In the $3,000, 30-lap ULMS Late Models main event, York’s Rick Eckert scored his seventh career Williams Grove Speedway feature win and his second career United Late Model Series win by driving by Mason Ziegler late in the event and then holding off a fast closing Jason Covert. Eckert became the third different winner in the young 2019 ULMS season.
The 30 lap ULMS super late model main saw Mason Zeigler take the lead from the second starting spot when action began but only two laps could be completed before the first caution period waved for 12th starting Bryan Bernheisel who jumped the cushion and spun in turn three.
Polesitter Jeff Rine restarted second but the pace was again slowed a lap later when a challenging Jason Covert lost the handle in the third turn and went to the rear for a restart.
Ziegler controlled the restart hit traffic with 10 laps scored chased by Rine and sixth starter Rick Eckert as Covert was putting on a show from the rear as he was already back up to seventh using the cushion to propel the #72 machine down the straightaways.
By the time the field was bunched for a caution flag with 13 laps to go, Covert was all the way back up to fifth as he had gotten by 2018 ULMS champion, Max Blair.
Eckert muscled by Rine on the restart and set his sights on Ziegler but another caution a lap later for series point leader, Michael Norris who came to a stop in turn two. This gave Eckert a clear shot at the leader. Covert continued his show, blasting into third on the restart but in the meantime Eckert was working on Ziegler, eventually snaring the lead with seven laps to go as Ziegler began slipping.
After getting control, Eckert poured on the speed to open up a gap over Ziegler but a final caution for Dan Stone set up Covert for a run at the win after going to the rear on the third lap. Covert had taken second from Ziegler on lap 24 and tried his best to work around Eckert over the final four circuits but Eckert proved up to the task by the slimmest of margins, .170 seconds.
Covert was second followed by Ziegler, Justin Weaver and Rine. Sixth through 10th went to Max Blair, Kyle Lee, Gary Stuhler, Gene Knaub and Andy Haus. Heats went to Eckert, Rine and Michael Norris. Ziegler set quick time with a lap of 19.238 seconds.
The United Late Model Series is now off until Friday May 24 when the series returns to action at Freedom Motorsports Park in Delevan, NY with the annual Ron Baker Memorial that will pay $3000 to win. Rick Eckert is officially the current ULMS point leader after three events.
ULMS RACING SERIES is proudly supported by Zimmer’s Service Center, Close Racing Supply, Insinger Performance, Sunoco Race Fuels, Precise Racing, Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic, Lias Tire, American Racer Tire, Murphy’s Logging, Alliance Racewear, WEHRS Machinery & Racing Products, DirtDefender, Jay’s Auto Wrecking, Genesis Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, Integra Shocks, Keizer Wheels, Cousins Designs, Dynamic Drivelines, Mary Norgrove Notary Public, Jays Automotive, Phantom Signs & Graphics, and Advocare by Advozuvy.com
ULMS Late Models, 30 laps: 1. Rick Eckert, 2. Jason Covert, 3. Mason Ziegler, 4. Justin Weaver, 5. Jeff Rine, 6. Max Blair, 7. Kyle Lee, 8. Gary Stuhler, 9. Gene Knaub, 10. Andy Haus, 11. Tyler Horst, 12. Bryan Bernheisel, 13. Matt Sponaugle, 14. Jason Dobson, 15. Dan Stone, 16. John Weaver, 17. Michael Lake, 18. Mike Lupfer, 19. Michael Norris, 20. Dave Brouse Jr., 21. Matt Cosner, 22. Mike Wonderling Jr., 23. Mike Pegher, 24. Dylan Yoder
DNS: Shaun Jones
Zimmer Service Center Heat #1:
Rick Eckert, Covert, Blair, Lee, Sponaugle, Stone, Wonderling Brouse Jr., Jones (DNS)
Hoosier Tire / Close Racing Supply Heat #2
Jeff Rine, Zeigler, Stuhler, Bernheisel, Cosner, Lake, Haus, Dobson
American Racer Tire / Insinger Sunoco Heat #3
Michael Norris, Justin Weaver, Pegher, Lupfer, Yoder, John Weaver, Knaub, Horst
Integra Shocks Fast Time $75 certificate: Mason Zeigler
Genesis Shocks $150 Certificate: Rick Eckert
Keizer Wheels $50 Certificate: Andy Haus
Alliance Race Wear (Driving Gloves) Hard Charger: Tyler Horst