Dave Kittey, track report

MARKLEYSBURG, Pa. - Oct. 8. Jared Hawkins of Fairmont, W.V. drove from his 18th starting spot to pass leader Jason Covert with two laps to go to score a $5000 win in the UFo Championship Series "Roar 55" at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex on Saturday. Robbie Blair won the final FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series race of the 2011 season.

Devin Friese beat Scott Rhodes into turn one for the early lead and looked strong as he kept Butch McGill at bay for 20 laps. On lap 25, however, Friese suddenly slowed down the back stretch and McGill took over as the leader.

Jared Hawkins after Saturday's $5K UFO Race Championship win at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex. (Tommy Michaels)

Butch McGill gets under early leader Devin Friese at Roaring Knob before Friese slowed and gave up tthe lead. McGill's time up front was also limited, as his #1 car also dropped off with mechanical trouble. (Tommy Michaels) 

 McGill’s time at the helm was short-lived as he broke on lap 36. This handed the lead over to Jason Covert, who was looking to make it two wins in a row after his victory on Friday. Covert assumed command on lap 37 and began to pull away, flawlessly picking off lapped traffic. Once he cleared them he was gone, but the battle for second proved amazing.

As Covert pulled away, Gregg Satterlee, Keith Jackson, Hawkins, and Corey Conley were exchanging positions lap after lap until a caution appeared on lap 53 when Danny Mitchell spun and collected Keith Jackson and Tim Senic.

Four-wide racing at the Knob. (Tommy Michaels)

The leader chose the inside for the restart, putting Hawkins outside of him. The two raced into turn one door-to-door. Covert tried to squeeze Hawkins down the back stretch, but Hawkins dove hard into turn three using the cushion and drove passed Covert with the white flag waving and the crowd on it’s feet. As Covert slipped to fourth, Hawkins led the final two laps to earn a well deserved $5000 victory after starting in the 18th slot.

Corey Conley quietly worked his way back to the front, after being involved in a tangle on lap seven, to come home second over Jeremy Miller, Covert, John Garvin (from 19th), Gregg Satterlee, Dutch Davies, Ron Delano, Jr., Keith Barbara (from 22nd), and Scott Rhodes.

Jason Covert moved from his tenth starting spot to win Friday night's UFO opener at Roaring Knob. (Tommy Michaels)

Chuck Clise grabbed the initial lead and led the first 14 laps before giving it up to Jared Miley. Miley, who won the King of the Knob a month before, led six laps until tenth starting Jason Covert shot into the lead. Covert was unable to shake Miley as he trailed the rear bumper of Covert’s 43A machine.

Within a few laps, Russ King, Gregg Satterlee and Jared Hawkins joined the pair to make it a five car battle up front. When the checker flew it was Covert taking his second win of the 2011 season at Roaring Knob. Miley, King, Satterlee and Hawkins filled in the top five.

After #1 Jared Miley and #5 Chuck Clise raced hard for the lead for several laps, #43 Jason Covert moved in to make a three-wide fight before taking Friday night's win. (Tommy Michaels)

Early leader Derrick Rodgers gets a challenge from #11 Robbie Blair before Blair raced to the win in the Fastrak Crate Late Model portion of last weekend's two-night event at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex. (Tommy Michaels)

FASTRAK winner Robbie Blair at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex. (Tommy Michaels) 

Robbie Blair posted the win in the 30-lap FASTRAK Northeast Touring Series race Saturday.  Derek Rogers jumped out ahead of Bobby Rohrer and set the early pace, holding off the challenges of Rohrer and then seventh staring Blair. Blair until Blair powered past Rogers to take the lead on lap 12. 

Blair looked to have the race in hand until 15-year-old sensation, Ryan Montgomery worked his way to second.  Montgomery battled the veteran Blair but had to settle for a well deserved second as Blair raced home to the win.  Behind second place Montgomery were Kyle Thomas, Dan Angelicchio, and Josh Holtgraver.