RPW Column: Best In Show’s Two-In-A-Row For Jakob Bedford At OCFS Motorsports Show: Shelby-Jo Murphy’s Ms. OCFS ’23
News Director 
Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – MIDDLETOWN, NY – It was a busy weekend at the Orange County Fair Speedway’s arena building as the 2023 version of the OCFS Motorsports Show took place.
Over 50 race vehicles from the area tracks of OCFS, Accord Speedway and Bethel Motor Speedway along with other racing venues filled the arena.
And when the judging was over, it was the #91 Jakob Bedford of Thompson, Pa. taking for the 2nd consecutive year the F.D.I./Salon Bleu Best In Show award worth $1,000. Jakob also won the Best Display award and Best in Sprints/Open wheel division.
Accord racer Scott Ferrier and his sharp looking #20 was the Rapid Tire 2nd place finisher worth $400. Scott’s entry was also the Modified/358’s/IMCA division winner.
Grant Hilfiger, in a very good looking new scheme on his Hig Fab #78 that he will be racing in the Sportsman division at OCFS in 2023, was the Crackers Motorsports Marketing 3rd place award worth $200. Grant was also the Sportsman division winner.
Other division winners were JB Morris Full Fender, OCFS announcer Tim Pitts Vintage, Thomas Balassone Special Interest and the youngest winner of the day, Maddox Bruning, in the Small Car division.
Three pageants were held to select 3 young ladies to represent the track in Victory Lane celebrations and other activities.
Shelby-Jo Murphy is the 2023 Ms. OCFS. Kaitlyn Davies was First Runner-Up and Noel Hedges was 2nd Runner-Up.
Shelby-Jo is a most familiar face around the speedway scene. She along with her mom, Karen Morris Murphy, do a lot of miles at every OCFS event with the 50-50 duties. It’s a duty that Shelby and Karen love to do and she is glad to add the duties of being Ms. OCFS 2023.
“I’m very overwhelmed, I’m very thankful for all the fans who supported me through the years, especially through the hard times. It was my 3rd try and I’m very happy. It’s amazing to see how the racing community responds to these type pageants and support the girls who enter and it takes a lot of courage to do it. I’m very grateful for the support.”
Rilee Davies, who served as Little Miss OCFS in 2019, was the first time of the newly created Junior Miss OCFS 2023.
“It feels good to be able to represent the track again as Junior Miss OCFS 2023. I just want to get more people involved.”
Renee Tyler, Daughter of Accord Speedway racer Danny Tyler, is the Little Miss OCFS 2023.
“I’ve tried to be Little Miss for 3 years, it feels good to win it.”
A team consisting of Gary Plass, Ray Tarantino, Walt Henry, Ric Ryder and Walt Henry IV were the winners in the Pit Crew Challenge. Thank you to the Joel Murns 21JR team for the use of the car.
The Cornhole Tournament was won by the team of Dominic Roselli Jr. and Brendan Finley.
The Middletown Lions Club ‘No Kid Hungry Program’ fundraiser raised $1,000. Great job by all who volunteered their time to help out in the booth for the weekend.
The Charity Auction raised over $1,300. Thank you to all who donated items to the auction.
It was a very enjoyable weekend at the show. Thank you to the racers, fans and OCFS employees and show organizers for all their contributions towards the show.
