undertaken by DKM, Inc., which has overseen the erection of a bright-as-day Musco lighting system and an almost entirely new outside wall since arriving as Bedford's promoters.
"We're real proud of what we've accomplished in seven years at Bedford," said Keifer. "We've gotten the track to the point where we can bring in a nationally-known series like the World of Outlaws and give our fans a big show."
WoO LMS regular Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., will lead the tour to Bedford, hoping to repeat his victory in last year's first-ever event. He emerged triumphant after dueling for the lead with Bo Feathers of Winchester, Va., and Jeremy Miller of Gettysburg, Pa. - two drivers who are expected to enter Friday's program.
No WoO LMS driver, of course, has more experience at Bedford than Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who won four consecutive Super Late Model titles (1989-1992) at the track before becoming a touring professional. He finished fifth in last year's WoO LMS event.
Other WoO LMS travelers returning to the track for the second straight year include points leader Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., who finished sixth in the 2007 A-Main after losing three spots on the final lap due to a blown tire; defending tour champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., who finished seventh last year but won a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event at Bedford last month; Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y. (finished third in '07); Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga. (fourth); Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va. (eighth); and Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga. (ninth).
WoO LMS followers who will make first career starts at Bedford are Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., who drives NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Clint Bowyer's dirt Late Model, and Rookie of the Year contenders Vic Coffey of Leicester, N.Y., and Joe Isabell of Pennellville, N.Y.
The field is also expected to include an array of regional and local standouts, including Bedford regulars Steve Everhart of Hollidaysburg, Pa., who will clinch the 2008 track title simply by entering Friday's program; Jeff Rine of Danville, Pa., who owns a track-best four wins, including the last two in a row, this season at Bedford; four-time Bedford champions Scott Haus of Hamburg, Pa., and Jack Pencil of Bedford, Pa., whose 10th-place finish in last year's WoO LMS A-Main was the best among the track regulars; three-time track titlist Scott Rhodes of Somerset, Pa.; and Gary Stuhler of Greencastle, Pa., who enjoyed plenty of success at Bedford during his Hall of Fame career.
Friday's program, which also includes a $1,000-to-win event for the Limited Late Model division, carries an admission price of $30. Tickets for kids 5-12 are $5, while youngsters 4-and-under will be admitted free and pit passes will be $40.
Pit gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. and the spectator gates will be unlocked at 5 p.m. Hot laps are set for 7 p.m., followed by WoO LMS time trials and racing.
For more information, visit www.bedfordspeedway.com<http://www.bedfordspeedway.com/>.
The WoO LMS will remain in Pennsylvania following Friday night's checkered flag, heading to Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa., for the a pair of $10,000-to-win cards on Saturday (Aug. 30) and Sunday (Aug. 31) as part of the track's Oil Region Labor Day Classic.
Additional info on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com.