Matt Covington eyes 2014 Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour Return

TULSA, Okla. (February 13, 2014) - Sometimes time away is what's needed. Taking on the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV American Real for the first time in 2010, Covington spliced regional and national events into his schedule for the next two years; picking up two National Tour wins in the process.

The start of the 2012 season, however, was when things changed.

Pulling off the road to regroup his operation following a rough finish in the season's ninth event at the Salina Highbanks Speedway, Covington returned to the Lone Star and Sooner Regions. It paid off with a sweep of the regional titles.

Focusing again on the regions in 2013, Covington repeated his success of a regional sweep.

With crew and cars in place, the 2014 season will see the Oklahoma driver making a return to the national scene. Asked how he feels about returning to the road, Covington's reply was simply, "I'm very excited."

Concerning his goals for the year, the 24-year old driver's goals revolve around self-improvement, "I'm just looking to better myself, like I've been doing and finish in the top five." Highlighting specific points for the year, Covington stated making the A-Features at the Knoxville Nationals as well as the Short Track Nationals, "I didn't do it last year, but I did the year before that and the year before that, so I definitely want to get back on that page."

"We've experimented and for me, it really kinda let me to focus more on dialing in my car," explained Covington when questioned about using his regional success to prepare for his return to the road.

"I remember a couple years ago, especially the first year I ran the National Tour; I didn't know the first thing about setting up a Sprint Car. We didn't have a professional crew chief, you know, it was really just a Father/Son deal trying to figure this thing out so running two years of regional, yeah, it does take some of the pressure off; competition's not quite as stiff and running the same tracks you're used to running. When you do that, it helps you to feel what your car is doing, and helps you figure out what little things you need to do to make it better."

Asked whom Matt is taking on the road with him this year, he will have the help of his Father and younger Brother. "I'm confident in what we can do feel like we're going in the right directions to make a run for the top-five."

Matt Covington's two National Tour wins have come at first time visits to the facilities. The Lone Star Speedway was the sight of his first triumph in Kilgore, Texas on April 9, 2010 when the track was still a half-mile configuration. His second came on November 12, 2011 at the Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M.

Covington has five ASCS Regional titles to his credit in the past three years with a trio of titles with the Smiley's Racing Products Lone Star Region plus the past two championships in the American Bank of Oklahoma Sooner Region.

Overall in 2013, Matt Covington entered 46 events with three wins, 18 top five, and 23 top-ten appearances. Covington finished in the top -five on four occasions, including six top tens' with the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV American Real in 2013, in 14 A-Feature starts. 

News and information on Matt Covington can be found online at http://www.mattcovingtonracing.com as well as on Facebook and Twitter.  Publications on Matt Covington are provided by Petersen Media, Inc. To sign up for news, email sales@petersenmediainc.com with "Matt Covington News" in the subject line.

The 2014 Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV American Real season begins February 28 and March 1 at the Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. Tickets for the $10,000 to win event are on sale at http://www.cocopahspeedway.com.


2013 ASCS (Regional/National) Record: Events: 46: Wins - 3, Top 5 - 18, Top 10 - 23
Overall ASCS National Tour Record: A-Feature Starts: 68: Wins - 2, Top 5 - 10, Top 10 - 31

The 2014 season marks the twenty-third year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing for the American Sprint Car Series, which brings the best of Sprint Car racing to dozens of different tracks throughout the nation. Anchored by the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series, ASCS also consists of ten different Regions throughout the nation.

Lucas Oil Products is the title sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. More information can be found on Lucas Oil Products at www.lucasoil.com. MAVTV is the presenting sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. Log onto www.mavtv.com for information regarding availability and listings in your area.

Associate sponsors for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV include: Hoosier Racing Tire and Brodix.

Team Lucas Sponsors for the American Sprint Car Series consist of Protect the Harvest, iON Camera, Smokey Mountain Moonshine, C&R Radiator, Hawk Performance Products, Geico, E3 Spark Plugs, and General Tire.

Product and Contingency Sponsorship provided by: K&N Filters, PitstopUSA.com, Competition Suspension, Engler Machine and Tool, FSR Radiator and Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Driverwebsites.com, Weld Wheels, Fuel Safe, Saldana Racing Products, Maxwell Industries, Print Place, Simpson, The Joie of Seating, Wesmar Racing Engines, Hinchman Indy Racewear, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, DMI Rear Ends, Rod End Supply, Smiley's Racing Products, Speedway Motors, Speedmart, and Hilborn Injection Systems.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com as well as Twitter (@LucasOilASCS) and Facebook. News and information can also be sent to you with the ASCS E-News by texting ASCS to 22828 with any mobile device.

