BETHEL – After several weeks off – some planned and some weather-related - the gates finally swung open at Bethel Speedway this past Saturday, with competitors entering the final stretch for season-long points championships. 

To compensate for the prior week’s rainout, the speedway announced double features for the BMS Modified, Street Stock, and Bandolero divisions this week.

The night’s regularly scheduled heat races started off the action for the BMS Modified division, with Ed Dachenhausen and Richard “Skip” LaPolt in a tight battle for the division points lead. 

Dachenhausen experienced mechanical issues with his primary car during hot laps, and a backup car had not arrived at the track in time for the heat race, which LaPolt won. 

As a result, John Cote and LaPolt started on the front row for the feature, and Dachenhausen was relegated to a fifth-place starting position. 

Dachenhausen charged through the field, but LaPolt had taken the early lead and Dachenhausen was unable to get past LaPolt as he held his line. LaPolt collected his third victory of the season, followed by LaPolt and Cote.

In the holdover feature, Cote and LaPolt again started on the front row. The pair ran side-by-side for several laps, but LaPolt again found himself out front. As the laps wound down, Dachenhausen powered his way to the front, eventually taking the lead and the eventual win. Dachenhausen was disqualified for a mechanical infraction in post-race tech, so LaPolt was awarded his second win of the night, and Dachenhausen was disqualified from both race finishes, giving Cote two second-place finishes and Steve Conklin a pair of third-place finishes. LaPolt holds the season-long points lead over Dachenhausen heading into this coming Saturday’s double pint finale.

In Dirt Modified action, Jamie Yannone and Ed Dachenhausen led the field to green, but were involved in an early-race incident that resulted in Yannone having to pit for repairs. When the race resumed, Dachenhausen jumped out to the lead and cruised to victory over Jeffrey Tubbs. Yannone was third in the final rundown.

Street Stocks also had a busy evening, starting with their holdover feature. Kyle Welsch, who has been running Street Stocks after beginning the season with a very successful run in the Renegade division, picked up the win in the holdover race, his third win of the season in the division. Tucker Katz was second, with Bob Sleight third.

The night’s regular feature was action-packed, with several new faces that have not been at the speedway in several weeks, and on-track contact that ended with less than desirable finishes for some of the points contenders. Sleight, running in a car borrowed from Glenn Cargain, came out on top of the second race of the night, followed by Walt Henry and Welsch.

It was essentially a perfect night for Bandolero driver James Bauernfeind, who pulled off victories in both the holdover and regular night’s races. Jordan Smith scored tow runner-up finishes, while Alyson Smith was third in both features.

Tori Miller cruised to victory in the Beginner Bandolero feature, while Colten Welsch picked up the runner-up spot.

Jerry Kingeter rolled to victory in the Modified 4 Cylinder feature, leading every lap en route to the win in the Eddy Lindstadt Memorial race to honor the former racer and 4 Cylinder champion who passed away unexpectedly several years ago. The biggest battle of the race was between Richie Smith and Tisha Curry for the second spot. Curry ran in third for much of the race, but made it obvious that she was waiting for her opportunity. Just past the halfway point, Smith made contact with Kingeter and Curry was able to dive underneath for second. Kingeter won, with Curry second and Smith third.

Richie Smith led every lap on his way to the win in the “Gut and Go” Enduro event.

This coming Saturday, September 21, is the last points race of the season for all classes at Bethel. Gates open at 2:30 pm, with hot laps at 4:30 pm, and racing set to go green at 6 pm. Grandstand admission is $12 for adults and $8 for senior citizens. Children aged 11 and under are admitted to the grandstands free of charge, as are all active and former military. Pit passes are $45 per person. For more information, call the speedway office at (845) 319-7908.

BMS Holdover Feature Finish (20 Laps): 1. Richard “Skip” Lapolt, 2. John Cote, 3. Steve Conklin, 4. Bill Deak. Dq – Ed Dachenhausen.

BMS Feature Finish (20 Laps): 1. Richard “Skip” Lapolt, 2. John Cote, 3. Steve Conklin, 4. Bill Deak. Dq – Ed Dachenhausen.

Dirt Modified Feature Finish (20 Laps): 1. Ed Dachenhausen, 2. Jeffrey Tubbs. Dnf: Jamie Yannone.

Street Stock Holdover Feature Finish (20 Laps): 1. Kyle Welsch, 2. Tucker Katz, 3. Bob Sleight, 4. Scott Tyler, 5. Walt Henry, 6. Leland Oefelein, 7. Kevin Cargain, 8. Walter Henry Iv, 9. Scott Sepe.

Street Stock Feature Finish (20 Laps): 1. Bob Sleight, 2. Kyle Welsch, 3. Tucker Katz, 4. Walt Henry, 5. Leland Oefelein, 6. Kevin Cargain, 7. Walter Henry IV, 8. Scott Sepe. Dnf: Scott Tyler.

Bandolero Holdover Feature Finish: 1. James Bauernfeind, 2. Jordan Smith, 3. Alyson Smith.

Bandolero Feature Finish: 1. James Bauernfeind, 2. Jordan Smith, 3. Alyson Smith.

Beginner Bandolero Feature Finish: 1. Tori Miller, 2. Colten Welsch.

Modified 4 Cylinder Feature Finish (20 Laps): 1. Jerry Kingeter, 2. Tisha Curry, 3. Richie Smith.

Gut ‘N Go Enduro: 1. Richie Smith.