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COVERT FIRST TSF REPEAT WINNER WITH NININGER MEMORIAL TRIUMPH

Jason Covert became the first repeat winner at Hagerstown Speedway on Friday after posting the triumph of the 4th Annual Red Nininger Memorial, the third race of the Hagerstown/Winchester Shootout. Covert of York Haven, Pa. also became the first repeat winner in the Three State Flyers Dirt Late Model Series, having won Hagerstown’s Bonebrake Tribute a month ago. He increased his lead in the TSF "Nininger’s Tire and Auto Center Challenge in Memory of Red Nininger" over J. T. Spence who finished 2.06 seconds behind Covert.

Steve Lowery of Chambersburg, Pa. beat Eddie McClellan and Wayne Hawbaker to the finish in the Ernie D’s pure stocks by less than a length after a three wide exit from the fourth turn.

Alan Sagi occupied the pole after winning the eight lap dash with D. J. Myers alongside. Sagi, driving with a broken right wrist following an incident the previous week, pulled into the lead while third starting Covert quickly took control of the runner up position.

Sagi continued to hold a second plus advantage over Covert as fifth starting Spence passed Myers on the fourth lap and Jim Bernheisel repeatedly challenged Myers until the caution waved on lap 14 when Jamie Lathroum slowed.

Covert went to the outside on the restart as Sagi led the next lap, but in turn three, Covert made contact with Sagi’s right front as Sagi fought to gather it back in while Spence motored by into the runner up spot.

Covert sped away and was 2.75 seconds ahead and into rear traffic while Sagi was a near equal distance back in third. Covert continued through traffic until arriving at the checkered 2.06 seconds over with three lapped cars back to Sagi.

“I’ll just tell you, I wanted it more than those guys tonight,” Covert said. “Barry and the guys worked their guts out to get this car ready. At 9 last night, it didn’t have a body and no motor. All the credit goes to them.”

“Racing Alan is always a pleasure but I got to the outside of him and I needed to get in front of him to get the air off his nose. There was one lane below me but we did get together. It was definitely my fault but we do have roll cages, seat belts and helmets in these things. We’re not trying to crash, but are out there racing on the edge every night. A bad night here is better than a good day at work so I like being here. ”

Jeremy Miller passed Bernheisel for fourth on the final circuit. Kyle Lear, who came from 18th, received the Round Hill Hard Charger award after finishing sixth with Myers ending seventh. Bo Feathers was eighth with Marvin Winters and Nick Dickson completing the top ten.

Heat winners for the 42 entries were Covert, Myers, Spence and Sagi with Steve Axtell Jr. and Jerry Bard taking the two B mains and Sagi winning the dash. Glenn Nininger randomly pulled the number two from the hat and awarded Spence with an additional $100. Kyle Lear was the Round Hill Service Hard Charger

Wayne Hawbaker led the pure stocks over Frank Dibella while Kenny Dillon took over second. By the halfway mark, it was a four car battle as Eddie McClellan, Dillon and Lowery were mixing it up with Dillon leading two laps before Hawbaker retook the point. Lowery was challenging and led lap 13 while it still was anyone’s race. At the white flag, it was three wide with McClellan appearing to have the upper hand heading around the final turns but suddenly Lowery sped past him and Hawbaker to take the win in the final stretch. McClellan was alongside a half car length back with Hawbaker, Dillon and Drew Fitzsimmons next. Heat winners were Dillon and Hawbaker.

“The guys are really driving good…a lot of good close racing,” Lowery said. “We had a couple of lucky breaks especially on that last lap. I enjoy racing with these guys…they’re hard racers and we’re having fun.”

This Wednesday, June 29, the 410 sprints arrive south of the border for the 21st Annual Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speedweek plus the EMMR (Eastern Museum of Motor Racing vintage racing exhibition). Warm-ups begin at 7:30 p.m.

That program will be followed with the Independence Day weekend event next Saturday, the 46th Annual Johnny Roberts Memorial, a 50-lap Late Model feature event plus the Late Model Sportsman, Pure Stocks & Fireworks display. Warm-ups are at 7:00 p.m. Sunday July 3rd is a rain date.

Hagerstown Speedway Results

Three State Flyer Late Models– 4th Annual Red Nininger Memorial - 35 laps, 42 entries, (Lap Leaders –Alan Sagi 1-15, Jason Covert 16-35 ): 1.Jason Covert, 2.J. T. Spence, 3.Alan Sagi, 4.Jeremy Miller, 5.Jim Bernheisel, 6.Kyle Lear (Round Hill Auto Service Hard Charger), 7.D. J. Myers, 8.Bo Feathers, 9.MarvinWinters, 10.Nick Dickson, 11.Gary Stuhler, 12.Duane Harbaugh, 13.Scott LeBarron, 14.Jack Pencil, 15.Jerry Bard, 16.Wes Bonebrake, 17.Denny Bonebrake, 18.C.S. Fitzgerald, 19.Pete Weaver, 20.Devin Friese, 21.Jamie Lathroum, 22.Dylan Yoder, 23.Steve Axtell Jr., 24.Brent Smith, DNQ – Frankie Plessinger, Jim Yoder, Keith Jackson, Tyler Hershey, Roy Deese Jr., Matt Murphy, Ronnie DeHaven Jr., Jason Miller, Tim Murphy, Trevor Feathers, Tim Wilson, Wayne Johnson, Waylon Wagner, Ashley Barrett, Mike Walls, Jonathan DeHaven, Bob Dunn, Mike Lupfer

Ernie D’s Pure Stocks, 15 laps, 17 entries (Lap Leaders – Wayne Hawbaker 1-8, 11-12, 14, Kenny Dillon 9-10, Steve Lowery, 13,15): 1.Steve Lowery (Turner Bowling Centers Hard Charger), 2.Eddie McClellan, 3.Wayne Hawbaker, 4.Kenny Dillon, 5.Drew Fitzsimmons, 6.Kevin Koontz, 7.Keith Koontz, 8.Billy Ecton Jr., 9.Dave Gross, 10.Mike Kratovil, 11.Kenny Day, 12.Frank Dibella, 13.Charlie Shearer, 14.Dave Stouffer Jr., 15.Tony Catlett, DNS – Charlie Pensinger, Bill Ecton Sr.

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