Bedford Speedway
Covert rallies from 17th for IRS victory at Bedford
From series and team reports
BEDFORD, Pa. (July 11) — Mechanical problems forced Jason Covert of York Haven, Pa., to miss his heat race at Bedford Speedway, but he was driving the car to watch the rest of the night. Covert rallied from the tail of a consolation race to victory, then duplicated that feat with a 17th-to-first charge in the feature at Bedford Speedway for his first career victory on the Independent Racing Series. Covert earned $5,000 after he overtook Donnie Moran on the 31st of 50 laps and led the rest of the way.
Fast qualifier Jeremy Miller of Gettysburg, Pa., ended up second ahead of Moran, the Dresden, Ohio, driver going for his third IRS victory of the year. Gary Stuhler of Greencastle, Pa., and Doug Horton of Bruceton Mills, W.Va., rounded out the top five, while series points leader Robbie Blair of Titusville, Pa., was 13th on the half-mile oval.
In his consolation race, Covert quickly dispatched of his competition to earn a spot in the feature event. He maintained his momentum in the feature, rallying up to sixth after 20 laps, and into third by lap 25. He overtook Miller and then tracked down Moran, who led the first 30 laps, with an outside pass.
Notes: Covert's BK Motorsports-backed Rocket Chassis has a Hershey engine and sponsorship from Pre-Machine Inc., Red Wing Shoes, Kuppy’s Diner and Bam’s Auto Center. ... Covert's victory came on his wife Jaynelle's birthday. ... He's the seventh winner in 12 IRS events in 2008. ... Jeremy Miller's 19.778-second qualifying lap lowered the track record. ... Five cautions slowed the action, four of them in the first half of the race; a red flag appeared on lap 29 ... Rick Aukland won the next IRS event on July 12 at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va.; the series is slated to run June 19 at Stateline Speedway near Jamestown, N.Y.
IRS @ Bedford: (1) Jason Covert, (2) Jeremy Miller, (3) Donnie Moran, (4) Gary Stuhler, (5) Doug Horton, (6) D.J. Myers, (7) Jeff Rine, (8) Jeff Miller, (9) Matt Parks, (10) Scott Haus, (11) Rick Aukland, (12) Duane Chamberlain, (13) Robbie Blair, (14) Steve Wilmoth, (15) Chris Harr, (16) Dave Hess Jr., (17) Nick Dickson, (18) Ron Delano Jr., (19) Greg Fetters, (20) Bo Feathers, (21) Jack Pencil, (22) Brian Booze, (23) Wayne Johnson, (24) Steve Everhart, (25) Tyler Hershey. Fast qualifier (among 37 cars): Jeremy Miller, 19.778 seconds. Heat race winners: Blair, Stuhler, Jeff Miller, Harr. Dash winner: Stuhler. Consolation winners: Covert, Everhart. Provisional starters: Chamberlain, Wilmoth, Pencil.
