DANNER SCORES USAC EAST COAST OPENER AT BEDFORD

By: Nick Fillman – USAC ECSC

Bedford, Pennsylvania (April 26, 2024)………The 2024 Rapid Tire Services USAC East Coast Sprint Car Series Presented by Capitol Renegade season got underway at Pennsylvania’s Bedford Speedway on Friday night.

Carmen Perigo and Briggs Danner scored the heat race victories to open the night.  Following the redraw, Bruce Buckwalter Jr. and Perigo led the field to the green for the 25-lap feature event.

Defending champion Briggs Danner quickly made his way to the lead with a ferocious battle taking place for positions two through seven as cars quickly and rapidly changed positions.

Just as it looked like Danner, all by his lonesome, was cruising to the win, Lee Kauffman went for a tumble in turn one on lap 23, setting up a two-lap dash to the finish.  During the red flag, Danner had a deflating right and left rear tire, making things challenging for the two-time series champion.

Try as he might, soft tires and all, Alex Bright was not able to catch Danner as he went on to score win number one of the season.  Alex Bright and his rally from eighth place wound up second with Bobby Butler, Joey Amantea and Steven Drevicki rounding out the top-five.

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USAC RAPID TIRE EAST COAST SPRINT CARS PRESENTED BY CAPITOL CUSTOM TRAILERS RACE RESULTS: April 26, 2024 – Bedford Speedway – Bedford, Pennsylvania

FIRST HEAT: (8 laps, all transfer to the feature, starting positions in parentheses) 1. 21-Carmen Perigo (2), 2. 27-Alex Bright (7), 3. 19-Steven Drevicki (3), 4. 5B-Bobby Butler (5), 5. 03-Matthew Swift (1), 6. 39x-Scott Frack (6), 7. 12w-Troy Fraker (4). NT

SECOND HEAT: (8 laps, all transfer to the feature, starting positions in parentheses) 1. 39-Briggs Danner (3), 2. 88J-Joey Amantea (7), 3. 7-Ed Aikin (2), 4. 83-Bruce Buckwalter Jr. (5), 5. 67-Jason Cherry (4), 6. 96-Lee Kauffman (1), 7. 29-Dalton Herrick (6). NT

FEATURE: (25 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Briggs Danner (5), 2. Alex Bright (8), 3. Bobby Butler (4), 4. Joey Amantea (3), 5. Steven Drevicki (7), 6. Ed Aikin (6), 7. Carmen Perigo (2), 8. Bruce Buckwalter Jr. (1), 9. Jason Cherry (10), 10. Matthew Swift (9), 11. Scott Frack (11), 12. Dalton Herrick (14), 13. Troy Fraker (13), 14. Lee Kauffman (12). NT

**Lee Kauffman flipped on lap 23 of the feature.

HARD CHARGER: Alex Bright (8th to 2nd)

NEXT USAC RAPID TIRE EAST COAST SPRINT CARS PRESENTED BY CAPITOL CUSTOM TRAILERS RACE: April 27, 2024 – Port Royal Speedway – Port Royal, Pennsylvania