The 2018 Zimmer Service Center ULMS Late Model Series season finally kicked off Saturday night at Port Royal Speedway with the ”Chiller Thriller”, which saw 42 late models from Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York make the trip to the Speed Palace.

Jason Covert of York, PA picked up his first career ULMS win and took the $3000 prize money. Jeff Rine who has two wins at Port Royal this season set the Integra Shocks Fast Time at 18.213 seconds with a speed of 106.085 mph. Heat winners were Michael Maresca, Kenny Moreland, Rine and Covert with Dave Hess and Trent Brennaman winning the two consolations events.

Moreland and former two time champion Boom Briggs led the 24 car field to the green flag and it was Briggs getting on the loud pedal and beating Moreland to turn 1 to lead lap one over Moreland and Matt Cosner. By lap five Boom had a comfortable lead over Cosner, Moreland, Maresca and Covert. Lap 7 saw the yellow lights flash for defending two time series champion, Dave Hess, who spun in turn one after improving seven spots on the opening seven laps. Boom was still leading over Cosner. On the restart the car on the move was Covert who went from fifth to third behind Briggs and Cosner. Lap 9 would see Cosner get by Briggs and the yellow lights flashed again as Moreland spun on the front stretch after contact with another car. On the restart Covert would get by Briggs for second with Maresca now fourth and Max Blair up to fifth. Covert would take the lead on lap 10 with Boom back to second and then running door to door with Cosner for the runner up position.

Lap 15 clicked off the board it saw Covert, Cosner, Maresca, Briggs and Jeff Rine now in fifth. The very next lap Rine would pick off Briggs for fourth as the #2J machine was starting to march to the front of the field. Covert had built a 4.5 second lead over Cosner who was defending off challenges of Maresca. With ten to go, Maresca was now second 4 ½ seconds behind Covert with Rine closing in on Cosner and Blair fifth. Lap 21 saw Rine move into third and the next lap Rine and the 2J machine was all over Maresca for second, Blair would jump into fourth on lap 24 with Cosner now fifth. Maresca and Rine raced door to door for second until Rine using a lap car in turn four to grab second and try to run down Covert and when the checkers fell, Rine fell 1.625 seconds from catching Covert. Maresca was third followed by Blair, Cosner, Andy Haus, Mike Lupfer, Kyle Lee, Boom Briggs and Dave Hess rebounding to finish 10th.

Covert’s XR1 Rocket Chassis is powered by Cornett Racing Engines and is supported by Troy Swindell Trucking, Thirtech Solutions, Cameron Construction, Keyser Manufacturing with Hoosier tires mounted on the #72 machine.

The Keystone State Shootout Weekend suffered two cancellation events with Thunder Mountain getting wet on Friday night and Tri City Raceway Park having wet grounds from the weekend rain and the cool temperatures Sunday. Thunder Mountain make up will be Friday May 18 with Tri City Raceway Park new date is being discussed. The May 18th event at Thunder Mountain will be part of the Keystone State Shootout.

ULMS will be back in action Friday May 18th at Thunder Mountain Raceway Park, then conclude the end of May with May 25th at Freedom Motorsports Park with the annual Ron Baker Memorial and Sunday May 27 at Dog Hollow for the Sheetz McGarvey Memorial.

ULMS is proudly supported by Zimmer’s Service Center, Plyler’s Entry System, Close Racing Supply, Insinger Performance, Sunoco Race Fuels, Precise Racing, Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic, Lias Tire, American Racer Tire, Genesis Shocks, Integra Shocks, Keizer Wheels and Advocare by Advozuvy.com. Don’t forget to get all your information from the series website at www.ulmsracing.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

RESULTS:
ULMS CHILLER THRILLER:
JASON COVERT, Jeff Rine, Mike Maresca, Max Blair, Matt Cosner,Andy Haus, Mike Lupfer, Kyle Lee, Boom Briggs, Dave Hess, Tim Wilson, Kenny Moreland, Doug Eck, Dave Brouse Jr., Darryl Hils, Chad Myers, Trent Brenneman, Dylan Yoder, Tim Smith Jr., Roy Deese, Justin Kann, Mike Wonderling Jr., Colton Flinner, Greg Oakes

DNQ: Waylon Wagner, Nick Dickson, Jason Schmidt, Marvin Winters, John Weaver, Matt Parks, Jeff Miller, Chris Casner, Kyle Knapp, Garrett Mott, Tom Decker Jr., Jason Dobson, Coleby Frye, Danny Kienitz Mike Pegher, Tom Decker III, Bobby Rohrer, Kody Lyter.