7/2/2011
Hagerstown Speedway
COVERT ADDS NAME TO ROBERTS MEMORIAL WINNERS
Total dominance was the best way to describe Jason Covert’s victory of the 46th Annual Johnny Roberts Memorial at Hagerstown Speedway on Saturday. Starting 12th in the Barry Klinedinst Rocket, Covert of York Haven, PA, took the lead from Jerry Bard on the 15th circuit and was 11 seconds ahead when the yellow was displayed with two laps to go. He then pulled away to score his first ever Roberts triumph, his third win of the season and second consecutive by 2.69 seconds over Bard. He remains the only repeat winner this season in the nine late model events.
“All the credit goes to the team,” Covert said. “I’m pretty sure from 12th to there with the handicapping system and we didn’t have any points and the guys that run here every week are tough. The team gives me a tremendous car and things went our way tonight. Things went our way last week too. It’s gratifying to come back and win on Hoosiers. We appreciate them for helping us out.”
Rain began at the track following warm-ups with late models headed to the staging area for their first heat race. With the high humidity combined with the heavy showers, it made for a long evening as it was 10:00 p.m. when late models got on the track again for their warm-ups and 10:15 when all heat races began for the evening.
Knowing it would be late and with more rain showing to arrive later, drivers met and agreed to change the format from 50 to 35 laps. Due to the late hour with the fireworks and Roberts feature, the pure stock and late model sportsman features were postponed until Family Night, July 16th.
Bard and Brent Smith started on the front row but fourth starter Duane Harbaugh quickly grabbed the runner up spot with third starting Marvin Winters taking third from Smith on the third circuit.
Bard pulled out to a nearly three second lead over Harbaugh before a lap 11 caution with Covert already advancing to fourth.
Covert shot past Smith for third the next lap and then pulled alongside Harbaugh to pass him on the backstretch of the 13th. Covert was side by side with Bard on the next round and then went under him to snatch the lead.
By a lap 19 caution, Covert had built a more than three second lead and following the restart, did the same as he easily pulled way with each circuit. With ten to go, he was out front cruising 5.63 seconds ahead and continued until he was more than half a lap ahead and into rear traffic when the caution waved for a stopped car.
In two laps, Covert was ready for victory lane, having won by 2.69 seconds over Bard.
“I’ve been coming here since I was eight or nine,” Covert said. “This Johnny Roberts Memorial means a lot. Just to have my name with a lot of those guys like Gary and them, that’s pretty cool. It’s been a great night and I’m just tickled. The car was just flawless.”
Jim Bernheisel got past Harbaugh for third on the 31st while Roy Deese Jr. dropped Harbaugh to fifth the next circuit. Sixth went to Winters with Steve Axell Jr., Nick Dickson, Kyle Lear and defending event winner Frankie Plessinger completing the top ten.
Bard, Lear and Winters won the late model heats. Justin Weaver, Andy Fries and Glenn Elliott were victorious in the late model sportsman heats while Tony Catlett and Kevin Koontz were the pure stock winners.
Stock car racing is on hold next weekend as the two wheelers arrive for the 30th Annual Hub City Classic for the AMA and Grand National motorcycles.
Racing resumes the following Saturday, July 16th, with Family Night and a five feature program to include the regular three division show of late models, late model sportsman and pure stocks in addition to the postponed late model sportsman and pure stock features from tonight’s program.
Hagerstown Speedway Results
46th Annual Johnny Roberts Memorial: Late Models, 35 laps, 25 entries, (Lap Leaders – Jerry Bard 1-14, Jason Covert 15-35) 1.Jason Covert, 2.Jerry Bard, 3.Jim Bernheisel, 4.Roy Deese Jr., 5.Duane Harbaugh, 6.Marvin Winters, 7.Steve Axtell Jr., 8.Nick Dickson, 9.Kyle Lear, 10.Frankie Plessinger, 11.Wesley Bonebrake, 12.Alan Sagi, 13.Bryan Bernheisel, 14.Tyler Hershey, 15.Brent Smith, 16.Lindsay Barton, 17.Brian Booze, 18.Gary Stuhler, 19.Bo Feathers, 20. Rusty Sites, DNS- Ashley Barrett, Jamie Lathroum, Larry Baker II, Tim Murphy, Keith Jackson
Article Credit: Bob Vores
Submitted By: Josh Fries