2016 SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODEL “MANUFACTURERS NIGHT”
PRESENTED BY MSD AT TRI-CITY A ROUSING SUCCESS; ALL-TIME NORTHEAST/MID-ATLANTIC
RECORD 58 PARTICIPATE & SHARE IN $50,000 OF CASH & PRODUCT PRIZES
By Mike Leone
September 21, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)…The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH
Dirt Late Model Touring Series powered by Pace Performance participated in the
fifth annual "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance back on
September 11 at Tri-City Raceway Park. The event attracted an all-time
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic high of 58 competitors since Crate Late Model racing
begin in the region back in 2007. Over $35,000 in products were awarded along
with over $14,000 in cash payoffs bringing the night's total to around
$50,000! Each of the 58 drivers received one of the primary prizes valued at a
minimum of $300 up to $2,200. Several drivers also received multiple prizes.
Each of the six "Manufacturers
Nights" at Sharon Speedway (2012), Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway (2013), McKean
County Raceway (2014), Eriez Speedway (2015), and now Tri-City (2016) have all
drawn a minimum of 40 cars with Tri-City's event setting a new high mark.
"Over the past few years the value of actual product
giveaways to RUSH racers is over $110,000 and has almost grown to match our
$115,000 championship cash point funds, stated Series Director Vicki Emig. "By
distributing products that our teams can immediately use to help keep their
racing operation going has proved to be a very important and a unique piece in
the success of the RUSH Racing Series. At the end of the season we will have
influxed over $225,000 of value back into the Series to help keep it viable into
the future. To have over 50 nationally-recognized companies led by MSD
Performance support the concept of our Manufacturers Nights along with our
numerous other product contingency programs and the concept of crate racing in
general is tremendous and we cannot thank them enough. We work on a daily basis
to keep racers on the race tracks, which in turn provides potential customers
for their products. Simply said it's a team effort, and its
working!"
For the second straight year,
MSD Performance has presented all of the Series' Manufacturers Nights. Sharon
Speedway hosted the RUSH Sportsman Modified event and Stateline Speedway the
RUSH Pro Mod event earlier this season, while Lernerville Speedway will host the
RUSH Pro Stock event on October 15. MSD is the "Official Ignition" of the RUSH
Racing Series. The MSD 8727CT RPM (rev) limiting box is mandated in RUSH
Sportsman Modifieds. MSD was recently purchased by Holley Performance. MSD's
Circle Track Sales Manager, Graham Fordyce, is a big supporter of RUSH, and RUSH
looks forward to MSD's involvement with the Series into the future.
This year's top prize was again
the Yamaha Electric Start Generator and wheel kit valued at $2,200 compliments
of Alternative Power Sources, which was won by Steve LeBarron as he picked a
good night to make his first Sweeney Tour start of the season. Steve's father
Dale owns three-time 2016 Tour winner, John Waters', #11 RUSH Late Models.
Speaking of Waters, he finished third in the feature and left with prize #4- a
set of Beyea custom crate headers valued at $800 along with a dyno break-in of a
new motor valued at $500 courtesy of Race 1 and $50 off the purchase of a Keizer
Aluminum Wheel.
On June 3, Andy Boozel won his
first career Sweeney Tour event at Freedom Motorsports Park. Boozel didn't fare
as well at Tri-City failing to qualify for the feature, but he certainly didn't
go home empty-handed as he drew prize #2- four F3 Tornado Calipers courtesy of
TBM Brakes valued at $1,800!
Logan Roberson has won five
Sweeney Weekly Series events and the two track championships at Potomac and
Winchester Speedways this season. Roberson made the six-hour two to Tri-City
from Waynesboro, Virginia for the first time, and while the teenager had a rough
night not qualifying for the feature, he went home with a certificate for a full
custom drivers suit valued at $1,000 from Velocita-USA! "Not the night we
wanted, but can't thank RUSH enough for everything they do for racing and for
putting this event on," said Roberson. "I
have to give a lot of props to
Vicki Emig-
she's done so much for us crate drivers it's unreal! She really has brought up
this crate racing. I feel so welcomed when I travel with the touring guys, and
couldn't ask for a better series to race with."
Max Blair won the 30-lap MFG
Night feature event. The victory was worth $2,000 and Blair also was chosen as
the Maxima Racing Oil "Maximum Performance" award winner, won a Bobby Lake
Motorsports heat race worth $25, won the K&N Dash for a $100 K&N certificate,
and $50 off the purchase of a Keizer Aluminum Wheel. This year though Blair
wasn't the lucky number one prize winner as his MFG Night prize was a $250
Allstar Performance gift card along with another $50 K&N gift card.
