Jason Covert Cruises To $10,000 Victory At Portsmouth Raceway Park

Jason Covert Cruises To $10,000 Victory At Portsmouth Raceway Park

posted by Admin on 02/03/08

Portsmouth, OH (September 2, 2007) It was said two weekends ago that Jason Covert has ‘arrived’ after his prestigious win in Ernie Shelton’s ‘USA 100’ at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway. Any doubt of that statement should have vanished as Covert held off a hard charging Jackie Boggs to pick up his second $10,000 to win event in three weeks in the ‘Glockner Toyota Tundra 75’ at the Coleman Family owned Portsmouth Raceway Park in Portsmouth, OH.

Zanesville, Ohio’s Bart Hartman and reigning ‘Dream 100’ winner Steve Casebolt led the stout 24 car field to the green with Casebolt using the outside lane to grab the lead. Steve quickly jumped out to a sizable lead until Billy Drake jumped the cushion on lap 13 while running fourth and came to stop on the 17th circuit to bring out the first of only three cautions.

The ensuing restart saw Jason Covert make a daring move to the outside in turns one and two to move up into the second spot behind Casebolt. Covert’s pass moved Hartman back to third as Josh McGuire and Jarod Hawkins battled for the fourth spot.

Steve had his Reliable Painting Rocket Chassis on a rail as he stretched his lead out to almost a half of a straightaway when disaster struck for the Richmond, IN driver. Casebolt came up lame on the backstretch on lap 21 when his fuel pump went sour forcing him to retire from the event. Due to Steve’s misfortune, Covert inherited the lead followed by Hartman, 2006 Portsmouth Raceway Park champion Jackie Boggs, Saturday night’s winner Doug Drown in fourth and Hawkins rounding out the top five.

When racing resumed it was Jason leading the charge into the first corner with Hartman all over his rear bumper. Boggs stayed right with the leaders as the third and final caution flew for R.J. Conley on lap 32 when his mount came to a stop on the speedway.

The lead trio of Covert, Bart, and Jackie were nose to tail for the next 18 laps until Boggs showed his nose to Hartman. Jackie and Bart raced side-by-side for close to two laps before Boggs was able to get around Hartman and set his sights on the race leader. Boggs had no problem getting to the rear deck-lid of Jason but just couldn’t find the room to get by the defending MACS champion. On lap 57 Jackie and Covert made slight contact in turn four but Jason masterfully held off the attempted pass as Boggs graciously let off the throttle to keep from sending them both into a spin. With Jackie’s lost momentum, Bart was able to get a run to challenge for the second spot but couldn’t find the grip to get around Boggs. Covert was able to work his way through traffic and hang on for his third MACS win of the 2007 season. Boggs came home second with Hartman third, Doug Drown was fourth with Audie Swartz charging from the 18th starting position to finish fifth. Paul Harris led the next tier of drivers finishing sixth from 11th, as Mike Balzano came home seventh, Donnie Moran finished eighth from his 15th starting spot followed by Eric Wells from 14th, and Jarod Hawkins finished ninth and tenth respectively.

Event Recap:
MACS Late Models at Portsmouth Raceway Park, September 2, 2007
Event title: ‘Glockner Toyota Tundra 75’
Finish / Start / Car # / Driver Name / Payoff
1. (7) #43A – Jason Covert - $10,000.00
2. (13) #4B – Jackie Boggs - $6,000.00
3. (1) #75 – Bart Hartman- $3,500.00
4. (9) #12D – Doug Drown - $2,500.00
5. (18) #7A – Audie Swartz - $2,200.00
6. (11) #10H – Paul Harris - $2,000.00
7. (6) #E1 – Mike Balzano - $1,500.00
8. (15) #99M – Donnie Moran - $1,200.00
9. (14) #18E – Eric Wells - $1,150.00
10. (4) #17H – Jarod Hawkins- $1,100.00
11. (17) #18K – Brandon Kinzer - $1,075.00
12. (16) #71C – R.J. Conley - $1,050.00
13. (20) #28C – Eddie Carrier Jr. - $1,025.00
14. (23) #21 – Matt Lux - $1,000.00
15. (22) #71R – Rod Conley - $900.00
16. (10) #H11 – Kenny Christy - $750.00
17. (21) #77B – Barry Bragdon - $750.00
18. (5) #11T – Tim Hitt - $750.00
19. (8) #11M – Josh McGuire - $750.00
20. (2) #19 – Steve Casebolt - $750.00
21. (19) #21M – Jason Montgomery - $750.00
22. (3) #9* - Billy Drake - $750.00
23. (12) #12W – Rick Williams - $750.00
24. (24) #14P – Jack Pencil - $750.00

Car Count: 47
Time of the Event: 30 Minutes, 56 seconds
Caution Laps: 17, 21, 32
Lead Changes: None
Lap Leaders: Casebolt 1-22, Covert 23-75
Red Flags: None
Chase Decals Hard Luck Driver: #19 – Steve Casebolt $100 Gift Certificate

Sue Stevenson Photography presents the AlturnaMats ® “Shock the Clock” MACS
Time Trials:

