5/13/2023
Bethel Motor Speedway
ROOF-TOP SHUFFLER BACK ON TOP AT BETHEL
One of Nascar Street Stock’s most fierce competitors at Bethel, Joel Murns, had an up and down year in 2022. Amassing six total feature wins last year, and taking a short break mid-season, Murns would finish fourth in regular season standings, and second in the Fall Series standings. Murns has always been one of the division’s biggest supporters, and in local short track racing. When he wins, he puts on a show for the fans on the track. Some drivers do donuts, burnouts, or drive the opposite way on the track, commonly known as a “Polish” victory lap. Murn’s celebration is unique, as he climbs atop his race car at the start/finish line, and does what is called the “Roof Top Shuffle”. Fans would get to see his celebration after a hard fought battle, and narrow margin of victory.
Rookie Tucker Katz and Murns would lead the field to the green flag for the twenty lap feature event. Katz would hold the lead, while Murns, and Scott Tyler battled it out for second. Murns gained the lead on lap 11 from Katz. Caution on lap 13 for a spinning Katz, brings Tyler to second, Emerson Cargain to third, and Dan Houghtaling to fourth, with Leland Oefelein to fifth. The restart set up a fierce battle to the checkers, with Tyler and Murns side by side for the duration. Cargain waited within striking distance to make his move on the top two. Murns would take the checkers over Tyler by a mere .12 seconds over Tyler. Cargain, Houghtaling, and Oefelein roundout the top five.
510 Racing and Paul McCollum have always brought top equipment to the speedway, with countless victories in the INEX Legends division. McCollum’s son Alex has moved south and was invited to the Earnhardt Outdoor Showdown field on May 25th. With a vacated seat this season, McCollum has put driver Nate Divone behind the wheel the past two weeks, and Divone hasn’t disappointed, winning both races.
Divone would lead the entire event, with Chris Piasecki at his heels in second. Bryan Gardella would advance to third by the final run down, with Justin Terasak and Joe Przybylinski in tow.
Josh Wilbur took the checkers in a hard fought battle with Tom Katz and Kyle Welsch in Nascar Pro Stock action
Jeff Degroat makes it two for two in four cylinder advance action, as well as Shane Turner in 4cyl Novice, Jordan Smith in INEX Bandoleros, and James Bauernfeind in Beginner Bandoleros.
Glenn Cargain would collect the checkers in the four cylinder trucks, and JW Gannon would take the $690 to win Spring of ’69 four cylinder Modified race.