At this year's first Sweeney
Tour event at Tri-City on June 19, Bryce Davis picked up the $2,000 win. Davis
had to settle for second on this night worth $1,000 to maintain his point lead,
and in addition won one of the most sought after prizes- a Power Mig 140C Welder
and Utility Cart from Lincoln Electric, worth $700! Davis picked up a couple
extra prizes including 30% off a set of aluminum birdcages from BSB
Manufacturing and $50 off the purchase of an aluminum wheel from Keizer for
finishing in the top 20 of the feature.
Brothers Jared and Zach Kane
continue to gain experience racing in as many Sweeney Tour events as possible.
Jared is in his second year, while Zach is in his first and is one of the "Bilstein
Bandits" competitors. While Zach raced to a sixth place finish in the
non-qualifier, and Jared unfortunately junked his car ending his season both
left with quality prizes. Zach won a complete Late Model wrap from On Time Body
& Graphics valued at $700, while Jared copped a Lazer Lid with Cap
Package from Bernheisel ($250) and a $50 K&N gift card. "I want to thank RUSH
for the great Manufacturers Night and making sure every driver went home with
something they can use moving forward," said Jared Kane.
Two-time "Wheelman" Bonus Event Challenge Series Champion,
Tony White, failed to qualify for the feature, but took home $1,100 in prizes
thanks to winning the 48-piece QuickCrew Apparel Package from Classic Ink and
the K&N Cold Air Induction System. "I would like
to take the time to thank
Vicki Emig and
Mike Leone,
and the rest of the RUSH group for everything they
do for us drivers," expressed White. "Every year they bust their asses week in
and week out to put out a good product, and they work extra hard on the
manufacturers night, and once again they pulled it off. It's awesome to see a
series work so hard to do something like that for its drivers. Thank you guys
again for the giveaways."
Will Thomas III is one of the top teams on the RUSH
circuit. Thomas is coming off the $2,000 "Gary Knollinger Memorial" Sweeney
Tour win on September 17 at Sharon, and has won Late Model and Modified races on
asphalt as well. Will grew up in a racing family as his father Bill owned and
sponsored Sprint Cars and Big-Block Modifieds driven by the great Lou Blaney.
"Sometimes I think we as racers fail to realize how fortunate we are to be able
to race in a professionally run series that focuses on tech to ensure the
playing field is level," stated Thomas. "To be able to run crate late models
for the purses and point funds we do is awesome. While most other tracks and
series are cutting purses, RUSH is working to give more back to the racer. Over
$30,000 in product in one night to the racers helps a ton."
The following companies participated in this great event
with over $35,000 in prizes: Absolute Powder Coating, Allstar Performance,
Alternative Power Sources, ARbodies, Bazell Race Fuels, Bernheisel Race
Components, Beyea Headers, BSB Manufacturing, C.J. Rombold Engine Builders, C.
Smith Machineshop, Classic Ink, Close Racing Supply, CrateInsider.com,
Diversified Racing/Bulldog, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, High Gear Speed Shop,
Hoosier Tire, Joe Willcox Performance Automatics, Ingram Engines, Insinger Fuel,
Jennerstown Engine Technology, Jones Racing Products, K&N, Keizer Aluminum
Wheels, Landrum Performance Springs, Lincoln Electric, Maxima Racing Oil, MSD
Performance, 955 Automotive, Oakley, On Time
Body & Graphics, Out-Pace Products, Pace Performance,
Precise Racing Products, QuickCar, Race 1, Rocket Chassis, Russell King
Racing, Schoenfeld Headers, Steve’s Auto & Truck Repair, Sunoco Race Fuel, TBM
Brakes, Ultra-Shield, Velocita-USA, Wehrs
Machine, Wrisco
2016 “Manufacturers Night” Prize Winner List
1. Alternative Power
Sources - Yamaha
Electric Start Generator
(EF40000DE/D) and Wheel
Kit ($2,200) (Steve
LeBarron)
2. TBM
Brakes- (4) F3 Tornado
Brake Calipers ($1,800)
(Andy Boozel)
3. Velocita-USA -
Full Custom Drivers Suit
($1,000) (Logan
Roberson)
4. Beyea Headers -
Set of Custom Crate
Racing Headers ($800)
(John Waters)
5. Beyea Headers -
Set of Custom Crate
Racing Headers ($800)
(Daryl Charlier)
6. Lincoln Electric -
One Power Mig 140C
Welder and Utility Cart
($700) (Bryce Davis)
7. On Time Body &
Graphics - One Complete
Custom Late Model Wrap
($700) (Zach Kane)
8. MSD Performance -
MSD 6ALN Ignition
Control, MSD Blaster HVC
Ignition Coil & MSD
8.5mm Super Spark Plug
Wire Set ($630) (Bruce
Hordusky, Jr.)
