Potomac Speedway
August 8, 2014
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Covert Tightens Title Chase With Third Potomac Score
Pilkerton Closes in on 50-Win Club With Third Crate Win

Doug Watson
BUDDA CREEK, MD (August 8) - York Haven Pa.'s Jason Covert drove to his third feature win of the season in last Friday nights 35-lap Late Model main at Potomac speedway. The win for Covert, worth $2500, put him in a position to win his first-ever Potomac championship as less that 100-points separate the top-five in the standings with just one point-race left on the schedule.

Jamie Lathroum and Kenny Moreland brought the field to the initial green flag of the event with Moreland inching into the race lead as the mob roared off turn-two. Moreland's lead would only last two-laps as Lathroum swept by to take the top-spot on lap-three. As Lathroum lead, fourth-starting Jason Covert was coming and reached second on lap-ten and went after Lathroum. Covert wasted little time as he became the new race leader on lap-eleven, but the event was far from over. Covert would go on to lead the remainder of the race but had to withstand a furious late-race rush from eventual runner-up Dale Hollidge to post the win aboard his Cameron/Mann owned Rocket no.72. "That was some intense racing out there tonight." Covert stated during his post-race interview. "When your racing three and four wide you never know what will happen, but we had a great race car tonight and I was able to move all over the track and find where the car was working best and get another win for this team." Covert is optimistic about his chances as the World of Outlaw's Late Model series is set to invade Potomac next weekend. "Those guy's race for a living and that's why I'm a phone guy." Covert said with a laugh. "You really have to be on your game to run with those guy's but we have a great team and a little bit of a home-track advantage, so we'll give it our best shot and see what happens." Moreland rallied late to take third, Lathroum hung on for fourth with JT Spence, who came from the rear of the field twice, rounded out the top-five. Heats went to Covert and Stevie Long.

Jeff Pilkerton took another step towards entering the "50-win club" with his third win of the season in the 20-lap RUSH Crate Late Model feature. Pilkerton, who lined-up second for the start, darted into the race lead on lap-one and never looked back to score his 49th-career Potomac feature win. "This car was on a rail tonight." Pilkerton stated. "I like it when the top is there like it was tonight and I could just about run this thing wide-open. We have one more shot to get the 50th win this season and I hope we can pull it off." John Imler came home second, 11th-starting Ben Bowie was third, Reese Masiello fourth with Darren Henderson completing the top-five. Heats went to Masiello and Darren Alvey.

Mike Latham collected his sixth win of the season in the 16-lap Street Stock feature. Latham blasted from his pole-starting spot to lead the distance as he would take his 36th career Potomac feature win by a straight away over Walt Homberg. Mike Franklin was third, Chuck Bowie took fourth with Scott Wilson rounding out the top-five. Heats went to Latham and Kyle Nelson.

Just like his father, Mikey Latham roared to his fifth win of 2014 in the 15-lap U-Car feature. The younger Latham started second and would burst into the race lead as he would lead all 15-circuits in quite dominating fashion. Sam Raley was second, Cori French was third, DJ Powell took fourth with Jeremy Pilkerton filling the front five. Heats went to Raley and Latham.

Defending track champion Ray Bucci scored his third win of the season in the nightcap 20-lap Strictly Stock feature. Bucci, who started on the pole, would eventually lead all 20-laps but would have to fend-off a hard charging John Hardesty the entire way to post the win. Point leader JJ Silvious was third, Paul Jones took fourth with Johnny Hardesty completing the top-five. Heats went Hardesty and Bucci.

Late Models
1. Jason Covert 2. Dale Hollidge 3. Kenny Moreland 4. Jamie Lathroum 5. JT Spence 6. Dominic DeFino 7. Rich Marks 8. Deane Guy 9. Matt Tarbox 10. James Sparks 11. Stevie Long 12. Billy Hill

Crate Late Model
1. Jeff Pilkerton 2. John Imler 3. Ben Bowie 4. Reese Masiello 5. Darren Henderson 6. Darren Alvey 7. Timmy Booth 8. Scott Tessman 9. Brian Lederhouse 10. Harry Shipe 11. Paul McGinley

Street Stock
1. Mike Latham 2. Walt Homberg 3. Mike Franklin 4. Chuck Bowie 5. Scott Wilson 6. Troy Kassiris 7. Jerry Deason 8. Mike Raleigh 9. Dale Reamy 10. Kyle Nelson

U-Car
1. Mikey Latham 2. Sam Raley 3. Cori French 4. DJ Powell 5. Jeremy Pilkerton 6. John Molesberry 7. Jamie Marks 8. Dominic King 9. Skimmer Turner 10. Savannah Windsor 11. Megan Mann 12. Angel Mudd

Strictly Stock
1. Ray Bucci 2. John Hardesty 3. JJ Silvious 4. Paul Jones 5. Johnny Hardesty 6. Jimmy Suite 7. Ed Pope Sr. 8. Yogi Pope 9. Drew Payne 10. Nabil Guffey 11. Ben Pirner 12. Greg Mattingly 13. Diane Homberg 14. Bob Rowe