Brad Covington captures short-track championship
By David Screws
August
17, 2005 – On August 6 in Sikeston, Missouri, 120 short-track racers
gathered to take their shot at the National Short Track Championship.
Promoter Billy Clayton of SRP Promotions put together the event to give short-track the opportunity to compete for a national crown. To call the event a "one shot pony" would be correct, and to call the event "a good dirt" event would also be correct.
Once the sun began to set, the 1/5-mile oval of the Semo Raceway began to "come in," developing a wide, fast, tacky surface that provided the racers with all the "blue-groove hook" they'd ever wished for, and all the "go fast-turn left" action the fans cramming the bleachers had paid to see.
This combination of good dirt and one single racing shot to prove one's worthiness of a national championship gave Clayton's event an air of competitive intensity.
Rising to the top of his game, Brad Covington of Batesville, Arkansas, had his race face on and his machine set up to perfection for the Sikeston surface.
Covington, aboard his Thumper Yamaha, appeared as if he was racing on rails as he throttled down from start to finish. Competing in the Pro and Pro Production classes, Covington laid waste to the competition on his way to capturing the 2005 Pro Grand National Championship and the 2005 Pro Production Grand National Short Track Championship.
In true Billy Clayton-SRP Promotions style, each and every National Short Track Champion from the Pro class all the way down to the youth classes was directed to the Semo Raceway winners circle where they shared their accomplishments in the limelight of the infield with the fans and a checkered flag photo session.
Short Track Winners 2005
Pro Open — Brad Covington
Pro Production — Brad Covington
Pro Am — Doug Crossway
Pro-AM 265/2-Stroke 450/4-Stroke — Danny McGraw
0-70 Production — Bobby Bessire
71-90 Production — Justin Screws
71-90 Modified — Kendall Webb
91-200/2-Stroke 300/4-Stroke — Beau Brinkley
Beginner — Richard Micheal
265/2-Stroke 450/4-Stroke — Jason Arnold
Production — David Henson
Open 4-Stroke — Jordan Orr
Open — Rusty Tanner
16-24 — Ricky Underwood
Women — Kalli Wahls
+30 — Lonnie Eubanks