9. MSD Performance -
MSD 6ALN Ignition
Control, MSD Blaster HVC
Ignition Coil & MSD
8.5mm Super Spark Plug
Wire Set ($630) (Jamie
Wrightsman)
10. MSD Performance -
MSD 6ALN Ignition
Control, MSD Blaster HVC
Ignition Coil & MSD
8.5mm Super Spark Plug
Wire Set ($630) (Bob
Pifer III)
11. ARbodies/Wrisco
Aluminum - Dirt
Nose/Fender Combo Kit &
6 sheets of aluminum
($605) (Brian Knowles)
12. Classic Ink -
Quick Crew (48-piece)
Apparel Package ($600)
(Tony White)
13. Jones Racing
Products - SBC 55+ Amp
Radius Tooth HTD
Alternator Kit ($557)
(Will Thomas III)
14. FK Rod Ends - One
Complete Set of 4130
Black FK Rod Ends ($500)
(Mike Wonderling, Jr.)
15. FK Rod Ends - One
Complete Set of 4130
Black FK Rod Ends ($500)
(Jason Knowles)
16. FK Rod Ends - One
Complete Set of 4130
Black FK Rod Ends ($500)
(Jim Johnson)
17. FK Rod Ends - One
Complete Set of 4130
Black FK Rod Ends ($500)
(Jacob Piper)
18. RKR (Russell King
Racing) - Certificate
Towards Purchase of
Product ($500) (Jake
Gunn)
19. Rocket Chassis -
Certificate Towards
Purchase of Product
($500) (Jimmy Johnson,
Jr.)
20. Schoenfeld
Headers - One Set of
Custom Long Tube Crate
LM Headers & Mufflers
($500) (Justin Lamb)
21. Schoenfeld
Headers - One Set of
Custom Long Tube Crate
LM Headers & Mufflers
($500) (Eric Reinwald)
22. Bazell Race Fuels
- Certificate Towards
Purchase of One Drum of
Sunoco Standard 110 Fuel
or Two Drums of RUSH 91
($450) (Chad Homan)
23. Insinger Fuel -
Certificate Towards
Purchase on one Drum of
Sunoco Standard 110 Fuel
or Two Drums of RUSH 91
($450) (Joe Chamberlain)
24. High Gear Speed
Shop - Certificate
Towards Purchase of one
Drum of Sunoco Standard
110 Fuel or two Drums of
RUSH 91 ($450) (Jason
Genco)
25. Oakley/Precise
Racing Products &
Ultra-Shield - 1 Pair
Oakley Driving Gloves &
1 Pair Racing Shoes & 1
Adult 5 Point Shoulder
Harness. Window Net &
Box of 200 Tear-Offs
($430) (Jeremy
Wonderling)
26. Joe Willcox
Performance
Automatics/Superior
Steering Wheels -
Complete Transmission
Rebuild & 1 Custom
Steering Wheel ($415)
(Bill Kesler)
27. ARbodies/Wrisco -
Dirt Nose/Fender Combo
Kit & 2 Sheets Wrisco
Aluminum ($385) (Darrell
Bossard)
28. Ingram Engines -
One Beehive Conversion
Kit (Part #19300952)
($370) (Mike Lozowski)
29. Maxima Racing Oil
– Complete Car Service
Package with Oils,
Cleaners & Wax ($350)
(Scott Gurdak)
30. C.J. Rombold
Engine Builders/Precise
Racing Products -
Chassis Dyno Service (3
pulls) & $100 Precise
Gift Card ($350) (R.J.
Pistner)
31. ARbodies/Precise
Racing Supply - Dirt
Nose/Fender Combo Kit &
$100 Precise Gift Card
($345) (Randy Hall)
32. ARbodies/Precise
Racing Supply - Dirt
Nose/Fender Combo Kit &
$100 Precise Gift Card
($345) (J.J. Mazur)
33. ARbodies/Precise
Racing Supply - Dirt
Nose/Fender Combo Kit &
$100 Precise Gift Card
($345) (Andy Michael)
34. ARbodies/Precise
Racing Supply - Dirt
Nose/Fender Combo Kit &
$100 Precise Gift Card
($345) (Alan Dellinger)
35. ARbodies/K&N -
Dirt Nose/Fender Combo
Kit & $100 K& N Gift
Card ($345) (Robert
Mitcham III)
36. QuickCar/Wehrs
Machine/TBM Brakes -
Gauge Panel Assembly
($100), Wehrs Machine &
Racing Products Gift
Certificate ($100) & 3
Bottles of TBM Brake
Fluid ($345) (Khole
Wanzer)
37. Jones Racing
Products/Wehrs Machine &
Racing Products - SBC
Crate Serpentine Belt
Drive Kit ($227) & Wehrs
Machine $100 Gift
Certificate ($327) (W.L.
