Covert Claims $10,000 In 28th Annual ‘USA 100’ At Virginia Motor Speedway

Covert Claims $10,000 In 28th Annual ‘USA 100’ At Virginia Motor Speedway

posted by Admin on 02/03/08

Jamaica, VA (August 18, 2007) 2006 Mid-Atlantic Championship Series (MACS) champion Jason Covert patiently waited for the right time to make his move and when he did he never looked back on his way to a $10,000 payday in Ernie Shelton’s 28th Annual ‘USA 100’ at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, VA.

“This is just awesome,” commented the excited winner in victory lane. “Who would have thought that ‘Jason Covert’ would ever be mentioned with a race like this, I mean, after 10 or 11 years of racing pinto’s in Huntington, it’s like a dream come true. We made a ton of changes after the qualifier and when we got out front I could put the car where ever it wanted to go. My crew really sweated their guts out tonight, they did all the work, all I did was drive it,” concluded Covert.

Defending ‘USA 100’ champion Jeremy Miller and 2007 MACS Rookie of the Year contender Matt Lux brought the first of two 25-lap qualifiers to the green flag with Lux taking the early lead. Miller hounded Matt until a lap four restart when David Williams made his way around Jeremy for second. Miller stayed right on Williams’ bumper as David pressured Lux for the lead. Williams took a look under Matt going into the third corner just as Miller moved to the outside of David’s beautifully clad #25W. The three drivers came out of turn four three wide on the super wide racing surface. Williams would go into turn one with the lead followed by Miller and Lux. Jeremy’s chance to defend his 2006 ‘USA 100’ would come to an end on lap 13 as he went up in smoke in turn three and came to a rest in turn four. When racing resumed Williams pulled away from the field securing the $1,000 paycheck for the 25-lap qualifying event followed by former MACS champions Chuck Harper in second, Jack Pencil in third, Jason Covert and Robbie Blair in fourth and fifth respectively.

In the second 25-lap qualifying event saw Vienna, WV’s Steve Shaver lead all 25 laps to take the $1,000 check. Shaver was pressured the entire event by former big-block modified stand out Ricky Elliott. 2005 MACS champion Mike Balzano finished third followed by 2007 Lernerville Speedway champion Alex Ferree in fourth and Virginia’s Booper Bare in fifth.

By virtue of their 25-lap qualifying wins, David Williams and Steve Shaver sat on the front row for the 50-lap, $10,000 to win Main Event. Shaver jumped out to the early lead with Ricky Elliott bolting into the second position ahead of Chuck Harper and Williams. Shaver, Elliott, and Harper ran one, two, three until the first of two cautions waved for debris on lap 15. As the green flag fell it was Shaver leading followed by Elliott, Harper, Mike Balzano, and Jason Covert in fifth. On lap 18 Covert made his way around Balzano only to set his sights on Harper. It didn’t take Jason long to make a move on Chuck as Covert moved into the third spot on the 21st circuit. Jason’s pass opened the door for Balzano to also get by Harper to move into the fourth position. Covert seemed to be a man on a mission as four laps later he was making a move to get around Elliott for second. By lap 28 Covert was by Ricky for second with visions of winning his first career $10,000 to win event.

Again, Covert’s pass opened the door for Balzano to make a move. This time Mike brought Booper Bare with him as Elliott, Balzano, and Bare went three wide out of the fourth corner battling for the third position. Mike and Booper were both able to make the pass on Elliott moving him to the fifth spot in the running order.

Covert started closing in on Shaver as Steve hit lapped traffic. On lap 38 Covert was on the rear deck-lid of Shaver and ready to pounce. The following circuit saw Covert make his move under the race leader when Shaver bobbled coming out of the second corner. The two raced side-by-side down the backstretch with Covert making the pass going into turn three. Two laps later Balzano and Bare made their way past Shaver moving him back to fourth in the running order. Balzano was just about to make a move on Covert when Bill Tucker lost the handle of his mount on the 44th lap to bring out the caution setting up a six lap dash to the checkered flag. Covert was not going to be denied the biggest win of his career as he pulled away from Balzano to take the win followed by Bare in third, Lebanon, PA’s Jimmy Bernheisel in fourth and Jamie Lathrum in fifth. Shaver faded to sixth with Robbie Blair in seventh and Chuck Harper in eighth. Ninth went to Elliott while Gary Stuhler rounded out the top ten.

