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| Howie Balis Photo |
Sometimes a break in the schedule is just what a driver needs. Austin Hubbard's season to date had yet to produce a win in limited appearances. And on Friday night at Bedford Speedway, Hubbard had the fastest car in time trials and drove a fast and patient race in the $8200 to win Billy Winn Classic. Hubbard made his way to the front from his sixth starting spot and found himself in the right place at the right time as leader Alex Ferree watched his hopes for victory vanish with a flat tire with five laps left.
"All race long I just wanted to have a car at the end and be there at the end to have a shot." Hubbard said. "That’s how these extra distance races go you need to have something for the end. I didn’t push the car at all during the early part of the race.'
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| Howie Balis Photo |
Ferree, of Saxonburg Pa and Nathan Lasalle of Everett Pa led the 25 car field to green on the fast Bedford surface. Ferree jumped out to the lead early until a lap 6 caution slowed the action as Matt Cosner lost a driveshaft. A pair of restarts were needed to get action back under way and Ferree once again set the pace in his XR1 Rocket but once again on lap 11 caution was needed as the lights along the front stretch went out. When action resumed, Ferree again was again leader and was setting a torrid pace up front while being followed by 6th starting Austin’s Hubbard and Jeff Rine.
While Ferree was stretching out fairly large leads out front, the action behind him was intense as Hubbard, Rine and fifth starting Tyler Bare were locked into a three car battle for the third spot. Behind the trio, Jared Miley was making his way forward with authority from his 21st starting spot. the current Ultimate NE Late Model points leader was able to cross the line in the sixth spot when all was said and done. As the laps wound down, Ferree looked like a lock to take his biggest victory of the 2018 season. But, a late race caution for Andy Friese would set the stage for the drama which was ready to unfold. On the ensuing restart Ferree slowed off of turn two the RR tire went flat as he handed the lead to Hubbard. For the last five laps Hubbard kept the 92 of Rine and the 43a of Bare behind him crossing the finish line with a huge fist pump out the window.
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| Howie Balis Photo |
"We had a long layoff from racing but it feels good to be back out here and to get the W I love this track it’s been good to me."
Second place finisher Jeff Rine was pleased with his performance on the night overall. "When the track takes rubber here it’s hard to pass," Rine said. "We didn’t have anything for the 4 car tonight but we will take 2nd and move on."
The ever optimistic Alex Ferree summed his night up by saying “What can you do? It’s racing. It happens. We've just got to keep doing what we are doing”
Heat Winners:
Heat 1 Alex Ferree
Heat 2 Nathan Lasalle
Heat 3 Daryl Hills
Heat 4 Ross Robinson
B-Main Winner: Jared Miley
Fast Qualifier: Austin Hubbard
Hard Charger: Jared Miley
Final Feature Results- 50 Laps- $8200 to Win Billy Winn Classic
1. 11 Austin Hubbard
2. 92 Jeff Rine
3. 43a Tyler Bare
4. 7r Ross Robinson
5. 87 Walker Arthur
6. 10m Jared Miley
7. c9 Steve Casebolt
8. 76 Andy Haus
9. 24 Dylan Yoder
10. 7h Daryl Hills
11. 1 Gene Knaub
12. 119 Bryan Bernheisel
13. 5 Chuck Clise
14. 68 Nathan Lasalle
15. 82 Andy Fries
16. 4 Alex Ferree
17. 3 Kyle Hardy
18. 15 Matt Parks
19. 14 Tyler Horst
20. 44 Ralph Morgan
21. 0f Colby Frye
22. 45 Jamie Lauthrom
23. 7t Dave Troutman
24/ 66c Matt Cosner
25. 7 Dj Troutman
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