Ruoff Mortgage Press Room

Honor Flight Northeast Indiana President & Veteran Selected for VIP Ride with Mario Andretti

Written by Hannah McKenna | May 20, 2021

FORT WAYNE, IN (May 20, 2021) - Ruoff Mortgage is honoring Vietnam War veteran and president of the Honor Flight Northeast Indiana, Dennis Covert, with a VIP ride in the INDYCAR Experience two-seater car, driven by racing legend Mario Andretti, this Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Ruoff Mortgage is the sponsor of the Fastest Seat in Sports, a custom-built two-seater racecar with Andretti at the wheel, which leads the drivers of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to the green flag throughout the 2021 INDYCAR season. The two-seater rides typically feature celebrities, dignitaries, VIPs, and social influencers. Ruoff is also the presenting partner of the INDYCAR Experience two-seater program available to NTT CAR SERIES guests and fans on weekends.

Covert served two years active duty and four years reserve. He is a Navy combat veteran of the Vietnam War and served as a Petty Officer Third Class (E-4). He is currently the president of the Board of Directors of Honor Flight Northeast Indiana, a non-profit organization that provides an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for veterans to see the memorials built and dedicated in their honor. Twice a year, Honor Flight takes a commercial flight with 170 veterans and 170 guardians to spend the day in D.C. Unfortunately, the flights scheduled for 2020 were both cancelled due to the global pandemic. They are hoping to begin the Honor Flight experience again in September and October, but ultimately, the safety of the veterans is the top priority.

Covert has traveled on 30 of the 34 Honor Flights from Fort Wayne. Of the 2,538 veterans safely transported to D.C. by Honor Flight Northeast Indiana, nearly 1,400 were WWII veterans. With Memorial Day quickly approaching, Ruoff Mortgage thought no better way to honor this stand out veteran than to offer him this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“We are thrilled to have such an admirable community member ride in the Fastest Seat in Sports,” said Kim Murphy, Chief Administrative Officer at Ruoff Mortgage. “Ruoff is happy that Dennis Covert will have this high-speed memory to cherish for years to come.”

Racecar fans who would like an opportunity to win their own once-in-a-lifetime opportunity ride with Andretti can enter Ruoff Mortgage’s nationwide “Win a Ride & Dine with Mario Andretti” sweepstakes. One lucky winner and their guest will be treated to a race weekend experience at the September 19 Laguna Seca race in Monterey, CA. The sweepstakes runs from April 15 through August 27. To see the contest rules and to enter the sweepstakes, go to www.racehomewithruoff.com. Entrants must be at least 21 years of age.

About Ruoff Mortgage:

Ruoff Mortgage is a full-service residential mortgage company with 70+ locations throughout the Midwest and originates in 45 states through their online consumer direct division. They have been ranked on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America list for eight consecutive years and have appeared in the Top Mortgage Companies lists by several industry publications. Ruoff Mortgage has a 98.2% customer satisfaction rating, as compiled by CX leader, Customerville. www.ruoff.com