ANDY BOOZEL, BRADY WONDERLING, AJ KINGSLEY & ROB PIETZ CAPTURE THEIR 1ST SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODEL WINS OF 2016 ON ANOTHER RAINY WEEKEND

By Jim Zufall & Mike Leone

 

June 7, 2016              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Pulaski, PA)Once again the wet weather was a factor in the weekends racing for the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance family of weekly tracks. McKean County, Pittsburgh, Wayne County, Bradford, Eriez, and Path Valley all either rained out or postponed their events. 

 

With the RUSH Late Models not on the card Friday at Potomac or Path Valley Speedways, Freedom Motorsports Park in Delevan New York was the only game in town as they played host to the Touring Series on Friday night.  Twenty-eight cars were on hand matching last year's record count for the track at the very same event.

 

The 25-lap "Ron Baker Memorial" saw the Ron Baker Tribute Late Model pace the 25-car field before the drop of the green flag.  The race saw pole sitter Andy Michael and Andy Boozel on the front row.  Boozel used the cushion to take the early lead from Michael with Jason Knowles close behind close behind.  A tight battle was fought up front with Boozel fending off a number of challenges from Michael for much of the event.  In the latter stages of the race, Jeremy Wonderling had found his way to forth and made for a tight field of leaders in the closing laps. Michael gave one more push for the lead, but Boozel prevailed taking the $1699 winner’s share for his first ever Tour win.  Knowles and Wonderling finished in the third and fourth spots with Eric Wilson rounding out the top five.   The RUSH Late Models return to Freedom on June 17; meanwhile, the Touring Series is off until Sunday, June 19 at Tri-City Raceway Park for the $2,000 to-win "Bill Emig Memorial".

 

After his Sweeney Tour race win on Friday at Freedom, Andy Boozel found himself on the pole of the Shults Auto Group RUSH Late Model feature event at Busti, New York’s Stateline Speedway one night later.  Matt Latta, who shared the front row with Boozel, took the early lead with third starting Damian Bidwell coming to second.  A fierce battle ensued for the lead with defending champion Jason Genco running side-by-side with Latta for the lead until Genco spun bringing out a caution. In the end, Latta cruised to the win in his season's first appearance at Stateline.  Bidwell settled for second with Ryan Scott, Scott Gurdak and Boozel completing the top five.

 

Also in action at Stateline was the brand new RUSH- sanctioned Rusted Nutz Pro Mods. Kelley Frederes took the top spot from the outside pole position and never looked back through the feature event that suffered only one caution period in the opening lap.  Frederes became the third different winner in as many events and continues to lead the $3,500 to-win Sweeney Weekly Series points.  Veteran Scott Gurdak, pole sitter Jeramy Williams, Jason Covey and Dennis Asel made up the balance of the top five.  The RUSH Late Models and Pro Mods return to action this Saturday as part of the track's regular racing program.

 

Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway got half of a show in on Saturday night as rains washed out the second half of the program just as the first feature of the night took to the track.  The RUSH Late Models were able to get in two heat races for the 19 cars before the rains came.  Kyle Lukon and John Mollick won their respective heats.  The RUSH Late Models return to action this Friday as part of the Herb Scott Championship for the Super Late Models.

 

New York’s Fulton Speedway got in a full night of racing.  In the Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux RUSH Late Model feature Tony Finch came to the green for the opening lap, but his lead wouldn’t last long.  AJ Kingsley took over the top spot one lap into the event leading Brandon Ford and Bret Belden, who were both applying pressure to Kingsley.  With five to go, Kingsley continued his dominance in the lead, but there was quite a battle for positions going on behind him.  At the finish it was Kingsley with his first Sweeney Weekly Series win of 2016 well out in front with the battle going on back through fifth.  In the end the runner up would be new Sweeney Weekly Series member Kevan Cook.  Billy Eisele, Belden and Chris Fleming were third through fifth.  Action returns to Fulton this Saturday as Syracuse Haulers present a full program plus Mod Lites.

 

Last week, Brady Wonderling saw his brother and Jeremy outduel him in the RUSH Late Model feature for the $1,000 special Sweeney Weekly Series win.  This time, Brady turned the tables capturing his first RUSH win since 2014.  The Scio, NY driver led all 20 laps of the feature on Batavia Downs Gaming Night.  Invader John Waters was second.  After a career best Tour runner-up finish on Friday night at Freedom, Andy Michael completed the podium positions for a great weekend.  Jimmy Johnson and Jon Rivers rounded out the top five.

 

Saturday night’s racing action also included the Sweeney RUSH Sportsman Modifieds at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio.  For the fourth time in as many events this season 24 or more cars were on hand meaning the drivers battled for the increased $500 to-win, $75 to-start purse.  Tiffany Williams led the first 13 laps until Brandon Ritchey made the pass with two to go to become the first repeat winner on the circuit.  Williams held on for her best ever runner up spot with May 28 winner Kole Holden, Jerry Schaffer and Lernerville winner Brian Schaffer filling out the first five. 

 

The Sweeney RUSH Sportsman Modifieds will hold their first ever event at Thunder Mountain Speedway in Brookville, Pa. on Friday, June 17 in a $500 to-win Bicknell Weekly Series event.  Look for additional dates to be possibly added in the future. 

 

Sunday night at Humberstone Speedway, Colton Ledingham and Jeff Dayman brought the field to green in the RUSH Late Model feature.  From there it was Ledingham, Dayman, Dennis Lunger and Rob Pietz putting on a show.  Pietz took the lead from Dayman on lap 13.  Lunger passed Ledingham for second as Dayman faded. Lunger grabbed the lead on lap 15 only to have Pietz take it back on 16. Pietz pulled away in the late laps to secure his first win of 2016 and became the fourth different winner in four races at the Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada speedway this season.  Lunger settled for second with Ledingham, Dayman and Ken Winfield making the top five.  Racing action returns to Humberstone on Sunday night with a full racing program a vintage car race added the card. 

 

Path Valley's special Sunday program featuring the Appalachian Mountain Speedweek event for the Super Late Models and a $1,000 to-win Sweeney Weekly Series event for the RUSH Late Models was postponed until Monday.  The 1/4-mile in Spring Run, Pa. was in excellent shape for the first ever Super Late Model show, which was won by Jason Covert.  In the RUSH Late Model companion event, Brad McGinnis was able to withstand the pressure by Virginian invader Logan Roberson to score the richest crate race ever held at Path Valley.  McGinnis is now three-for-three this season at Path Valley.  Allen Brannon was third over early leader Kris Eaton, who faded to fourth as John Imler completed the first five.  The RUSH Late Models will be back at Path Valley on Friday, June 24.

 

RUSH Late Model marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Maxima Racing Oil, Jones Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, ARbodies, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, FK Rod Ends, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, Rocket Chassis, Bobby Lake Motorsports High Gear Speed Shop, CrateInsider.com, B.R.A.K.E.S., RockAuto.com, and Valley Fashions.

 

E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at [email protected] and snail mail to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. Office phone is 724-964-9300 and fax is 724-964-0604. The RUSH Racing Series website is www.rushracingseries.com. Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushlatemodels and follow us on Twitter @RUSHLM.
 

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