Port Royal Speedway
Covert tops Haus, bags first Port Royal victory
Jason Covert (43) heads for his first Late Model victory at Port Royal. (Brian Rhoad)
PORT ROYAL, Pa. (Aug. 31) — Three-time series champion Jason Covert of York Haven, Pa., made his first career Port Royal Speedway Late Model victory a big one Saturday night when he claimed the Butch Renninger Memorial for a $3,696 victory on the Three State Flyers series.
Covert, who’s currently second in the Three State Flyers points standings while chasing his fourth consecutive series title, inherited the lead with Kenny Pettyjohn of Millsboro, Del., pitted for a flat right-rear tire with 11 laps remaining. Covert held off Andy Haus of Hamburg, Pa., over the remaining to earn his second series victory of the season.
Haus settled for second at the end of the 30-lap race, while Pettyjohn recovered from the flat tire to finish third. Matt Parks of Three Springs, Pa., and Justin Kann of Huntingdon, Pa., rounded out the top five. Series points leader Mark Pettyjohn of Milton, Del., finished 12th.
Covert started seventh in the field and watched as Kann took the lead from the pole on the start of the race as Haus took over the second spot. Kenny Pettyjohn was the race’s biggest mover early, advancing from his eight starting spot to take over second by the time a caution waved with two laps complete.
Kann could only hold on two more laps before Pettyjohn took the lead on lap six and began streaking away before reaching lapped traffic on lap 12. Pettyjohn handled the slower cars without any problems and looked to be headed to victory before a flat right-rear tire knocked him from the lead with 11 laps remaining.
Covert, who had just taken over second from Haus before the caution for Pettyjohn’s flat tire, took over the lead for the restart and soon had his hands full with Haus as the battle for the lead heated up in the closing laps.
Haus got under Covert on the restart and again on another restart with six laps remaining, forcing Covert to sit up in the seat to thwart his attacks using outside momentum. Haus nosed ahead of Covert on lap 29, but Covert recovered to retake the lead at the line and held on over the final circuit to claim the victory.
Notes: Covert’s Barry Klinedinst-owned Rocket Chassis is powered by a Hershey’s Racing Engine and sponsored by Pre-Mach Fabricators and Machinists, Red Wing Shoes and Lias Tire. ... Covert claimed his 18th career Three State Flyers victory. He leads Jamie Lathroum and Gregg Satterlee, who have five series victories apiece, on the tour’s all-time wins list. ... Drivers not starting Saturday’s main event: Chuck Haydt, Steve Stitt, Derek Byler, Trent Brenneman, Mike Lupfer.
Butch Renninger Memorial: (1) Jason Covert, (2) Andy Haus, (3) Kenny Pettyjohn, (4) Matt Parks, (5) Justin Kann, (6) Brett Schadel, (7) Waylon Wagner, (8) Mitch Hack, (9) Eric Zembower, (10) Jason Schmidt, (11) Mike Mort, (12) Mark Pettyjohn, (13) Glenn Elliott, (14) Bob Dunn, (15) Harold Ranck, (16) Tim Wilson, (17) Patrick Bryner, (18) Brian Hack, (19) Terry Naugle, (20) Chad Hollenbeck, (21) Scott Haus, (22) Tim Fedder, (23) Lindsay Barton, (24) Marvin Winters, (25) Jeff Miller.
