DOUG RICOTTA, KYLE ZIMMERMAN, MIKE FRANKLIN & MICHAEL NORRIS CAPTURE 1ST HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL WINS OF 2023; BLAZE MYERS WINS 1ST EVER SPRINT CAR RACE AT HUMMINGBIRD; SEASON'S 1ST FOR ROB KRISTYAK IN RUSH MODS; ZAIN HARVEY BOUNCES BACK FROM A FLIP TO WIN RUSH PRO MODS AT STATELINE

By Marcie Barlow

August 11, 2023                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Pulaski, PA)...The “Dog Days of Summer” are upon us but the warmer temperatures have not cooled the Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants action as Michael Norris scored another Jook George Classic victory in RUSH Late Model Flynn's Touring Series action at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway this past weekend.  Other first time 2023 RUSH Late Model winners last weekend were veterans Doug Ricotta, Kyle Zimmerman, and Mike Franklin.  Blaze Myers entered his name into the history books as he captured the first ever RUSH Sprint Car main event held at the Hummingbird Speedway.  Rob Kristyak won his first race of 2023 in the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds at Sharon.  Zain Harvey bounced back from a flip at McKean to win the next night at Stateline.

The RUSH Late Models were added on to the August 3 program at Georgetown Speedway in their first race at the 4/10-mile oval in more than two months.  Hometown racer Matt Hill led wire-to-wire for his second straight win at the track worth $1,000.  Trevor Collins was second over Matt Glanden, Derek Magee, and central Pa. invader Matt Adams in his first visit to the  track. 

The McKean County Raceway reopened last Thursday after being dark for nearly two years.  In RUSH Late Model action, Doug Ricotta bested the 22-car field to capture his first City Chevrolet Weekly Series victory of 2023.  Jeremy Wonderling, Kurt Stebbins, Austin Hauser and Brad Mesler followed.  In RUSH Pro Mod action, a strong field of 26 competitors were on hand, which was a season high for the class in 2023.  Dennis Lunger, Jr. picked up the win over Steve Dixon for his fourth overall Hovis Weekly Series win of the season.  Adam Ashcroft, Chad Ramsey Jr. and Tyler Oakes completed the top five.

The marquee RUSH event last weekend was the 34^th Annual "Jook George Steel City Classic" presented by All Interior Painting for the RUSH Late Model Flynn's Tire Touring Series held at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway on Saturday night.  Michael Norris, who was involved in a terrifying crash battling for the lead at last year’s event, took the lead with a three-wide pass on a lap 17 restart and went on to lead the remainder of the 50-lap event to score the victory and a $7,248 payday!  It was Norris' third win in the event and first RUSH victory of 2023.  Brandon Burgoon had his best career Tour finish to come in second with Kyle Lukon, who started in 22^nd, claiming the third position.  Jeremy Wonderling and Ben Policz rounded out the top five.  A solid field o 42 cars turned out.  Event promoter Branden Lockwich raised more than $21,300!

Jared Powell and Mike Franklin led the field to the green in RUSH Late Model action at Winchester Speedway Saturday evening. Franklin won the battle and led the opening laps before a caution for Dylan High slowed the field.  When the action resumed Franklin maintained the lead while Jeremiah Marshall took over the second spot.  Darrick Graner spun on lap 19 to set up a one lap battle to the finish between Franklin and Marshall.  Franklin held on to claim his first City Chevrolet Weekly Series win of the season with Marshall finishing second. Jacob Burdette, Jared Powell and Tyler Hoy finished third through fifth respectively.

Brock Pinkerous led the first nine circuits of the RUSH Late Model main event at Raceway 7 Friday evening before veteran Kyle Zimmerman wrestled the top spot away from him.  Zimmerman went on to lead the remaining 11 laps to score his first victory at speedway since August 19, 2019.  Cory Sines got by Pinkerous to finish second.  Pinkerous, Billy Henry and Jim Rasey completed the top five.

Hovis RUSH Late Model action at Genesee Speedway had Chad Homan put on a dominating performance to claim his fourth victory of the year at the New York facility.  Zack Carley ran a solid race to come home in second for his season best finish followed by rookie competitor Bill Taylor, Billy DuBois and Dave DuBois.