Event Recap:

MACS Late Models at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway – August 18, 2007
Event title: Ernie Shelton’s 28th Annual ‘USA 100’
Finish / Start / Car # / Driver Name / Payoff
1. (2) #43A – Jason Covert - $5,000.00
2. (4) #E1 – Mike Balzano - $3,000.00
3. (2) #00B – Booper Bare - $2,000.00
4. (17) #119 – Jim Bernheisel - $1,500.00
5. (10) #6 – Jamie Lathrum - $1,250.00
6. (3) #30 – Steve Shaver - $1,150.00
7. (11) #W11 – Robbie Blair - $1,050.00
8. (6) #00H – Chuck Harper - $1,000.00
9. (22) #45 – Ricky Elliott - $950.00
10. (5) #90 – Gary Stuhler - $850.00
11. (12) #1D – Ronnie Dehaven - $750.00
12. (19) #7D – Darryl Hills - $650.00
13. (24) #71R – Rod Conley - $575.00
14. (6) #21 – Matt Lux - $550.00
15. (23) #12D – Doug Drown - $525.00
16. (20) #25W – David Williams - $520.00
17. (9) #21D – Dan Stone - $515.00
18. (13) #22A – Donald Lingo Jr. - $510.00
19. (7) #118 – Rob Shirmer - $505.00
20. (14) #55R – Ryan Hackett - $500.00
21. (18) #14P – Jack Pencil - $500.00
22. (22) #BB1 – Bill Tucker - $500.00
23. (16) #03F – Joey Love - $500.00
24. (8) #24G – George Moreland - $500.00
25. () #4F – Alex Ferree - $700.00
26. () #8P – Jeff Pilkerton - $700.00

Car Count: 35
Time of the Event: 27 Minutes, 13 seconds
Caution Laps: 15, 42
Lead Changes: 2
Lap Leaders: 1–37 Shaver, 38–50 Covert
Red Flags: None
Chase Decals Hard Luck Driver: Jack Pencil - $100 gift certificate

Sue Stevenson Photography presents the AlturnaMats ® “Shock the Clock” MACS
Time Trials:
Car # / Driver Name / Time
W11 - Robbie Blair 17.894
45 - Rick Elliott 17.910
24M - Jeremy Miller 17.921
1D - Ronnie DeHaven, Jr. 18.001
43A - Jason Covert 18.031
30 - Steve Shaver 18.114
71R - Rod Conley 18.142
E1 - Mike Balzano 18.162
25W - David Williams 18.164
87 - Walker Arthur 18.171
21 - Matt Lux 18.193
00B - Booper Bare 18.251
14P - Jack Pencil 18.286
22A - Donald Lingo Jr 18.303
00H - Chuck Harper 18.320
6 - Jamie Lathroum 18.322
119 - Jim Bernheisel 18.344
4F - Alex Ferree 18.352
12D - Doug Drown 18.359
55M - Roland Mann 18.411
21D - Dan Stone 18.427
64 - Sean Cosgrove 18.451
90 - Gary Stuhler 18.538
10R - Ryan Hackett 18.575
03F - Joey Love 18.854
8P - Jeff Pilkerton 18.882
5 - Chuck Clise 19.039
24G - George Moreland 19.073
7D - Darryl Hills 19.342
118 - Rob Schirmer 19.343
BB1 - Bill Tucker 19.366
72* - Jared Teegarden 19.440
83L - Lou Littlepage 19.657
11A - Austin Hubbard NT
14C - Chuck Bowie NT

Impact Graphics $100 Gift Certificate to Fast Qualifier Robbie Blair. Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway Track Record is 17.097 set by Shane Clanton in April of 2007.

Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic presents the Hoosier Tire 25-lap Qualifier #1: 1. David Williams, Avenue, MD; 2. Chuck Harper, Beverly, WV; 3. Jack Pencil, Bedford, PA; 4. Jason Covert, York Haven, Pa.; 5. Robbie Blair, Titusville, Pa.; 6. Jim Bernheisel, Lebanon, PA; 7. Darryl Hills, Great Mills, MD; 8. Matt Lux, Franklin, PA; 9. Gary Stuhler, Greencastle, PA; 10. Dan Stone, Thompson, PA; 11. Joey Love, Faulkner, Md.; 12. Bill Tucker, King Georges, Va.; 13. Chuck Clise, Frostburg, MD; 14. Doug Drown, Wooster, OH; 15. Rod Conley, Wheelersburg, OH; 16. Jeremy Miller, Gettysburg, PA; 17. Lou Littlepage, Richmond, Va.; 18. Chuck
Bowie;.