Stile)
38. Diversified
Racing/Bulldog – Two
Friction Fighter
Sportsman Gear Sets
($325) (Damian Bidwell)
39. Diversified
Racing/Bulldog - Two
Friction Fighter
Sportsman Gear Sets
($325) (Brady Wonderling)
40. Hoosier Tire
Distributors - Two
“Crate Racin USA”
Hoosier tires ($300)
(Wyatt Scott)
41. Hoosier Tire
Distributors - Two
“Crate Racin USA”
Hoosier tires ($300)
(Matt Latta)
42. Hoosier Tire
Distributors - Two
“Crate Racin USA”
Hoosier tires ($300)
(Eric Wilson)
43. Hoosier Tire
Distributors - Two
“Crate Racin USA”
Hoosier tires ($300)
(Mike Pegher, Jr.)
44. Hoosier Tire
Distributors - Two
“Crate Racin USA”
Hoosier tires ($300)
(Dave Lyon)
45. C. Smith
Machineshop - SBC Bert/Brinn
Protorque Design Starter
Package ($250) & $50
CrateInsider.com
certificate ($300)
(Steve Beatty)
46. Landrum
Performance Springs -
Package of 4 VB Standard
Coil Springs ($300)
(Greg Beach)
47. 955 Automotive/Wehrs
Machine & Racing
Products - 1 GM 604
Tune-up Package
(Springs,1 Case Brad
Penn Oil, Wix Filter,
NGK Plugs) ($200) &
Wehrs Machine $100 Gift
Certificate ($300)
(Nathan Earle)
48. Jennerstown
Engine Technology - 1 GM
604 Tune-up Package (GM
604 Springs, 2 Gal.
Schaeffer Syn. Oil, Wix
Filter, Autolite AR94
Spark Plugs) ($200) &
Wehrs Machine & Racing
Product $100 Gift Card
($300) (Clinton Hersh)
49. Out-Pace
Products/K&N - 1
Aluminum Back Clumber
Pinion Plate ($145) & 1
Slotted Clumber Frame
Mount (Rocket or
MasterSbilt style)
($125) & $50 K&N Gift
Card ($320) (Jamie
Brown)
50. Out-Pace
Products/K&N - 1 Set of
Upper Control Arms & $50
K&N Gift Card ($320)
(Chris Withers)
51. Hoosier Tire
Distributor/CrateInsider.com/K&N
- One "Crate Racin USA"
Hoosier Tire & $100
CrateInsider.com
Gift Certificate & $100
K&N Gift Card ($302)
(Kyle Zimmerman)
52. Allstar
Performance/K&N - $250
Allstar Gift Certificate
& $50 K&N Gift Card
($300) (Max Blair)
53. Bernheisel Race
Components/K&N - Lazer
Lid with Cap Package &
$50 K&N Gift Card ($300)
(Jared Kane)
54. Close Racing
Supply/K&N - $250 CRS
Gift Card & $50 K&N Gift
Card ($300) (Mike
Bambarger)
55. Pace
Performance/Ultra-Shield/K&N
- $100 Pace Gift Card, 1
Adult 5-Point Shoulder
Harness & Window Net
($100) & $50 K&N Gift
Card ($300) (Brian
Swank)
56. K&N - 3 $100 Gift
Cards ($300) (Travis
Martineau)
57. K&N - 3 $100 Gift
Cards ($300) (Tony
Iarrapino)
58. K&N - 3 $100 Gift
Cards ($300) (Scott
Schempp)
Additional prizes:
·
Steve’s Auto & Truck Repair (Steve Damon) - Complete Dyno Service
($600) (Brian Knowles)
·
Steve’s Auto & Truck Repair (Steve Damon) - Complete Dyno Service
($600) (Eric Reinwald)
- Absolute Powder Coating - Gift Certificate
Toward Powder Coating of a New Late Model Frame ($550) (Jimmy Johnson, Jr.)
