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Defending Mid-Atlantic Championship Series (MACS) champion Jason Covert pocketed over $10,000 claiming his biggest career win during the Ernie Shelton’s 28th Annual ‘USA 100TM’ at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway, Jamaica, VA. Covert patiently sized the competition and waited for the right time to make his winning move on then race leader Steve Shaver as he snared the lead on lap 39. Jason never looked back the rest of the way to the checkers.
The night started off a pair of twin, 25-lap qualifying events. In the first qualifier it was defending ‘ USA 100TM’ champion Jeremy Miller and 2007 MACS Rookie of the Year contender Matt Lux pacing the field to green. The upstart Lux grabbed the early lead. Jeremy 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 Matt for the lead. Williams took a look to the inside Lux going into the third corner just as Miller swept around the outside. The three drivers came out of turn four three wide on the super smooth and 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’ title would come to an end on lap 13 as he came to a rest in turn four with an apparent expired power plant. When racing resumed Williams pulled away from the field securing the $1,000 paycheck for the first qualifier followed by a quartet of MACS champions including Chuck Harper, Jack Pencil, Covert and Robbie Blair.
The second 25-lap qualifying event saw Vienna , WV ’s Steve Shaver lead all 25 laps taking the $1,000 top prize. Shaver, enroot to his victory, was pressured the entire distance by former big-block modified stand out Ricky Elliott. 2005 MACS champion Mike Balzano finished third followed by 2007 Lernerville Speedway champion Alex Ferree and former Virginia Motor Speedway Champion Booper Bare.
By virtue of their 25-lap qualifying wins, David Williams and Steve Shaver sat on the front row for the final 50-lap segment of the ‘ USA 100TM”. Shaver jumped out to the early lead with Elliott bolting into the second position ahead Harper and Williams. Shaver, Elliott, and Harper were cemented one, two, and three until the first of only two cautions for the event waved on lap 15, for debris. As the green flag again fell it was Shaver still on point over Elliott, Harper, Balzano, and Covert. On lap 18, Covert made his way around Balzano setting his sights on Harper. It didn’t take Jason long to make his move on Chuck as he slid into third on the 21st circuit. Covert opened the door for Balzano to inch his way past Harper into the fourth position. Covert seven revolutions later overhauled Elliott for second with visions of the lead squarely in his sights.
Balzano was matching almost every one of Covert’s maneuvers. Bare, who was riding fifth after a tenth place start, saw what was unfolding in front of him as he was glued to Balzano. On lap 31, Balzano, Elliott, and Bare went three wide coming out of turn four battling for the third position. Mike and Booper took third and fourth respectively with Elliott now slotted in fifth.
The action at the front was equally hot as Covert closed on Shaver as Steve hit lapped traffic. On lap 38 Covert was plastered to Shaver poised to pounce. The following circuit saw Covert make his move under the race leader when Shaver bobbled ever so slightly coming out of the second corner. Shaver quickly recovered from his slight miscue as the duo raced side-by-side down the backstretch. Covert hauled it deeply into turn three making the pass stick. Two quick circuits later, Balzano and Bare both passed Shaver moving him to fourth. Balzano turned up the wick and rapidly closed on Covert. Mike was within striking distance of the leader when Bill Tucker lost the handle of his mount on the 44th lap to bring out the second and final caution. This set the stage for a six lap dash for the win. Covert was not going to be denied the victory however, as he inched away from Balzano to the checkers. Balzano settled for second over Bare; Jim Bernheisel, from eleventh; and Jamie Lathrum, from twelfth. At the end, Shaver had faded to sixth over Blair, Harper, Elliott and Gary Stuhler, from 17th.
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 / Total Payoff
1. (7) #43A – Jason Covert - $10,400.00
2. (6) #E1 – Mike Balzano - $6,500.00
3. (10) #00B – Booper Bare - $3,850.00
4. (11) #119 – Jim Bernheisel - $2,840.00
5. (12) #6 – Jamie Lathrum - $2,540.00
6. (2) #30 – Steve Shaver - $3,000.00
7. (9) #W11 – Robbie Blair - $2,500.00
8. (3) #00H – Chuck Harper - $2,000.00
9. (4) #45 – Ricky Elliott - $1,900.00
10. (17) #90 – Gary Stuhler - $1,410.00
11. (14) #1D – Ronnie Dehaven - $1,405.00
12. (13) #7D – Darryl Hills - $1,380.00
13. (26) #71R – Rod Conley - $1,275.00
14. (15) #21 – Matt Lux - $1,320.00
15. (25) #12D – Doug Drown - $1,150.00
16. (1) #25W – David Williams - $1,800.00
17. (19) #21D – Dan Stone - $1,000.00
18. (16) #22A – Donald Lingo Jr. - $1,020.00
19. (24) #118 – Rob Shirmer - $1,000.00
20. (20) #10R – Ryan Hackett - $1,000.00
21. (5) #14P – Jack Pencil - $1,200.00
22. (23) #BB1 – Bill Tucker - $1,000.00
23. (21) #03F – Joey Love - $1,000.00
24. (22) #24G – George Moreland - $1,000.00
25. (8) #4F – Alex Ferree - $1,100.00
26. (18) #8P – Jeff Pilkerton - $1010.00
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
Fast Qualifier Robbie Blair received a $100 Gift Certificate from Impact Decals, $200 Gift Certificate from AlturnaMats®; and a $200 Gift Certificate from Mike Farr at Genesis Shocks. Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway Track Record is 17.097 set by Shane Clanton in April of 2007.
Bazell Oil presents SUNOCO Race Fuels 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;.
Goddard Performance Parts present the Warrior Race Cars 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: Delaware , 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 defending or former 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.
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
167 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 |
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