Car # / Driver Name / Time
9* - Billy Drake 15.082
75 - Bart Hartman 15.145
19 - Steve Casebolt 15.213
47 - Chris Combs 15.220
11M - Josh McGuire 15.236
17H - Jarod Hawkins 15.273
43A - Jason Covert 15.338
E1 - Mike Balzano 15.375
30 - Steve Shaver 15.427
11T - Tim Hitt 15.432
H11 - Kenny Christy 15.440
17T - Shannon Thornsberry 15.450
12D - Doug Drown 15.472
21M - Jason Montgomery 15.473
62G - Charlie George 15.498
10H - Paul Harris 15.520
14P - Jack Pencil 15.528
18E - Eric Wells 15.530
12W - Rick Williams 15.540
X4 - John Gill 15.543
28C - Eddie Carrier Jr. 15.546
18C - Chad Hina 15.563
7A - Audie Swartz 15.630
4B - Jackie Boggs 15.642
71C - R.J. Conley 15.655
18K - Brandon Kinzer 15.695
18T - Tim Tungate 15.710
WE11 - David Wells 15.732
33W - Kevin Wagner 15.741
99M - Donnie Moran 15.769
21 - Matt Lux 15.782
S17 - Jacob Hawkins 15.788
12L - Rick Lucas 15.793
16 - Justin Ratliff 15.796
13 - Jamie Ferguson 15.815
1N - Nick Bocook 15.825
77B - Barry Bragdon 15.885
8A - Anthony Adams 15.898
71R - Rod Conley 15.900
71 - Delmas Conley 15.927
71H - Chris Conley 16.130
16D - Paul Davis 16.342
45F - Russ Frohnapfel 16.376
2 - Joe Ramey 16.553
1PJ - Shawn Holliday 16.622
5 - Chuck Clise 17.249
M5 - Ryan Markham NT

Billy Drake was awarded a $200 Gift Certificate from Alturnamats® plus a $100 Gift Certificate from Impact Graphics for being Fast Qualifier.
Portsmouth Raceway Park Track Record is 14.252 and held by Josh McGuire.

WRISCO Aluminum presents AlturnaMats ® Dash King: 1. Bart Hartman, Zanesville, OH; 2. Steve Casebolt, Richmond, IN; 3. Billy Drake, Bloomington, IL; 4. Jarod Hawkins, Farimont, W. Va.; 5. Tim Hitt, Weston, WV; 6. Mike Balzano, Parkersburg, WV; 7. Jason Covert, York Haven, Pa.; 8. Josh McGuire, Grayson, Ky..

Bazell Oil presents the Sunoco Race Fuels 1st B Main : 1. R.J. Conley, Wheelersburg, OH; 2. Audie Swartz, Minford, OH; 3. Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, WV; 4. Justin Ratliff, Campellsville, Ky.; 5. Delmas Conley, Wheelersburg, OH; 6. Shawn Holliday, Ironton, Ohio; 7. Kevin Wagner, Wheelersburg, Ohio; 8. Tim Tungate, Campbellsville, Ky.; 9. Paul Davis, Pilgrim, Ky.; 10. Joe Ramey, Ironton, Ohio; 11. Charlie George, Elkins, W. Va.; 12. Jacob Hawkins, Fairmont, W. Va.; 13. Nick Bocook, Wheelersburg, Ohio; 14. Anthony Adams, Whitesburg, Ky.; 15. Steve Shaver, Parkersburg, WV; 16. Ryan Markham, Ashland, OH.

Goddard Performance presents the Warrior Chassis 2nd B Main : 1. Brandon Kinzer, Prestonsburg, KY; 2. Jason Montgomery, Jackson, OH; 3. Barry Bragdon, Wheelersburg, OH; 4. David Wells, Wooton, Ky.; 5. Rod Conley, Wheelersburg, OH; 6. Shannon Thornsberry, Martin, KY; 7. John Gill, Mitchell, IN; 8. Chuck Clise, Frostburg, MD; 9. Russ Frohnapfel, Columbus, OH; 10. Jamie Ferguson, West Liberty, Ky.; 11. Rick Lucas, Charelston, W. Va.; 12. Matt Lux, Franklin, PA; 13. Chris Combs, Isom, Ky.; 14. Chad Hina, Zanesville, OH; 15. Chris Conley, Westerville, Ohio.

Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic presents the Hoosier Tire Heat #1: 1. Doug Drown, Wooster, OH; 2. Josh McGuire, Grayson, Ky.; 3. Jack Pencil, Bedford, PA; 4. Billy Drake, Bloomington, IL; 5. R.J. Conley, Wheelersburg, OH; 6. Justin Ratliff, Campellsville, Ky.; 7. Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, WV; 8. Kevin Wagner, Wheelersburg, Ohio; 9. Shawn Holliday, Ironton, Ohio; 10. Paul Davis, Pilgrim, Ky.; 11. Anthony Adams, Whitesburg, Ky.; 12. Steve Shaver, Parkersburg, WV.