- BSB Manufacturing - 30% off Set of 4, 60
Series Shocks & C/O Kits ($456) (Joe Chamberlain)
- BSB Manufacturing - 30% off Set of Aluminum
Bearing Birdcages ($306) (Bryce Davis)
·
Fast Shafts - $250 off the purchase of a carbon fiber driveshaft
(Justin Lamb)
·
Jennerstown Engine Technology - gift certificate for $250 towards
a complete rebuild of an engine ($250) (Jake Gunn)
·
Jennerstown Engine Technology - gift certificate for $250 towards
a complete rebuild of an engine ($250) (Robert Mitcham III)
·
Keizer Aluminum Wheels – one $50 certificate toward the purchase
of a wheel to the top 20 finishers ($1,000)
·
Ultra-Shield - 3 20% off any purchase of an Ultra Shield product
(R.J. Pistner, Mike Lozowski, Bob Pifer)
·
Race 1 ($1,350):
o
604 Pro series race prep (with the purchase of engine and dyno
break-in)---value $450 (Jeremy Wonderling)
o
Dyno Break-in (with the purchase of engine and pro series race
prep)---value $550 (John Waters)
o
Gift certificate for $100 off the purchase of a new Stealth
700PLUS Carburetor (Bill Kesler)
o
Gift certificate for $100 off the purchase of a KRC 16322600 front
crate kit (Will Thomas III)
o
Gift certificate for $50 off the purchase of a set of Beyea Crate
Headers (Jason Knowles)
o
Gift certificate for $50 off the purchase of a CV 2508 fuel pump
(Jamie Brown)
o
Gift certificate for $25 off the purchase of a pro series R2C
filter element (Jim Johnson)
o
Gift certificate for $25 off the purchase of a pro series R2C
filter element (Damian Bidwell)
·
Race event contingencies from K&N ($150), TBM Brakes ($45), Maxima
Racing Oils ($170), Precise Racing Products ($100), CrateInsider.com ($25)
Special Drawings
·
K&N Cold Air Induction System ($500) (Tony White)
·
K&N Cold Air Induction System ($500) (J.J. Mazur)
Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring
Series Race #12 (30 laps, $2,000 to-win): 1. MAX BLAIR (111) 2. Bryce Davis
(94) 3. John Waters (LeBarron 11) 4. Mike Pegher, Jr. (Haseleu RJ1) 5. Damian
Bidwell (7Teen) 6. Bruce Hordusky, Jr. (3) 7. Chad Homan (91) 8. Dave Lyon
(14L) 9. Alan Dellinger (Williams 8) 10. Randy Hall (Suppa 4s) 11. Wyatt
Scott (x3) 12. Darrell Bossard (Winans 213) 13. Matt Latta (B1D) 14. Kyle
Zimmerman (z17) 15. Clinton Hersh (16) 16. Brady Wonderling (z1) 17. Chris
Withers (21W) 18. Will Thomas III (9) 19. Brian Knowles (7) 20. Jake Gunn
(14G) 21. Jeremy Wonderling (3J) 22. Daryl Charlier (12) 23. Jason Knowles
(4) 24. Steve Beatty (B4) 25. Eric Wilson (27W). Note: Brian Knowles took
a Series provisional.
Non-Qualifier (10 laps, $175 to-win): 1. Jason Genco
(Badgley 29J) 2. Steve LeBarron (29) 3. Khole Wanzer (01W) 4. Jamie Brown
(135) 5. Greg Beach (33x) 6. Zach Kane (10) 7. Nathan Earle (17E) 8. Robert
Mitcham III (827) 9. Eric Reinwald (Wanzer 01X) 10. J.J. Mazur (13)-DNS 11.
Justin Lamb (93x)-DNS 12. Bob Pifer III (Schwartz 71L)-DNS 13. Scott Gurdak (Hollabaugh
5G)-DNS 14. Travis Martineau (Schwartz 171)-DNS 15. Andy Michael (17x)-DNS
16. Mike Wonderling, Jr. (18)-DNS 17. R.J. Pistner (73)-DNS 18. Jim Johnson
(93J)-DNS 19. Joe Chamberlain (Kratts 41)-DNS 20. Brian Swank (12s)-DNS 21.
Scott Schempp (75)-DNS 22. Mike Lozowski (41)-DNS 23. Jacob Piper (21)-DNS
24. Bill Kessler (09)-DNS 25. Jimmy Johnson, Jr. (39J)-DNS 26. Andy Boozel
(12B)-DNS 27. Tony Iarrapino (54)-DNS 28. W.L. Stile (1W)-DNS 29. Jamie
Wrightsman (21J)-DNS 30. Mike Bambarger (B2)-DNS 31. Tony White (27)-DNS 32.
Logan Roberson (17)-DNS 33. Jared Kane (7)-DNS.
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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