BRYCE DAVIS WINS INAUGURAL SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODEL TOUR EVENT AT RANSOMVILLE; 3RD WIN IN 4 RACES MAINTAINS HIS POINT LEAD

By Mike Leone

July 15, 2016               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Ransomville, NY)...The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance headed to Ransomville Speedway for the first time ever on Friday night for race #9 of the season.  Despite a 60% chance of rain, skies remained mostly clear as a large crowd witnessed the first ever Crate Late Model race at the historic New York facility, which attracted teams from all over New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Ontario, Canada.

To say that Bryce Davis has been hot like the summer weather in the last month during Sweeney Tour competition is an understatement.  On June 19, Davis won his first career race at Tri-City for his first win of the season.  Two weeks later, Davis did the same at Lernerville for another $2,000.  On Wednesday, Davis made the long trip to Expo for the first time where he came home second.  And on Friday night, Davis pretty much dominated the 30-lap first ever RUSH feature at Ransomville for another $2,000 payday and was named the Maxima Racing Oil "Maximum Performance" award winner.  All told, the Sweeney Tour point leader has won over $7,000 in the last four races plus several hundred dollars in contingencies!

"The cautions kept dragging it out, but I'm glad we made it to the end," stated the 25-year-old Hornell, NY racer.  "From the get go I was afraid to get off the bottom or someone would get under me so I was taking it easy.  After that red flag I decided to drive it a little harder and it worked out.  This car has been great.  My dad does a lot.  He was there all day long yesterday by himself getting this car ready.  I have to thank everyone that helps out and my sponsors for making this possible."

Via his K&N Dash win, Davis took charge from the pole position over John Waters and fifth starting Jeremy Wonderling, who moved up to third after contact between Jim Johnson and Dave Lyon sent both racers to the tail.  By lap three, the top three began to distance themselves from the field and put on a great race for the lead, while seventh starting Rob Pietz was trying to hold off Mike Wonderling and Wayne Robertson for fourth.  Robertson, who started eighth, cracked the top five on lap seven getting by Mike Wonderling then passed Pietz for fourth on lap 10.

Three-wide racing down the backstretch saw Bruce Hordusky, Jr. get turn sideways as Jason and Brian Knowles, J.J. Mazur, Jim Johnson also got collected as turn three got blocked forcing the red with 10 laps scored.  Hordusky's night ended and was awarded the TBM Brakes "Tough Brake of the Night". 

Jeremy Wonderling was all over Waters as the two tried to challenge Davis, but when racing resumed, Robertson continued his charge as he slipped under Wonderling for third.  Wonderling then got too high in turn two slapping the fence allowing his brother Mike Wonderling and Pietz by for fourth and fifth.  Mike Wonderling and Pietz continued to trade fourth and fifth back numerous times with Pietz getting by for good on lap 18.

Back up front, Davis stretched his lead out to a straightaway as he caught lapped traffic on lap 20.  Robertson was putting the pressure on Waters for second and after 11 consecutive non-stop laps, Lyon spun after working his way back into contention in the battle for fourth with 21 laps scored. 

The final 10 laps went green-to-checkered as Davis was never challenged over the final 1/3rd of the event as he stretched his lead out and took the checkered flag first by 2.842 seconds.  Davis' seventh career Sweeney Tour win came in the Griswolds E.T.R. Services/Close Racing Supply/Jody's Hair Design-sponsored #94 GRT as he tied Ryan Montgomery for second spot on the all-time win list moving ahead of Mike Pegher, Jr.

After his third win of the season on Wednesday at Expo, Waters' $1,000 runner-up finish maintained his four-point deficit to Davis in the championship race.  "I geared up to run the bottom," revealed the Whitesville, NY driver.  Bryce is usually high, wide and handsome.  I never thought he'd slow down and stay on the bottom so he kind of took the game away right there.  In the beginning I thought we were a touch better.  We could rotate the center and get off the bottom better, but I just couldn't get him on the top and once I started heating my tires up that was it.  The last five laps I just let it hang out, but he had a good car.  I'll take second any night.  It was a good night for us and makes the ride home a lot easier.  I have to thank Dale LeBarron for giving me an opportunity to run this car.  Without him I wouldn't be able to do this."

