Winchester 6/12-13/15 preview

"CRATE RACIN' USA LATE MODEL NATIONALS" FRI & SAT AT WINCHESTER FOR SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODELS; TWIN $1000 TO-WIN BILL HENDREN MEM QUALIFIERS, $6000 TO-WIN A, $1500 TO-WIN B & MORE!

(Winchester, VA)...The long-awaited and highly-anticipated "Crate Racin' USA Late Model Nationals" is just days away. The Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Series will sanction the biggest event in its history and the Northeast's richest event ever held for Crate Late Models since they debuted in 2007 this Friday and Saturday (June 12-13) at Virginia's Winchester Speedway.

Friday's program will be highlighted by $100 Bobby Lake Motorsports "Shock the Clock" qualifying that will set the field for the $1,000 to-win "Bill Hendren Memorial" Twin 20 Qualifiers. A special "Miles Traveled" event for competitors that travel in from 350 miles or more will also be run paying as much $500 to-win. At the close of the night, Steve Hendren will award over $16,000 in contingencies to competing racers via a random draw (see current list below)!

The Qualifiers will set a portion of the line-up for Saturday's $6,000 to-win A feature with the remainder of the field set by last chance B main's. The first 24 non-qualifiers will go into the $1,500 to-win "Battle of the Blue & the Gray" B feature. A possible C feature could be run if car count warrants.

While the event has been designated as a Bazell/Sunoco Race Fuels Southern Tour event (70 show-up points only) and run under RUSH Technical Rules and Procedures, the event has also been endorsed and promoted by NeSmith, SECA, and the Go Nuclear Series. Also, RUSH-sanctioned tracks Freedom Speedway, Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex, Potomac Speedway, and Wayne County Speedway have dropped RUSH this weekend so their racers can participate in this event.

"It's no secret that many of the racers throughout the Northeast have been wanting a major event within our region for quite some time now," explained RUCH Co-Director Emig. "After visiting Winchester for the first time last year, I immediately felt that their location would give us the best opportunity to draw cars from the entire Northeast and Southeast to a somewhat central location. With RUSH, NeSmith, SECA, and Go Nuclear rules very similar, no other major Crate Late Model events scheduled in the summer, and the majority of other crate racing series throughout the east coast and beyond allowing the Hoosier Crate Racin' D21 & D55 Tires, I believe the scenario has been created for a very successful event!"

"We cannot thank track owner Greg Gunter and his manager Denise Hollidge enough for giving us the opportunity to present this national caliber Crate Late Model event at Winchester," expressed RUSH Co-Director Mike Leone. "To have them step up and pay this very substantial purse structure in just their second year under the RUSH banner speaks volumes to their commitment to the Crate Late Model racing concept now and into the future.

The concept and formatting of the event is one that Emig created and experienced great success with throughout her tenure as owner/promoter at Mercer (PA) Raceway Park for the "Little Guy Nationals". This event became the Northeast's premier annual race for over a decade for Stock Cars that at its peak drew 122 cars, a car count number that still stands as a record today throughout that region.

"My goal with the 'Crate Racin US Late Model Nationals' is to have all crate racers, regardless of the level of their racing program, look forward to and want to participate in this great event," stated Emig. "Obviously the $6,000 to-win A main is a substantial amount of money that is sure to turn the heads of some of the country's top crate teams. The addition of Friday's twin $1,000 to-win 'Bill Hendren Memorial' qualifiers, the $1,500 to-win non-qualifier, and the thousands of dollars of contingency product giveaways provide by the Hendren Family are all important pieces that I feel give all teams from throughout the entire North and South incentive to participate. The format provides for everyone to go home with some decent dollars."

The Sweeney RUSH Series has contested six Tour events to date so far with three in both the Insinger/Sunoco Northern and Bazell/Sunoco Southern regions. Max Blair of Centerville, Pa. leads the way with three victories, while Walker Arthur swept the "Mid-Atlantic States Classic" weekend at Potomac and Winchester last month, and Bryce Davis has the only lone victory last weekend at Freedom. Blair of course leads both Tour points and the combined points. He'll keep the lead in his bid for the $10,000 sweep provided he participates this weekend.

Besides the May 9 Tour event, Winchester has completed three Sweeney Weekly Series events to date this season with a minimum of 18 cars at each event. Darin Henderson has two victories, while Logan Roberson won the other. Last season, Rick Singleton won the Sweeney Tour event, while Ralph Morgan, Jr. was crowned the inaugural champion. All of the above racers are expected to compete this weekend.

Precise Racing Products will award a $100 gift card for the "Pedal Down" Hard Charger that passes the most cars in Saturday's A 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!

Twin 20 "Bill Hendren Memorial" Qualifiers (Friday): 1. $1,000 2. $500 3. $300 4. $200 5. $190 6. $180 7. $170 8. $160 9. $150 10. $140 11. $130 12. $120 13. $110 14. $100 15. $90 16. $80 17. $70 18. $60 19. $55 20-24. $55.

