BAZELL/SUNOCO SOUTHERN TOUR "MID-ATLANTIC STATES CLASSIC" FRI & SAT AT POTOMAC & WINCHESTER FOR SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODELS

By Mike Leone

 

May 6, 2015                   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Pulaski, PA)...After two weekends off, the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Series will resume action this Friday and Saturday (May 8-9) in a Bazell/Sunoco Race Fuels Southern Tour doubleheader.  The second annual "Mid-Atlantic States Classic" will feature $2,000 to-win events on Friday night at Potomac Speedway and Saturday night at Winchester Speedway.

 

Last year's inaugural event weekend saw Rick Singleton sweep both nights of action.  Singleton, who finished sixth in the opening event this year at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex on April 18, will be chomping at the bit for another sweep!  Last year, Potomac and Winchester were in the inaugural season of sanctioning their Crate Late Models with RUSH.  The Tour events attracted track records of 22 cars at Potomac and 27 at Winchester.  Those counts are expected to be broke this weekend. 

 

Saturday's event at Winchester will be an excellent tune-up for the inaugural “Crate Racin’ USA Nationals” on June 12-13 where one driver could win well over $7,000!  The Friday program will see twin $1,000 to-win “Bill Hendren Memorial” qualifiers and the $500 to-win “Miles Traveled” event before Saturday’s $6,000 to-win main event and $1,500 to-win non-qualifier.  

 

Neither Potomac nor Winchester has had much luck with the weather on their Sweeney RUSH Weekly Series events this year; however, dry weather is predicted for this weekend.  Potomac has completed two events with Darin Henderson and Logan Roberson victorious, while Henderson topped a 19-car field back on April 11 in the only event to date for Winchester. 

 

Roaring Knob winner, Max Blair, has been hot already this season.  Besides his opening Tour win, Blair swept action last weekend in Sweeney Weekly Series events at Stateline and Eriez Speedways.  In addition to Weekly Series monies, Blair has his sights set on winning the $10,000 potential pot of gold by capturing both the North and South Tours in addition to the $2,000 overall point champion bonus. 

 

Currently second in points is defending champion Ryan Montgomery over the New York Knowles brothers, Brian and Jason, followed by Singleton.  Two more New York drivers in Randy Hall and John Waters are sixth and seventh.  Hall, an E-Mod standout for many years, is in his first season driving the Terry Suppa-owned #4s, while Waters is back on the Tour for the second straight year in Dale LeBarron’s #11.  Ohio’s Eric Wilson is another driver entering his second season on the Tour.  Rob Marhefka, last year’s Sweeney/Pace engine giveaway winner, is ninth after hitting the majority of the Tour shows in 2014.  Two-time 2014 Tour winner, Chad McClellan, is 10th.  2014 “Futures Cup” Champion, Michael Lake, and Russell Baird, Jr. complete the top 12 points paying positions.

 

“We’re really looking forward to this weekend,” stated RUSH Co-Director Vicki Emig.  “Both Potomac and Winchester are racey, bullrings that provide great racing.  Last year’s show were tremendous.  Potomac and Winchester are in their third year running Crate Late Models and second year under RUSH.  It’s great to see their car counts growing and I’m sure their racers are getting better and better and will offer staunch competition to our touring invaders.  We have to thank Greg Gunter and Denise Hollidge for their continued support.”

 

This weekend's events will be the first as part of the Bobby Lake Motorsports "Shock the Clock" and "Beat the Heat" Quick Cash Program for the new season.  For the third straight year, B.L.M. will offer $100 to the fastest qualifier and $25 to-win heat races in events that pay $2,000 or more to win!  This means a weekend sweep of the "Mid-Atlantic States Classic" would be worth a minimum of $4,250! 