Robertson made just his second Sweeney Tour start of the season and fourth overall, and had a successful night in third giving Empire State racers a clean sweep of the podium.  I'm pretty happy with third.  This is the fourth night out with this new car and I'm still trying to figure it out.  I really wish we didn't have those yellows during the middle of the race because I was rolling pretty good through the middle.  I was really starting to turn in the middle and drive off and get going and rolling well.  I think I got my tires too hot and they glazed over sitting there during the red.  We're clawing and fighting.  We don't do it as much as these guys here, but I'm having fun.  Thanks Ransomville for having us."

After pretty much a race long battle, Pietz and Mike Wonderling were fourth and fifth for their first career top five Sweeney Tour finishes.  After starting 15th and going to the tail for an early race spin, Jon Rivers worked his way back to sixth to earn the $100 Precise Racing Products "Pedal Down" hard charger gift card.  Brian Knowles was seventh over Lyon, who was the final car on the lead lap and earned the $25 CrateInsider.com gift certificate.  Jimmy Johnson, Jr. beat out his father Jim for ninth.

Lyon, who once raced go-karts on the small track at Ransomville and always wanted to try the big track, set fast time with his 16-year-old back-up car in $100 Bobby Lake Motorsports "Shock the Clock" Qualifying with a lap of 17.660.  Davis and Waters earned an extra $25 for their Bobby Lake Motorsports heat race wins.  Davis captured his second K&N "Cold Air Induction" Dash win to earn a $100 K&N certificate over Lyon, who received a $50 K&N certificate.  Waters and Johnson earned an extra $25 cash for their third and fourth place dash finishes.

The Sweeney Tour returns to action on Sunday, July 24 for the second and final visit of the season to Eriez Speedway for another $2,000 to-win "Marquee" Event.  Race time is 6:30 p.m. 

Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series Race #9 (30 laps, $2,000 to-win): 1. BRYCE DAVIS (94)  2. John Waters (LeBarron 11)  3. Wayne Robertson (20)  4. Rob Pietz (69)  5. Mike Wonderling (18)  6. Jon Rivers (85)  7. Brian Knowles (7)  8. Dave Lyon (14L)  9. Jimmy Johnson, Jr. (39J)  10. Jim Johnson (93J)  11. Duane Stiers (10)  12. Jason Knowles (4)  13. J.J. Mazur (13)  14. Charlie Sandercock (57)  15. Jeremy Wonderling (3J)  16. Bruce Hordusky, Jr. (3)  17. T.J. Downs (1)  18. Kevin Hill (98).

Car Count: 18

Margin of Victory: 2.842 seconds
Feature Lap Leaders: Bryce Davis (1-3)

Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down Hard Charger”: Jon Rivers (+9)

Maxima Oil “Maximum Performance”: Bryce Davis

TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night": Bruce Hordusky, Jr.

CrateInsider.com "Last Car on Lead Lap": Dave Lyon

Bobby Lake Motorsports "Shock the Clock Qualifying ($100 for fast time): 1. Dave Lyon 17.660  2. John Waters 17.744  3. Bryce Davis 17.835  4. Jason Knowles 17.884  5. Rob Pietz 17.953  6. Jim Johnson 17.975  7. Jeremy Wonderling 17.984  8. Wayne Robertson 18.002  9. Brian Knowles 18.070  10. J.J. Mazur 18.085  11. Mike Wonderling 18.138  12. Bruce Hordusky, Jr. 18.151  13. Jon Rivers 18.183  14. Jimmy Johnson, Jr. 18.443  15. Charlie Sandercock 18.455  16. Kevin Hill 18.626  17. T.J. Downs 18.667  18. Duane Stiers 19.526.

Bobby Lake Motorsports RUSH Late Model Heat 1 (8 laps, $25 to-win): 1. Davis  2. Lyon  3. J. Wonderling  4. Pietz  5. M. Wonderling  6. Sandercock  7. B. Knowles  8. Hill  9. Downs.

Bobby Lake Motorsports RUSH Late Model Heat 2 (8 laps, $25 to-win): 1. Waters  2. Johnson  3. J. Knowles  4. Robertson  5. Mazur  6. Hordusky  7. Johnson, Jr.  8. Stiers  9. Hill-DNS.

RUSH Late Model K&N "Cold Air Induction" Dash (4 laps, $100 K&N certificate to-win): 1. Davis  2. Lyon  3. Waters  4. Johnson.

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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