|
Defending Mid-Atlantic Championship Series (MACS) champion, Jason Covert nabbed his first MACS win of 2007 fending off late race charges from both Mike Knight and former MACS champion, Jack Pencil at Bobby Rohrer’s Eriez Speedway, Hammett, PA.
Covert, who won his heat as well as the AlturnaMats® Dash King Competition presented by WRISCO Aluminum knew he had a good setup for a track he’d never seen before, “I could tell in practice that we were going to be good tonight. The car was good, it wasn’t the best car I have ever had but this is my type of racetrack. Not to mention that things went our way tonight,” laughed the excited race winner. “We finally had a good qualifying run which kind of set the tone for the night. We have struggled early in events but tonight everything fell into place. It’s nice to get a win to help get us back on track. Hopefully we can keep this momentum and have a strong run at Bedford in two weeks”, concluded the jubilant winner.
Covert and Knight brought the stellar 24-car field to the green. Jason jumped into the early lead followed by 2005 MACS Champion, Mike Balzano, Knight, Matt urban, and 2002 MACS Champion, Jack Pencil. Covert was setting a torrid pace until the first of five caution flags fell on lap five when Darrell Bossard’s Rocket Chassis came to a halt in turn four.
When Covert brought the field around for the “ Delaware ” style restart, he maintained the point over Balzano, Knight Pencil and 2004 MACS Champion Robbie Blair. As the field came through turn three, Urban lost the handle of his entry collecting current MACS point leader Rod Conley, Doug Drown, Andy Kania, Paul Briggs, and Andy Boozel initiating the second caution.
On the ensuing restart Covert lead as Balzano faded to forth moving Knight into second followed by Pencil who slotted into third. As Pencil and Balzano battled for third, Jason would extend his lead as he caught lapped traffic by lap ten.
The third caution was displayed on lap thirteen when MACS ROY contender Dan Stone lost power in turn three. Covert paced the field back to green over Knight, Pencil Balzano and Blair. As Eriez flagman Spanky Hall set the field loose it was again Covert pulling out to a commanding lead. Jason continued to pull away from Knight as Balzano hounded Pencil for third. Mike was glued to Jack until Balzano uncharacteristically lost control of his familiar #E1 bringing out caution on lap 21.
Covert, clearly a man on a mission, pulled away from the field again at the halfway point as he was being chased by Knight; Pencil; Chris Hackett, from ninth; and Blair. Covert’s prowess was awesome until he entered lapped traffic slowing his pace just enough to permit Knight to track him down. Knight was about to make a move for the lead but was snubbed by a lap 46 caution for Merle Terry.
The restart would set up a four lap sprint to the finish. Covert lead the field to the final green of the 50-lap extravaganza and the chase to the checkers. He utilized the open track to build a solid lead over his contenders. Knight got stuck out of the racing groove on the restart as he was developing a flat as he was quickly shuffled back to the fifth. With Knight faltering Pencil moved into second. Jack made a final run on Jason but Covert was not going to be denied his first MACS win of the season. Blair made a late race pass to finish third followed by Hackett and Knight in fifth. Leading MACS ROY contender Matt Lux finished sixth leading the next tier of five finishers over Jim Bernheisel, form 11th; Rod Conley; Doug Eck, from 16th; and Balzano rounding out the top ten.
