JEREMY WONDERLING WINS HIS 1ST SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODEL RACE AS FREEDOM REOPENS; RUSH SPORTSMAN MODS RETURN TO ACTION SATURDAY AT PITTSBURGH

By Jim Zufall & Mike Leone

 

May 22, 2014             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Pulaski, PA)…Like a broken record as another wet weekend has come and gone on the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series schedule.  Of the eight RUSH Weekly Member Tracks, only three successfully completed racing action.  In addition, the Sweeney RUSH Sportsman Modified event at America’s Motorsports Park was cancelled for the second time in as many tries.

 

Potomac Speedway in Budds Creek, Maryland got the weekend underway with a 20-lap feature for the RUSH Late Models. Jeff Pilkerton, who started second, led all but one lap to post his 48th career Potomac feature win and second in four races this season.  "The guys on the crew have been working real hard on this car and the results are showing," said Pilkerton. "I hope we can get to 50 wins down here. That would be pretty neat." 

 

Darin Henderson came home second, followed by John Imler, “Futures Cup” racer Reese Masiello and Sweeney Touring Series regular Cody Dawson. Potomac is closed this Friday, but the RUSH Dirt Late Models will be on hand on a special Sunday program for “Budweiser Night” featuring a $3,522 to win special for the Super Late Models.  

 

Delevan, New York’s Freedom Speedway finally got their season underway at the newly reopened track on Friday night after a few weather related delays.  Crossing under the checkered flag first at the finish of the RUSH Late Model race was Jeremy Wonderling, putting himself in the Freedom history books as the first winner of a RUSH-sanctioned race.  The Wellsville, New York driver is in his first full season of Crate Late Model racing and it was also his first RUSH win of 2014.   

 

Behind Wonderling were New York racers John Waters, Adam Sixt, Ward Schell and Bill Mesler.  Freedom has cancelled for this Friday night due to torrential rains and flooding on Wednesday and more rain in the forecast on Friday.  Don’t forget, Freedom will be the sight of the first Sweeney RUSH Touring Series event on Friday, May 30.

 

While nearly every Saturday night track in the area succumbed to the rain or flooding from rain earlier in the week, Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex again managed to beat Mother Nature and get in a full night of racing. For the second time in three races, 23 RUSH Dirt Late Models were in the pit area.

 

Rick Singleton, who now calls Front Royal, VA home, made his first start of the season a successful one as he managed to hold off a diverse group of former winners and a number of newcomers to the Markleysburg, PA track. Singleton’s win came just in front of a spirited battle for second between John Over and Jared Hawkins. George Kowatic and Sharon Speedway regular Dennis Lunger finished fourth and fifth.    

 

Action continued on Sunday at Roaring Knob as the RUSH Late Models were part of the special “410” Sprint Car event, which saw NASCAR star and former World of Outlaws Champion Dave Blaney take the $3,500 top prize. Twenty-one RUSH Late Models checked in at the pits for the Sweeney Weekly Series event.  After a post-event teardown disqualified apparent winner George Kowatic, 13-year-old Michael Lake was credited with his third win in six races at Roaring Knob!  Singleton completed an excellent two days with a runner-up after his Saturday night win.  Third through fifth were John Over, Sweeney Weekly Series point leader Nico Dabecco, and Chad McClellan.  Dabecco continues his impressive season as he sits atop the $5,000 to-win points for the second straight week. 

 

No racing this weekend at Roaring Knob as truck and tractor pulling competition comes to town, but the RUSH Late Models will be a big part of a big three-day weekend May 30-June 1.  It begins on Friday the 30th with the Appalachian Mountain Speedweek for Super Late Models, then a regular program without Super Late Models on Saturday the 31st, and finishes up with the return of “410” Sprint Cars for “The Dirt Classic” presented by Kasey Kahne qualifier race.

 

Sharon Speedway’s RUSH Late Models return to action this Saturday as part of the “Steel Valley Thunder” weekly program with a special appearance by the TUSA Mod Lites.

 

The RUSH Late Models and the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds will be a part of this week’s “Action Event” at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway on Earnhardt Dress Up Night.  Pittsburgh looks to resume action after three straight rain outs.  New York’s Adam Hilton is the current Sportsman Modified point leader.

 

Winchester has upped the ante on Saturday night as the RUSH Late Model feature will pay $1,000 to-win and John Imler of J&L Electric has posted an additional $500 bonus provided the winner is on the Hoosier Crate Racin’ USA D21 or D55 tires as the new RUSH weekly sanctioned track is still on their burn-off period.  So Saturday’s winner could take home $1,500!

 

McKean County Raceway will hold a regular “Super 6” show this Saturday night, with two bonus features! The NDRL Northeast Late Models will compete in a $3000 to win race along with an appearance by the Patriot 360 Sprints. An early 6:30 start time is in effect.

 

This Sunday at Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne, Ontario, the RUSH Late Models return to the schedule. They will be joined by DIRTcar Sportsman, Street Stocks, Pro 4 Trucks, Mini Stocks and Eve of Destruction Flag Pole Race.

 

Better weather is ahead! Keep track of all the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model and Sportsman Modified news and points at rushracingseries.com. 

 

RUSH Late Model marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Precise Racing Products, ARbodies, The Brake Man, K&N Filters, Bilstein Shocks, Lincoln Electric, TurboStart, Beyea Headers, FK Rod Ends, Bobby Lake Motorsports, Driven Racing Oil, Crate Innovations Inc., Moroso Performance Products, High Gear Speed Shop, RainEater Wiper Blades, CrateInsider.com, Utsinger’s Towing, 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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