5/28/2011
Hagerstown Speedway
COVERT ENJOYS WINNING HAGERSTOWN’S THREE STATE FLYER BONEBRAKE TRIBUTE
Jason Covert became Hagerstown Speedway’s fifth different winner in as many events Saturday night when he scored a triumph in the Three State Flyers Late Model Series 16th Annual Richard “Boney” Bonebrake Tribute. The event was the Hagerstown/Winchester Shootout. Restarting with five laps to go in the 35-lap Tribute, Covert, of York Haven, Pa, sped away to score the win by 1.25 seconds over Austin Hubbard. He also recorded victory in the 2009 Bonebrake event.
“When I was a kid, I came here and rooted for Denny Bonebrake,’ Covert said. “Anyone with that name is cool. It’s really an honor to win tonight.”
Justin Weaver of nearby Williamsport recorded his second career win by dominating the Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic late model sportsman by a 7.09 second victory over Chad Myers. Chambersburg, PA’s Steve Lowery grabbed the Ernie D’s pure stock lead on the third lap and later scored his third of five events so far this season.
Following the dash for the Flyers late models, Gary Stuhler and Covert started from the front row as Stuhler pulled out to lead with the opening lap cautioned for a fourth turn incident involving Frankie Plessinger, Jamie Lathroum, Roy Deese Jr. and Rick Eckert with Deese and Eckert able to restart on the rear.
Covert was ready to toss his first challenge at Stuhler, went to the high side and was ahead by the fourth lap. Austin Hubbard took Stuhler’s spot by the seventh circuit while J.T. Spence and ninth starting Gerry Bard were chasing.
By the tenth lap, Covert and Hubbard had stretched their lead over Stuhler and were more than four seconds ahead by the 15th round. Covert began through the rear of the field on the 21st lap while Spence had passed Stuhler and was five seconds back. Covert caught some heavy traffic but quickly maneuvered past them but wasn’t able to shake Hubbard.
Following a caution on lap 31which regrouped the field. Covert opened more distance on Hubbard in the final laps than he enjoyed the entire race.
“What an honor to race with Gary and with Josh, Austin, Rick,” Covert said. “They’re the best in the business. This is great. This is Memorial Day weekend and we have to thank anyone that fought for our freedom. We worry about racing and others worry about not having freedom. Now that my daughter is in the Air Force and overseas, I told her I was going to try and win. This takes on a whole new meaning for Memorial Day. I want to thank any of the veterans that did that for us so I get to enjoy a little bit of the freedoms that most of the world doesn’t have.”
Spence held to third with Josh Richards, from 14th and Stuhler completing the top five. Bard was sixth followed by Dylan Yoder (11th), provisional starter Rick Eckert, the Round Hill Service Hard Charger from 25th, Greg Saterlee (24th) and Alan Sagi (18th). Heats went to Kenny Pettyjohn, Covert, Brian Booze and D. J. Myers while Kyle Lear and Ronnie DeHaven Jr. won the B mains.
Seventeen year old Weaver and Chad Myers lined up on the front row with Weaver speeding off and by the fifth lap, was 2.5 seconds ahead and getting better. By a lap 11 caution, he enjoyed a 5.4 second lead over Myers and Mike Walls. Following the restart, it was the same all over again as he began stretching his distance each lap until taking the checkered with more than seven seconds advantage over Myers with Walls, Terry Flaherty and Rodney Walls competing the top five. Weaver, Walls and Myers won the heats.
“The car was really good,” Weaver said. “I can’t thank A & C Racing Engines enough. I owe it all to them.
After Bill Ecton Jr. led the first two laps of the pure stock feature, Lowery was quickly to second from the sixth starting spot to seize the number one position on the third lap. Ninth starter Darrin Younker pulled into the runner up position the next circuit.