Saturday evening at Stateline Speedway David Parker led the RUSH Late Model feature event before Jason Genco used the top groove to take the lead on lap 12.  Genco went on to lead the remainder of the 25-lap feature event to pick up his third win of the season at the New York facility and fifth overall in City Chevrolet Weekly Series action.  Randy Hall, David Parker, Matt Sipes and Khole Wanzer completed the top five.

Brian Knowles led the early laps in the RUSH Late Model feature at Woodhull Raceway until Brett Marlatt powered by him.  Cautions filled the middle portion of the 25-lap event before Marlatt would go on to lead the remainder of the feature to score his second consecutive victory and fourth of the season at the New York oval.  The Knowles brothers battled for the second spot with Brian getting the better finish.  Jason Knowles settled for third with Aaron Miller and Joe Layfield finishing fourth and fifth respectively.   

The Hovis RUSH Sprint Car Series made their first ever appearance at Hummingbird Speedway on Saturday night; in fact, it was the first Sprint Car race of any kind at the Reynoldsville, Pa. track.  Brian Hartzell and Blaze Myers led the 18-car field to the green with Myers leading the way through lap five.  Chad Ruhlman led laps six through eight before Myers wrestled the lead away from Ruhlman and then nipped him at the finish line to score the victory and an $800 payday in the Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series special.  Ruhlman held on for second over Gale Ruth, Jr., Brian Cressley and Jeff Metsger.  It was announced that due to the excellent fan and racer support, Hummingbird will host another $800 to-win event on September 2.    

The Hovis Auto and Truck Supply Sportsman Modified teams had a busy weekend with another round of Wedge Motorsports “Route 7 Rumble” action. Friday evening at Raceway 7.  Doug Rutana led the entire distance of the 20-lap A min to score his second consecutive victory at the Conneaut, OH oval.  Ayden Cipriano was able to close the gap in the closing stages of the event but settled for second followed by Rob Kristyak, Ben Easler and J.C. Boyer.

On Saturday evening at Sharon Speedway, Cipriano appeared to be headed to the victory until his engine exploded for the second straight week in the final laps.  Easler inherited the lead, but veteran Kristyak used the top side of the speedway to get by Easler and score his first victory of the 2023 season in divisional action.  Easler came home in the runner-up position with Boyer in third. Kole Holden came home in fourth with 12^th place starter Tony Tatgenhorst completing the top five.   

RUSH racing action at The Hill, Skyline and Eriez Speedways was rained out this weekend while Freedom, Potomac, Tyler County, and Bradford Speedways were off.  The "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance for both the RUSH Late Models and RUSH Stock Cars have been rescheduled to August 27.

Coming up this weekend both the Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Sprint Car and Sportsman Modified Divisions will be in action on Saturday at Sharon Speedway.  RUSH Pro Mod action is scheduled for Freedom Motorsports Park on Friday and Bradford Speedway on Sunday.

Weekly RUSH Late Model action is scheduled Raceway 7, Freedom, Potomac Speedway, and Skyline Raceway on Friday.  Saturday night RUSH Late Model action includes Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Marion Center Speedway, Tyler County Speedway and Woodhull Raceway.  Delaware International, Genesee, Stateline and Winchester Speedways will be off on Saturday.  Bradford, Eriez, and Glen Ridge will be in action on Sunday. 

The racing season may be winding down but the RUSH racing action is hotter than ever so be sure to enjoy some at a speedway near you.

The RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply together with Born2Run Lubricants along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, Flynn's Tire, Sunbelt Rentals, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Bilstein Shocks, Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, Wieland Metal Services, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body & Graphic, Sherwood Wheels, Precise Racing Products, Velocita-USA, Wedge Motorsports, 3C Graphix, D&V Jewelers, CrateInsider.com, and Terry Bowser Excavating.  

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.  The RUSH Late Model website is www.rushlatemodels.com. Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushlatemodels and follow us on Twitter @RUSHLM.

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