Dave Poske Performance Parts presents the Rocket Chassis Heat #2: 1. Tim Hitt, Weston, WV; 2. Jarod Hawkins, Farimont, W. Va.; 3. Bart Hartman, Zanesville, OH; 4. Eric Wells, Hazard, Ky.; 5. Brandon Kinzer, Prestonsburg, KY; 6. Matt Lux, Franklin, PA; 7. Chad Hina, Zanesville, OH; 8. Rod Conley, Wheelersburg, OH; 9. Chuck Clise, Frostburg, MD; 10. Jamie Ferguson, West Liberty, Ky.; 11. Russ Frohnapfel, Columbus, OH; 12. Jason Montgomery, Jackson, OH.

Lias Tire Racing Division presents the American Racer Heat #3: 1. Kenny Christy, Vanceburg, Ky.; 2. Steve Casebolt, Richmond, IN; 3. Rick Williams, Beverly, WV; 4. Jason Covert, York Haven, Pa.; 5. Audie Swartz, Minford, OH; 6. Charlie George, Elkins, W. Va.; 7. Tim Tungate, Campbellsville, Ky.; 8. Delmas Conley, Wheelersburg, OH; 9. Nick Bocook, Wheelersburg, Ohio; 10. Jacob Hawkins, Fairmont, W. Va.; 11. Joe Ramey, Ironton, Ohio; 12. Ryan Markham, Ashland, OH.

GRT Chassis presents the ATL Fuel Cells Heat #4: 1. Paul Harris, Prestonsburg, KY; 2. Mike Balzano, Parkersburg, WV; 3. Jackie Boggs, Grayson, KY; 4. Donnie Moran, Dresden, OH; 5. Chris Combs, Isom, Ky.; 6. Shannon Thornsberry, Martin, KY; 7. Barry Bragdon, Wheelersburg, OH; 8. David Wells, Wooton, Ky.; 9. John Gill, Mitchell, IN; 10. Rick Lucas, Charelston, W. Va.; 11. Chris Conley, Westerville, Ohio.

MACS FACTS: Four heats were held for 47 drivers from seven states including: Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, 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 which is mounted on Ohlins shocks and shod with American Racer Tires.

The field included three current or past MACS Champions: Covert (‘06); Balzano (’05), Pencil (’02).

The feature field contained 11 previous MACS A Main winners.

The Series has had 65 different winners thus far in 199 events.

The win was Covert’s third of 2007 and fourth of his career. Series career win leader board: 1.) Todd Andrews - 17; 2.) Chub Frank -16; 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
August 31 – Don Martin’s Lernerville Speedway ( Sarver , PA ) – Chub Frank
September 1 - Portsmouth Raceway Park ( Portsmouth , OH) – Doug Drown
September 2 – Portsmouth Raceway Park (Portsmouth, OH) – Jason Covert

2007 Winners thus far: Jason Covert (3), Robbie Blair (1).Jackie Boggs (1), Doug Drown (1), Bo Feathers (1), Chub Frank (1), and Josh McGuire (1).

The average car count per event is: 42

216 Different drivers have competed thus far this season

13 out of the top 25 in points standing were present.

2007 Mid-Atlantic Championship Series Point Standings:
1. #43A – Jason Covert 2,500
2 #71R – Rod Conley 2,365
3. #E1 – Mike Balzano 2,310
4. #21 – Matt Lux 2,245
6. #12D – Doug Drown 2,200
5. #119 – Jim Bernheisel 1,970
8. #14P – Jack Pencil 1,915
7. #W11 – Rob Blair 1,885
10. #5 – Chuck Clise 1,589
9. #21D – Dan Stone 1,585

AlturnaMats® “Shock the Clock” Time Trail Points presented Sue Stevenson Photography
#9* - Billy Drake - 25
#75 – Bart Hartman - 20
#19 – Steve Casebolt - 18
#47 – Chris Combs - 16
#11M – Josh McGuire - 14
#17H – Jarod Hawkins - 12
#43A – Jason Covert - 10
#E1 – Mike Balzano - 8
#30 – Steve Shaver – 6
#11T – Tim Hitt - 4

AlturnaMats® Dash King presented WRISCO Aluminum
#75 – Bart Hartman - 25
#19 – Steve Casebolt - 20
#9* - Billy Drake - 18
#17H – Jarod Hawkins - 16
#11T – Tim Hitt - 14
#E1 – Mike Balzano - 12
#43A – Jason Covert - 10
#11M – Josh McGuire - 8

WRISCO Aluminum Event Hard Charger Points
#7A – Audie Swartz – 13
#4B – Jackie Boggs - 11
#21 – Matt Lux – 9
#99M – Donnie Moran – 7
#28C – Eddie Carrier Jr. – 7
#71R – Rod Conley - 7
#43A – Jason Covert – 6
#18K - Brandon Kinzer - 6
#12D – Doug Drown - 5
#10H – Paul Harris – 5
#18E – Eric Wells – 5
#71C – R.J. Conley – 5
#77B – Barry Bragdon - 4

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) 549-1480
Matt Geesey - Vice President – (724) 465-4282
Jeff Geesey - Secretary/Treasurer – (724) 465-2222
Email - macs1@verizon.net

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