Lowery and Younker were joined by Drew Fitzsimmons in a three car battle at the front with Younker pulling alongside several times and Fitzsimmons trying to squeeze through the middle. A caution set up a green-white-checkered as Lowery prevailed by only .28 second over Younker with Fitzsimmons still trying for second until the end. Ecton and Kevin Koontz followed. Lowery and Wayne Hawbaker won the heats.
“I knew those guys were there but I didn’t want to overrun it and give them an opportunity, “Lowery said. “Darrin was definitely was trying hard.”
The Appalachian Mountain Dirt Late Model Speedweek Series kicks into action at Hagerstown next Saturday with the 3rd Annual 40-lap open late model event with $5,000 awaiting the winner. The Ernie D’s pure stocks are also included on the program. Warm ups begin at 7:00 p.m.
The latest news, results, photos, schedule or rule changes can be on the speedway’s website: www.hagerstownspeedway.com. Also check the website for any changes in weather conditions that may delay or cancel the program or contact the speedway office at 301-582-0640.
Hagerstown Speedway Results
Three State Flyer Late Models– Richard “Boney” Bonebrake Tribute - 35 laps, 37 entries, (Lap Leaders – Gary Stuhler 1-3, Jason Covert 4-35): 1.Jason Covert; 2.Austin Hubbard; 3.J.T. Spence; 4.Josh Richards; 5.Gary Stuhler; 6.Jerry Bard; 7.Dylan Yoder; 8.Rick Eckert (Round Hill Service Hard Charger); 9.Greg Satterlee; 10.Alan Sagi; 11.Ronnie DeHaven; 12.Matt Parks; 13.C. S. Fitzgerald; 14.Jim Bernheisel; 15.Brian Booze; 16.Devin Friese; 17.Kyle Lear; 18.Roy Deese Jr.; 19.Ashley Barrett; 20.D. J. Myers; 21.Nick Dickson; 22.Jeremy Miller; 23.Kenny Pettyjohn; 24.Frankie Plessinger; 25.Jamie Lathroum; 26.Scott LeBarron; DNQ-Brent Smith, Dan Stone, Matt Murphy, Mike Lupfer, Chuck Lewis, Jason Miller, DNS-Tyler Hershey, Keith Jackson, Duane Harbaugh, Mason Zeigler, Marvin Winters.
Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Late Model Sportsman, 20 Laps, 22 entries (Lap Leaders – Justin Weaver 1-20) 1.Justin Weaver; 2.Chad Myers; 3.Mike Walls; 4.Terry Flaherty; 5.Rodney Walls; 6.Steve Long; 7.Wayne Walls Jr.; 8.Steve Axtell Jr.; 9.Pete Weaver; 10.Paul Cursey; 11.Cody Lear (Checkered Flag Lube, St. Thomas Towing Hard Charger); 12.Glenn Elliott; 13.Tanner Kerr; 14.Tyler Horst; 15.Chad Walls; 16.Courtney Shreiner; 17.John Baker; 18.Kyle Wiser; 19.Donnie Farlling; 20.Elwood Sord; 21.Al Triplett, DNS – Marvin Winters
Ernie D’s Pure Stocks, 15 laps, 20 entries (Lap Leaders – Bill Ecton Jr. 1-2, Steve Lowery 3-8, Darrin Younker 9, Lowery 10-15): 1.Steve Lowery; 2.Darrin Younker (Turner Bowling Centers Hard Charger); 3.Drew Fitzsimmons; 4.Bill Ecton Jr., 5.Kevin Koontz; 6.Danny Beavers; 7.Kenny Dillon; 8.Charlie Pensinger; 9.Dave Boring; 10.Mike Kratochvil; 11.Kenny Day; 12.Billy Ecton Sr., 13.Tony Catlett; 14.Dave Stouffer Jr.; 15.Randy Kline; 16.Charlie Shearer; 17.Frank Dibella; 18.Jimmy Moser; 19.Eddie McClellan; DNS – Wayne Hawbaker
Article Credit: Bob Vores
Submitted By: Josh Fries