Dave Poske Performance Parts presents the Rocket Chassis 25-lap Qualifier #2: 1. Steve Shaver, Parkersburg, WV; 2. Rick Elliott, Seaford, Del.; 3. Mike Balzano, Parkersburg, WV; 4. Alex Ferree, Saxonburg, PA; 5. Booper Bare, Rockbridge Baths, VA; 6. Jamie Lathroum, Mechanicsville, Md.; 7. Ronnie DeHaven, Jr., Winchester, VA; 8. Donald Lingo Jr, Millsboro, Del.; 9. Jeff Pilkerton, Loveville, MD; 10. Ryan Hackett, LaPlatta, Md.; 11. George Moreland, Waldorf, MD; 12. Rob Schirmer, Ellendale, Del.; 13. Walker Arthur, Forest, Va.; 14. Roland Mann, Chapito, Md.; 15. Jared Teegarden, Chesterfield, Va.; 16. Sean Cosgrove, Catharpin, VA; 17. Austin Hubbard, Seaford, Del..

MACS FACTS: Two 25-lap Qualifiers were held for 35 drivers from Six states including: Deleware, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Covert drives the Barry Klinedinst owned Pre-Mach, Inc./Red Wing Shoes/Hershey’s Racing Engines/Baker Carburetion/Bam’s Auto Center/Kuppy’s Diner/Rocket Chassis Monte Carlo Yellow #43A

The field included 5 of the current or past MACS Champions: Covert (06); Balzano (05); Blair (04); Harper (03); Pencil (02).

The feature field contained 11 previous MACS A Main winners.

The Series has had 65 different winners thus far in 193 events.

This was Feathers’ 1st career win with the Series. Series career win leader board: 1.) Todd Andrews - 17; 2.) Chub Frank -15; 3.) Gary Stuhler -13; 4) Jeremy Miller – 11; 5) Jackie Boggs - 11; 5) Robbie Blair – 10; 6.) Lynn Geisler - 8, 7.) Davey Johnson - 7; 9.) Mike Balzano – 6; 10) Bob Close, Bart Hartman and Scott Haus –5

2007 Mid-Atlantic Championship Series Event Winners:
April 7 – Allegany County Speedway (Cumberland, MD) – Weather
May 25 – Skyline Speedway (Stewart, OH) – Josh McGuire
May 26 – Portsmouth Raceway Park (Portsmouth, OH) – Jackie Boggs
May 27 – Central Pennsylvania Speedway (Clearfield, PA) – Rob Blair
July 3 – Eriez Speedway (Hammett, PA) – Jason Covert
July 13 – Bedford Speedway (Bedford, PA) – Bo Feathers
August 18 – Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway (Jamaica, VA) – Jason Covert
2007 Winners thus far: Jason Covert (2), Bo Feathers (1), Josh McGuire (1), Jackie Boggs (1), and Robbie Blair (1).

The average car count per event is: 41

132 different drivers have competed as of the first MACS event this season

2007 Mid-Atlantic Championship Series Point Standings
1. #W11 – Rob Blair 1,700
2. #43A – Jason Covert 1,645
3. #71R – Rod Conley 1, 615
4. #E1 – Mike Balzano 1,565
4. #119 – Jim Bernheisel 1,565
6. #21 – Matt Lux 1,515
7. #14P – Jack Pencil 1,450
8. #12D – Doug Drown 1,375
9. #21D – Dan Stone 1,350
10. #24M – Jeremy Miller 1,195

AlturnaMats® “Shock the Clock” Time Trail Points presented Sue Stevenson Photography
#W11 – Robbie Blair - 25
#45 – Ricky Elliott - 20
#24M – Jeremy Miller - 18
#1D – Ronnie Dehaven - 16
#43A – Jason Covert - 14
#30 – Steve Shaver - 12
#71R – Rod Conley - 10
#E1 – Mike Balzano - 8
#25W – David Williams – 6
#87 – Walker Arthur - 4

WRISCO Aluminum Event Hard Charger Points
#43A – Jason Covert - 13
#119 – Jim Bernheisel - 13
#49Z – Eric Zembower - 9
#21D – Dan Stone - 8
#83R – Scott Rhodes - 7
#71R – Rod Conley - 7
#W11 – Rob Blair - 5
#21 – Matt Lux - 4
#12D – Doug Drown - 4
#24M – Jeremy Miller - 2
#00 – Bo Feathers – 1
#17J – Wayne Johnson - 1

Additional information on the Mid-Atlantic Championship Series can be found on www.macsracing.com.

Thank you for your continued support of the series, host facilities, drivers, and sponsors.

Andy Geesey – President – (724) 397-9126
Matt Geesey - Vice President – (724) 465-4282
Jeff Geesey - Secretary/Treasurer – (724) 465-2222
FAX – (724) 397-9128
Email - macs1@verizon.net

Written and Distributed by:
Jason Shank – JNJ Motorsports Media / Mid-Atlantic Championship Series
www.jnjmotorsports.com, www.macsracing.com