Muskingum County Speedway
Covert rules Muskingum for first Lucas Oil victory
By James Essex
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Jason Covert (43A) looks to grab the lead at Muskingum. (rickschwalliephotos.com)
ZANESVILLE, Ohio (July 3) — Taking the lead on the third lap, Jason Covert of York Haven, Pa., withstood three caution periods and heavy lapped traffic to run away with the Creno's 50 at Muskingum County Speedway. The 38-year-old Covert earned $10,000 for his first-ever Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory as he became the tour's 18th winner of 2009. | Slideshow
"I can't believe I finally won a Lucas Oil race," Covert said in victory lane. "I've dreamt about this for a long time, the type of drivers who were here tonight, man I don't know what to say except I wish my dad was here to see this.
"I want to thank my car owner Barry Klinedinst, my crew, Robby Allen, American Racer Tires and Rocket Chassis. Everything was exceptional tonight and thanks to the fans for coming here to watch us race, I don't race for a living, we don't get to travel a lot, so that's why it's satisfying to win this race here tonight."
Eric Jacobsen of Seacliff Beach, Calif., led two laps before Covert stormed into the lead, quickly stretching his margin while Jacobsen battled four-time series champion Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., for the second spot. After a pair of cautions on laps 12 and 13, Covert built a commanding lead until Tim Dohm drew a lap-23 yellow, bunching the field. The red flag appeared when the lights went out in turn two, that that merely delayed Covert's dominating.
Restarting ahead of Jacobsen, fast qualifier Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., Pearson and Steve Casebolt of Richmond, Ind., Covert again pulled away while Richards and Pearson dropped Jacobsen back to fourth.
Covert smoothly worked lapped traffic through the final stages, putting several cars between his No. 43A and Richards in the second half of the race. Clean racetrack the final three laps allowed Covert to dash to the finish and become the fifth winner in five Lucas Oil visits to the 4/10-mile oval.
Richards held off Pearson for second with Jacobsen fourth ahead of Donnie Moran of nearby Dresden, who rallied from 20th to earn the PBM-Erson Cams Hard Charger honors.
Notes: Covert's Barry Klinedinst-owned Rocket Chassis is sponsored by Red Wing Shoes, VP Racing Fuels, Bam's Auto Center, Pre-Mach Inc. Fabricators and Machining, Dennis Eberly Building and Remodeling and Kuppy's Diner. ... Series points leader Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., finished 11th but still has a 325-point margin over second-place Dale McDowell of Rossville, Ga., who was ninth. ... The series heads to Tennessee for the rest of the weekend with a Saturday event at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap and a Sunday event at Tazewell Speedway.
Creno's 50: (1) Jason Covert, (2) Josh Richards, (3) Earl Pearson Jr., (4) Eric Jacobsen, (5) Donnie Moran, (6) Steve Casebolt, (7) Jimmy Owens, (8) Ray Cook, (9) Dale McDowell, (10) Bart Hartman, (11) Scott Bloomquist, (12) Doug Dodd, (13) Josh McGuire, (14) Don O'Neal, (15) Dan Schlieper, (16) Matt Lux, (17) Freddy Smith, (18) Devin Moran, (19) David Breazeale, (20) Shane McLoughlin, (21) John Blankenship, (22) Kyle Bates, (23) Cody Parker, (24) Brad Neat, (25) Tim Dohm, (26) Matt Miller. Fast qualifier (among 43 cars): Richards, 16.287 seconds. Heat race winners: Pearson, Owens, Jacobsen, Covert. Consolation winners: Bates, F. Smith. Provisional starters: Blankenship, Breazeale.