 

The K&N “Cold Air Induction” Dash will be run paying a $100 K&N certificate to win, $50 K&N certificate for second with $25 cash for third and fourth place.  The K&N Dash will also set the first two rows of the 30-lap feature both nights.  Troy Shields won the opening K&N Dash at Roaring Knob, while Singleton is the defending K&N Dash Championship.  One lucky fan on Saturday night will win a K&N Cold Air Induction System valued at up to $500!

 

If enough cars are present, a non-qualifier event will be run.  Tony White was the 2014 "Wheelman" Bonus Event Challenge Series Champion.

 

Precise Racing Products will award a $100 gift card for the "Pedal Down" Hard Charger that passes the most cars in the feature.  The TBM Brakes “Tough Brake of the Night” will award three bottles of Xtreme6 Racing Brake Fluid valued at approximately $45 along with a certificate for a discount off any TBM Brakes purchase.  

 

RUSH Officials will choose the "Maxima Performance" Award for a driver that exhibits a performance worthy of such.  The winner will receive a free case of either Maxima Semi-Syn High Performance Racing Oil or Maxima Performance Racing Oil of your choice.  In addition, the winner will receive one can of SC-1 clear coat, one 16-oz bottle of Maxima Cool-Aide concentrate, one 32-oz quart of Maxima PSF power steering fluid, and a Maxima t-shirt.  The value of this prize package is $170!  

 

Feature payoff each night: 1. $2,000  2. $1,000  3. $650  4. $550  5. $470  6. $435  7. $410  8. $370  9. $340  10. $310  11. $280  12. $270  13. $260  14. $250  15. $240  16. $230  17. $220  18-24. $210. 


Non-Qualifier payoff each: 1. $175  2. $150  3. $140  4. $135  5. $130  6. $125  7. $120  8. $115  9. $110  10-24. $105. Tow $100.

 

Bazell/Sunoco Southern Touring Series Points (Driver must be a Tour member to receive points): 1. Max Blair 100  2. Ryan Montgomery 98  3. Brian Knowles 94  4. Jason Knowles 92  5. Rick Singleton 90  6. Randy Hall 89  7. John Waters 88  8. Eric Wilson 87  9. Rob Marhefka 86  10. Chad McClellan 84  11. Michael Lake 83  12. Russell Baird, Jr. 81  13. Steve Lowery 80  14. Kyle Lukon 79  15. Doug Gavette 78  16. Troy Shields 75  17. Nolan Dalton 72  18. Michael Duritsky, Jr. 70.

 

You do not have to be a member of RUSH to compete.  There is a $100 entry fee each night.  RACEceivers are required.  The yellow Westhold transponders will be used each night.  On Friday night at Potomac, gates open at 5 p.m. with warm-ups at 7:30 followed by time trials and racing.  On Saturday night at Winchester, gates open at 4 p.m. with warm-ups at 6:15 followed by time trials and racing. 

 

Potomac Speedway is a high-banked 3/8-mile dirt track located on Route 234 at 27963 Budds Creek Road, Mechanicsville, MD 20659.  The track first opened in 1973, and is located about an hour south of Washington D.C and Baltimore.  For information, check out their website at www.potomacspeedway.com or call 301-481-8855. 

 

Winchester Speedway is also a high-banked 3/8-mile dirt track located just off Route 50 at 950 Airport Road Winchester, VA 22604.  The track first opened in 1936 under the name of Airport Speedway.  The track has been home to the Winchester 200, a major Super Late Model event, since 1963!  The track hosts major events for the World of Outlaw Late Models, ARDC Midgets, URC Sprints, and the Appalachian Mountain Late Model Speedweek.  For more information, check out their website at www.winchestervaspeedway.com or call 301-481-8855.

 

RUSH Late Model marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, Bazell Race Fuels, MSD Ignition, Maxima Racing Oil, Jones Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, ARbodies, The Brake Man, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, TurboStart, Beyea Headers, FK Rod Ends, Bobby Lake Motorsports, Crate Innovations Inc., Velocita-USA, 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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