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Bryan Hulbert
ASCS / Chili Bowl P.R.
O: 918-838-3777
C: 575-496-9348
announcer@ascsracing.com

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Susan Arnold
Sarnold00@earthlink.net
949-637-2216

WIRE TO WIRE WIN FOR MOTTER EQUIPMENT HE&M SAW BELTLINE BODY SHOP TEAM AT DIRTCAR NATIONALS

BARBERVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 13, 2014) – Sprint Car drivers with racing attitudes welcomed the sun at Volusia Speedway Park today and a chance to throw down some elbows up hammer down racing.

With last night’s UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions event a victim of severe weather coupled with over an inch of rain, drivers and teams were looking forward to tonight’s event to do some final tweaking for the season-opening World of Outlaws event Friday night.

The format for tonight’s event, with more than 41 cars entered, allowed only one qualifying lap.  Joey Saldana drove the Motter Equipment HE&M Saw Beltline Body Shop 71M to seventh in the qualifying order, lapping the fast semi-banked half-mile oval in 13.099 seconds. Saldana actually matched the qualifying time of the sixth place qualifier, but since the Motter team followed the other driver with the same time (Lucas Wolfe), they were scored seventh in the line-up.

The distinctive yellow 71M started in fifth position in the third heat.  In the opening lap, Saldana drove up over the cushion but gathered it back in without losing competitive position.  With three laps to go, Saldana had managed to put a 20 car length cushion between himself and sixth place Terry McCarl.  Though the Brownsburg Bullet was closing in on fourth place driver Danny Holtgraver, the checkered flag fell before he could make the pass.  The heat was won by Rico Abreu and Saldana finished fifth to transfer to the dash and the A-Main.

Following the inversion draw, Saldana was awarded the outside pole starting position for the six-car dash.  When the green waved, it was a drag race down the front straight between pole sitter Dale Blaney and Saldana.  Saldana went high to grab the lead.  With a lightning fast track and cool, crisp weather, Saldana was turning laps at 13.010 seconds continuing to distance himself from Blaney. With less than two laps remaining, Blaney slowed with mechanical problems and Saldana won the dash by a straightaway, earning the pole position for the A-Main.

Saldana brought the 24-car field down to start the 30-lap A-Main.  At the green, the Bullet pitched the car and shot from the bottom of the track to the top to take the lead.  Running mid 13-second laps, Saldana was already passing lapped traffic on the fifth circuit.  The yellow was displayed with five laps complete when Rico Abreu hit a rut in the racing surface and collected Steve Kinser.  Both drivers retired for the night.

Re-rack the field:  Saldana, Danny Hotgraver, Tim Shaffer, Paul McMahan, Donny Schatz. 

At the green, Saldana once again began to pull away from the field.  With 10 laps in the books, the 71M had a 2.5-second lead on the field.  At the halfway mark, the yellow came out for Christopher Bell who slowed to a stop in turn one.

Restart order:  Saldana, Shaffer, Holtgraver, McMahan, Schatz.  Once again Saldana took command of the field at the green flag.  McMahan soon passed Holtgraver to take third spot while Saldana continued to pull away from the field.  With eight laps to go, McMahan moved to second and was trying to track down Saldana.  Saldana and McMahan where nose to tail for the nail biting final three laps but Saldana was unstoppable and took a wire-to-wire victory, his 10th career win at Volusia Speedway.

“Boy, I thought this car was way faster than me tonight,” joked Saldana as he held the DIRTcar Nationals gator trophy in victory lane.  “I didn’t compete in Australia this year like I usually do.  I stayed home with my wife Shannon and my boys. 

“The Motter team came out strong and our Speedway Engines were fast.  I enjoy racing here.  I want to thank Dan and Ruth Motter for giving me this opportunity.

“And this is a nice early Valentine’s Day present for my wife.”

“We tested well here Tuesday night,” said team owner Dan Motter.  “And we were quick in hot laps tonight so confidence was high and we were riding some good momentum going into the A-Main.

“I am incredibly proud of the team and Joey.  What a fantastic way to start the season and we are thrilled to share this victory with our new sponsor HE&M Saw, Beltline Body Shop which expanded their participation with our team this year, and all the sponsors that have come out to support us this season.  We are very appreciative.”

Paul McMahan finished second and Tim Shaffer rounded out the podium.

The Motter team will compete in the World of Outlaws triple header at Volusia Speedway that begins tomorrow night and ends Sunday.

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