"Miles Traveled" (Friday) (10 or more cars): 1. $500 2. $200 3. $150 4. $125 5. $100 6. $95 7. $90 8. $85 9. $80 10. $75 11. $70 12. $65 13. $60 14. $55 15-24. $50.

"Miles Traveled" (Friday (5-9 cars): 1. $300 2. $150 3. $125 4. $100 5. $90 6. $80 7. $70 8. $60 9. $50

A Feature (Saturday): 1. $6,000 2. $3,000 3. $2,000 4. $1,000 5. $800 6. $700 7. $600 8. $500 9. $475 10. $450 11. $425 12. $400 13. $390 14. $385 15. $380 16. $375 17. $370 18. $365 19. $360 20. $355 21-24. $350.

B Feature (Saturday): 1. $1,500 2. $800 3. $600 4. $500 5. $400 6. $350 7. $300 8. $275 9. $250 10. $225 11. $200 12. $195 13. $190 14. $185 15. $180 16. $175 17. $170 18. $165 19. $160 20. $155 21-24. $150. $100 minimum to any driver failing to start a feature.

Bazell/Sunoco Southern Tour Points (Drivers must be Touring member to receive points): 1. Max Blair 294 2. Jason Knowles & Rick Singleton 273 4. Brian Knowles 266 5. Eric Wilson 255 6. John Waters 250 7. Kyle Lukon 246 8. Steve Lowery 234 9. Michael Lake 181 10. Chad McClellan 174 11. Rob Marhefka 168 12. Reese Masiello & Doug Gavette 158 14. Michael Duritsky, Jr. 140 15. Ryan Montgomery 98 16. Joe Martin 92 17. Randy Hall 89 18. Russell Baird, Jr. 81 19. Troy Shields 75 20. Nolan Dalton 72.

Combined Northern/Southern Tour Points (Drivers must be Touring member to receive points): 1. Max Blair 592 2. Jason Knowles 541 3. Brian Knowles 526 4. Eric Wilson 510 5. John Waters 510 6. Randy Hall 346 7. Doug Gavette 316 8. Rick Singleton & Bryce Davis 273 10. Kyle Lukon 246 11. Steve Lowery 234 12. T.J. Downs 233 13. Joe Martin 186 14. Michael Lake 181 15. Chad McClellan 174 16. Rob Marhefka 168 17. Reese Masiello & Ward Schell 158 19. Michael Duritsky, Jr. 140 20. Ryan Montgomery, Kyle Zimmerman & Phil Potts 98 23. Dennis Lunger, Jr. 94 24. Chad Wright 88 25. Jeff Dayman 87 26. Adam Sixt 84 27. Russell Baird, Jr. 81 28. Troy Shields 75 29. Matt Harvey 73 30. Nolan Dalton & Jon Rivers 72 32. Michael Mitchell 70.

You do not have to a member of RUSH to compete. The event will award show-up points to Southern Tour members and toward the overall combined points. The yellow Westhold transponders will be used. RACEceivers will be mandatory. There will be a $125 entry fee for the event. Pit passes are $30 each day.

On Friday, gates open at 4 p.m. with a drivers meeting at 6:30 followed by warm-ups and qualifying. On Saturday, gates open at 3 p.m. with a drivers meeting at 5:40 followed by warm-ups and racing.

Winchester Speedway is 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! For more information, check out their website at www.winchestervaspeedway.com.

1 Gift Certificate Toward Freshening or Rebuilding Any 604 Crate Engine: Valued at $500

12 16oz Bottles of Daytona 1 Engine Treatment (given away individually): Valued at $24.95ea

24 8oz Bottles of Daytona 1 Penetrating Oil (given away individually): Valued at $6.97ea

12 1qt Bottles of Daytona 1 30/60 Gear Oil (given away in 4 groups of 3): Valued at $63.24 per group of 3 quarts

1 Gift Certificate for ½ OFF Any Fire Suit Valued at $999.00 or More: Valued at $499.50

3) $100 off the purchase of a new Stealth carburetor

5) $250 off the invoice of a complete 604 rebuild

3) $250 off a Dyno session

Total $2,300

955 Automotive
(4) $500 off the rebuild of a GM 604 or the accessorize/dyno of a new GM 604 or 602
(Total Value: $2,000)

High Gear Speed Shop
$250 gift certificate

Winner of the "Crate Racin' USA Late Model Nationals" will receive a guaranteed starting spot in the "King of the Carolinas" fifth annual "Bill Hendren Memorial" on October 16-17 at Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, South Carolina. Also, every competing driver in this weekend's event will receive a FREE entry fee for the "King of the Carolinas" event!

SECA will award $50 to its highest finishing member racer in Saturday's A feature.

$50 to the 29th fastest qualifier in Friday's qualifying from Bettie Hendren.

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 Ignition, Maxima Racing Oil, Jones Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, ARbodies, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, TurboStart, Beyea Headers, FK Rod Ends, Bobby Lake Motorsports, Crate Innovations Inc., Moroso Performance Products, 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.