Roaring Knob Mtsprts Complex
Covert repeats with King of the Knob victory
By Judy Gower
Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex
Jason Covert repeated his $5,000 victory. (Lisa Gower)
MARKLEYSBURG, Pa. (Sept. 8) — Wearing a funny hat isn't anyone's idea of a good time. But when the headgear comes with a $5,000 check, Jason Covert will make an exception.
The driver from York Haven, Pa., won the King of the Knob at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex for the second straight year as he continues to follow up his outstanding 2006 season and an even better one. Covert topped Jeremy Miller and a rallying Bo Feathers for the victory in the track's season-ending event.
“I am flat worn out!” Covert said. "With Jeremy behind me, he’s probably one of the best racers in the Northeast, and you seen how he drove me, hard, but that’s about as clean as you can get. Bo and Jeremy, it’s just great to race with them guys, it’s just a pleasure to be here.
"And I was whining about it just a little, but I’ll even wear the crown, and yeah that five grand check goes real good with the crown!”
After making the starting field by virtue of a second-place finish in his heat race, Covert drew the fourth starting spot for the 50-lap main event as he lined up behind front-row starters Robbie Scott and Chuck Harper. When the green dropped, Scott jumped into the lead and a quick dive placed Covert into second.
Scott maintained the point until lap four when Covert made another dive and went to the front. Scott dogged Covert for several laps while the eighth-starting Miller was on the move through the traffic. By lap 12, Miller took third from Harper and then replaced Scott for second on the 19th circuit.
With racers dicing for spots within the pack, eyes were on the 19th-starting Feathers, who was methodically picking off positions and briefly got into the top five before the halfway point.
At the halfway signal, Covert was being hassled by Miller with Scott still third. Gary Dalton had passed Clate Copeman for fourth and Feathers back to sixth. With 15 laps remaining, Covert and Miller were battling for the top spots with Scott third, Dalton fourth and Feathers fifth. Five laps later, Feathers was up to third, and on the back bumper of Miller, who was trying every move to get by Covert.
The trio then continued to delight the huge crowd, but Covert wouldn't be denied his second straight race title. Dalton finished fourth with Scott rounding out the top five ahead of Scott Rhodes, Copeman, Butch McGill, Harper and Jared Miley, who started 24th.
Notebook
Covert’s Rocket Chassis is owned by Barry Klinedinst and sponsored Pre-Mach Inc., Red Wing Shoes, Bam’s Auto Center, Hershey’s Racing Engines, Rocket, Baker Carburetion, Kuppy’s Diner, Rick Kaylor Jr. Computer Consulting, JNJ Media Motorsports and American Racer tires. ... The event was sponsored by Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature lineup: Greg Fetters, Dan Swartzlander, Mel Minnick Jr., Ron Delano, Nolan Dalton and Jeff Ferguson. ... The event wrapped up Roaring Knob's 2007 season. Gary Dalton won the track championship in the Late Model division. ... Robbie Black won the track's crate Late Model feature and wrapped up the division title.
