BETHEL –– This past Saturday at Bethel Speedway, double points for all divisions set the stage for races that could change the outcome of season-long championship battles. 

In the BMS Modified class, Ed Dachenhausen led the points battle all season, but a DQ in last week’s races caused him to not come to the track this weekend and left the window open for Richard “Skip” LaPolt to claim the title. LaPolt finished second to nine-time track champion John Cote in the heat race, and LaPolt then only needed to take the green in the feature to clinch the title. 

Bill Deak started on the pole, with Cote to his outside and LaPolt behind him. Cote got out front early and kept LaPolt in his rearview mirror on his way to the race win while LaPolt grabbed the season-long title. Cote collected his second win of the year, moving him to second in the season points standings, followed by LaPolt and Deak. Lapolt clinched the season title.

In the Dirt Sportsman class, Dachenhausen grabbed the title, in spite of the fact that neither he nor any competitors showed up for the season’s last points-paying event.

The highly-contended Street Stock title boiled down to the last race of the season. Young competitors Leland Oefelein (16 years old) and Tucker Katz (18 years old) headed into the last race, facing fairly equal chances to win as dirt standout Bob Sleight, driving a borrowed car. Sleight pitted for a flat tire in the heat race and had to start from the last position in the feature event. In the feature, Oefelein was battling for position with Katz when he suffered a flat tire and was forced to pit, at which point it was determined that his rear end also shifted, ending his night and championship battle. Kyle Welsch went on to win the race but was later disqualified in post-race tech, handing the race win to Walt Henry and the title to Katz.

Welsch, however, drove the Joe Barnes-owned Renegades car to a second-place finish, wrapping up the season championship while Tucker Katz took down the race win.  John Velde finished third in the race.    

James Bauernfeind collected the Bandolero win after Jordan Smith spun coming to the checkered flag in the event. In the Beginner Bandolero race, Tori Miller took down the victory over Colten Welsch.

In Modified 4 Cylinder action, Tisha Curry was not in attendance, and Scott Young handily grabbed the race win over Fawn Card. Frank Bauernfeind powered his way to the 4 Cylinder Novice win over Chris Hardenbergh.

This coming Saturday and Sunday, Bethel presents its final two days of racing for the season. The Sullivan 100 headlines the Saturday program, joined by the Open Comp Ironman 100 and the Full Fender Frenzy (visit the track website for specific rules). Sunday’s action is headlined by the Phil Goetschius Memorial for dirt Sportsman and the Catskill Clash 100 open 4 cylinder race. Bandoleros and Beginner Bandoleros will join the schedule both days. 

More information can be obtained at www.bethelspeedway.com, or by calling (845) 319-7908.