Event Recap:
MACS Late Models at Bobby Rohrer’s Eriez Speedway July 3, 2007
Event title: ’ Lake Erie Independence Day 50’
Finish / Start / Car # / Driver Name / Payoff
1. (1) #43A – Jason Covert - $5,000.00
2. (4) #14P – Jack Pencil - $3,000.00
3. (7) #W11 – Robbie Blair - $2,000.00
4. (9) #33H – Chris Hackett - $1,500.00
5. (2) #9K – Mike Knight - $1,250.00
6. (8) #21 – Matt Lux - $1,150.00
7. (11) #119 – Jim Bernheisel - $1,050.00
8. (6) #71R – Rod Conley - $1,000.00
9. (16) #03 – Doug Eck - $950.00
10. (3) #E1 – Mike Balzano - $850.00
11. (15) #44 – Dave Hess Jr. - $750.00
12. (12) #1G – Rich Gardner - $650.00
13. (21) #28L – Randy Lobb - $575.00
14. (23) #5 – Chuck Clise - $550.00
15. (19) #90F – Wally Fox - $525.00
16. (24) #4T – Merle Terry - $520.00
17. (13) #21D – Dan Stone - $515.00
18. (18) #28B – Dick Barton - $510.00
19. (17) #76K – Andy Kania - $505.00
20. (14) #12D – Doug Drown - $500.00
21. (5) # 1U – Matt Urban - $500.00
22. (22) #9B – Paul Briggs - $500.00
23. (10) #22B – Darrell Bossard - $500.00
24. (20) #12B – Andy Boozel - $500.00
Car Count: 35
Time of the Event: 33 minutes, 27 seconds
Caution Laps: 5 (2), 13, 21, 46
Lead Changes: None
Lap Leaders: 1-50 Covert
Red Flags: None
Chase Decals Hard Luck Driver: Matt Urban - $100 gift certificate
Sue Stevenson Photography presents the AlturnaMats ® “Shock the Clock” MACS
Time Trials:
Car # / Driver Name / Time
W11 - Robbie Blair 15.758
E1 - Mike Balzano 15.860
43A - Jason Covert 16.119
1U - Matt Urban 16.168
76K - Andy Kania 16.192
9K - Mike Knight 16.195
21 - Matt Lux 16.218
14P - Jack Pencil 16.250
71R - Rod Conley 16.285
33H - Chris Hackett 16.313
90F - Wally Fox 16.347
28B - Dick Barton 16.415
119 - Jim Bernheisel 16.438
M1 - Mickey Wright 16.448
1G - Rich Gardner 16.467
22B - Darrell Bossard 16.500
21D - Dan Stone 16.652
9B - Paul Briggs 16.660
44 - Dave Hess, Jr 16.662
4T - Merle Terry 16.666
5 - Chuck Clise 16.668
12D - Doug Drown 16.723
28L - Randy Lobb 16.748
03 - Doug Eck 16.813
61S - Ward Schell 16.851
12B - Andy Boozel 16.947
0R - Ryan Scott 16.955
111 - Max Blair 17.010
26G - George LaBarbera 17.161
72* - Jared Teegarden 17.247
55H - Joe Harvey 17.529
65X - Clint Smith 17.578
15H - Steve Halpainy 17.714
30V - Robert Vogt 18.874
00D - Dan Maxim 99.991
Impact Graphics $100 Gift Certificate to Fast Qualifier Robbie Blair. Eriez Speedway Track Record was set tonight by Robbie Blair.
WRISCO Aluminum presents AlturnaMats ® Dash King: 1. Jason Covert, York Haven, Pa.; 2. Mike Knight, Ripley, N.Y.; 3. Mike Balzano, Parkersburg, WV; 4. Jack Pencil, Bedford, PA; 5. Matt Urban, North East, PA; 6. Rod Conley, Wheelersburg, OH; 7. Robbie Blair, Titusville, Pa.; 8. Matt Lux, Franklin, PA.
Bazell Oil presents the Sunoco Race Fuels 1st B Main: 1. Andy Kania, Waterford, PA; 2. Wally Fox, Cooperstown, PA; 3. Randy Lobb, Jamestown, NY; 4. George LaBarbera, Sugar Grove, PA; 5. Steve Halpainy, Ashville, NY; 6. Ward Schell, Warren, PA; 7. Joe Harvey, Clymer, N.Y.; 8. Chuck Clise, Frostburg, MD; 9. Ryan Scott, Garland, Pa.; 10. Dan Maxim, Erie , Pa. .
Goddard Performance presents the Warrior Chassis 2nd B Main: 1. Dick Barton, Ashville, NY; 2. Andy Boozel, Clymer, N.Y.; 3. Paul Briggs, Ashville, NY; 4. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa.; 5. Clint Smith, Centerville, Pa.; 6. Jared Teegarden, Chesterfield, Va.; 7. Robert Vogt, West Springfield, Pa.; 8. Mickey Wright, Albion, PA; 9. Merle Terry, Erie, Pa..
Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic presents the Hoosier Tire Heat #1: 1. Rod Conley, Wheelersburg , OH ; 2. Jim Bernheisel, Lebanon , PA ; 3. Robbie Blair, Titusville , Pa. ; 4. Dan Stone, Thompson , PA ; 5. Andy Kania, Waterford , PA ; 6. Chuck Clise, Frostburg , MD ; 7. George LaBarbera, Sugar Grove , PA ; 8. Steve Halpainy, Ashville , NY ; 9. Ward Schell, Warren , PA.
