Jamie Lathroum races by #92 Jeff Rine on his way to a $8,800 UFO Race Championship win at Hesston Speedway. (Gary Shrey) 

UFO: Lathroum Claims "the Ultimate"; Friese Ices Series Title

Series media

HESSTON, Penn. - Oct. 22. Jamie Lathroum of Mechanicsville, Md. turned his season around in the final weeks of the season. After caputuring a $5,000 win the week before, Lathroum put his name on the winner's list for "The Ultimate" and carried away $8,800. Lathroum tracked down leader Jason Covert and made a late race pass to take the win.

Devin Friese of Chambersburg, Pa. captured his first-ever touring championship and is the 2011 UFo Race Champion. Friese capped off a season that

included two UFo wins, with a third place finish in "The Ultimate." Keith Barbara of South Park, Pa. advance a position in the final point standings and finished second for the second year in a row over Jared Miley. 2010 defending champion Chad McClellan of Stoystown, Pa. followed in fourth, with Quintin Wyandt of Hooversville, Pa. finishing fifth in his rookie Late Model season.

After the redraw of all heat race qualifiers, Bob Dunn and Jason Covert sat on the front row for the 61-lap race. Covert immediately took off into the lead and started to build up a distance between him and the other competitors. Friese moved into second on lap five and tried to hunt down Covert.

The first caution of the race appeared when Boom Briggs slowed with mechanical problems. Another caution appeared for a spinning car on lap 15, with a third caution appearing for a four-car mix-up on lap 16.

On the double file restart, Covert took firm command of the race as the laps continued with Friese, Chub Frank, Jeff Rine and 10th starting Lathroum racing for the seond position. 13th starting Gregg Satterlee began his march from 13th and moved into the top five on lap 21 as he and Lathroum moved by Rine.

Lap 33 saw the final green flag of the race as Keith Barbara stopped with a flat tire. On lap 34, Lathroum moved by Frank into third and then passed Friese for second on lap 37. With Covert ahead by a half-straightaway running on the fast cushion and Lathroum finessing on the bottom of the track, Lathroum begain to reel in Covert. Saterlee continue to advance and passed Frank for fourth on lap 43.

Lathroum begain to challenge Covert and on lap 53 crossing the start/finish line, Covert nearly met disaster as he made contact with a lapped car. Covert managed to save his car from a complete sideways slide, as Lathroum moved into the lead and went on to the $8,800 win. Covert recovered for second with Friese, Satterlee, and Frank following.

Oct. 22 - Hesston Speedway UFO 1) Jamie Lathroum, 2) Jason Covert, 3) Devin Friese, 4) Gregg Satterlee, 5) Chub Frank, 6) Booper Bare, 7) Ron Davies, 8) Greg Fetters, 9) Dutch Davies, 10) Dylan Yoder, 11) Jeff Rine, 12) Rich Gardener, 13) John Lobb, 14) Bo Feathers, 15) Chad McClellan, 16) Keith Barbara, 17) Gary Beward, 18) Bob Dunn, 19) Tim Wilson, 20) Quintin Wyandt, 21) Matt Lux, 22) Alex Ferree, 23) Matt Parks, 24) Boom Briggs Heat winners (43 entries): Frank, Lobb, Rine, Bare, Lathroum; B-Main winners: Fetters, Davies
Gary Shrey photo