Dave Poske Performance Parts presents the Rocket Chassis Heat #2: 1. Chris Hackett, Erie , PA ; 2. Mike Knight, Ripley , N.Y. ; 3. Mike Balzano, Parkersburg , WV ; 4. Doug Drown, Wooster , OH ; 5. Andy Boozel, Clymer , N.Y. ; 6. Paul Briggs, Ashville , NY ; 7. Jared Teegarden, Chesterfield , Va. ; 8. Mickey Wright, Albion , PA ; 9. Robert Vogt, West Springfield , Pa. .
Lias Tire Racing Division presents the American Racer Heat #3: 1. Jason Covert, York Haven, Pa. ; 2. Rich Gardner, Waterford , PA ; 3. Matt Lux, Franklin , PA ; 4. Dave Hess, Jr, Waterford , PA ; 5. Wally Fox, Cooperstown , PA ; 6. Randy Lobb, Jamestown , NY ; 7. Joe Harvey, Clymer , N.Y. ; 8. Ryan Scott, Garland , Pa. ; 9. Dan Maxim, Erie , Pa. .
GRT Chassis presents the ATL Fuel Cells Heat #4: 1. Darrell Bossard, Centerville , Pa. ; 2. Matt Urban, North East, PA; 3. Jack Pencil, Bedford , PA ; 4. Doug Eck, Corry , PA ; 5. Dick Barton, Ashville , NY ; 6. Max Blair, Centerville , Pa. ; 7. Merle Terry, Erie , Pa. ; 8. Clint Smith, Centerville , Pa. .
MACS FACTS: Four heats were held for 35 drivers from Six states including: Maryland , New York , Ohio , Pennsylvania , Virginia , and West Virginia .
Covert drives the Barry Klinedinst Motorsports owned Pre-Mach, Inc / Red Wing Shoes / Hershey Racing Engines / Baker Carburetion / Bam’s Auto Center / Kuppy’s Diner / Rocket Chassis Monte Carlo, Yellow #43A mounted with American Racer tires.
The field included 4 of the current or past MACS Champions: Covert (06); Balzano (05); Blair (04); Pencil (02).
The feature field contained 8 previous MACS A Main winners.
The Series has had 64 different winners thus far in 192 events.
This was Covert’s second 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 Winners thus far: Robbie Blair (1), Jackie Boggs (1), Jason Covert (1), and Josh McGuire (1),
The average car count per event is: 42
125 different drivers have competed in the first four MACS event this season
2007 Mid-Atlantic Championship Series top 10 Point Standings
1. #W11 - Robbie Blair - 1150
2. #71R - Rod Conley - 1130
3. #43A - Jason Covert – 1060
4. #14P - Jack Pencil – 1060
5. #119 - Jim Bernheisel – 1020
6. #E1 - Mike Balzano – 1015
7. #21 - Matt Lux – 1010
8. #12D - Doug Drown – 920
9. #21D - Dan Stone – 900
10. #5 - Chuck Clise - 790
AlturnaMats® “Shock the Clock” Time Trail Points presented Sue Stevenson Photography - $200 Gift Certificate from AlturnaMats®
#W11 – Robbie Blair - 25
#E1 – Mike Balzano - 20
#43A – Jason Covert - 18
#1U – Matt Urban - 16
#76K – Andy Kania - 14
#9K – Mike Knight - 12
#21 – Matt Lux - 10
#14P – Jack Pencil - 8
#71R – Rod Conley – 6
#33H – Chris Hackett - 4
AlturnaMats® Dash King presented WRISCO Aluminum
#43A – Jason Covert - 25
#9K – Mike Knight - 20
#E1 – Mike Balzano - 18
#14P – Jack Pencil - 16
#1U – Matt Urban - 14
#71R – Rod Conley - 12
#W11 – Robbie Blair - 10
#21 – Matt Lux - 8
WRISCO Aluminum Event Hard Charger Points
#5 – Chuck Clise - 9
#28L – Randy Lobb - 8
#4T – Merle Terry - 8
#03 – Doug Eck – 7
#33H – Chris Hackett – 5
#W11 – Robbie Blair – 4
#119 – Jim Bernheisel – 4
#44 – Dave Hess Jr. – 4
#90F – Wally Fox – 4
#14P – Jack Pencil – 2
#21 – Matt Lux - 2
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. |
|
