MIKE PEGHER, JR. CHARGES TO 100TH WIN OF HIS CAREER IN $2000 SWEENEY RUSH L.M. TOUR EVENT AT HAGERSTOWN
By Mike Leone
June 21, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Hagerstown, MD)…The
Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series returned to
Hagerstown Speedway on Friday night for the second and final visit of the 2013
season. It was the kickoff of the “Mid-Atlantic Triple Crown” weekend presented
by RainEater Wiper Blades. Race #5 of 27 attracted 25 drivers from
Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, West Virginia, Maryland, and Ontario, Canada.
Three new cars were in the field from the April 20 event bringing the total to
39 different cars amongst 41 drivers in the first two crate events ever held at
“The Capitol of Dirt Track Racing”.
Mike Pegher, Jr. came up a little short in the first Hagerstown event finishing
third in the non-stop affair. On Friday night, Pegher started from the seventh
position, had the lead on lap five and never looked back in a dominating
performance that earned him his 100th career win dating back to his
teenage years in the Stock Cars in the western Pennsylvania circuit! The
victory was worth $2,000 and propelled Pegher into the Sweeney Tour point lead
for the first time by two points as he became the Series’ first repeat winner of
2013.
“It’s pretty badass to get win #100 here,” acknowledged the 27-year-old Wexford, Pa. standout. “I was never here before until the last time. It’s a pretty cool track and was a lot of fun to come back here. We were loose the last time here and spent more time on the scales during the week. It means a lot to win 100 races, but it sure isn’t all about me. I’m just the driver- it’s the guys in the shop Mike Brunner and my car owner Lynn Geisler.”
Via his
K&N Dash victory, D.J. Troutman led the first lap over Andrew Wylie; however,
the duo made contact racing for the preferred line in turns one and two.
Troutman went around to bring out the caution earning The Brake Man “Tough Brake
of the Night”, while Wylie was able to keep going and inherit the lead. Pegher
was already up to fourth after one lap and was third for the restart after the
Troutman spin.
When racing resumed, Pegher passed Canadian Jorden Peters for second, while
sixth starting fast qualifier Andrew Satterlee followed Pegher into third one
lap later. Pegher caught Wylie on lap three, while Josh Double grabbed fourth
from Peters. Pegher put the pressure on Saturday’s Pittsburgh’s PA Motor
Speedway Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Weekly Series winner pulling even on lap
four as Satterlee closed in on the two.
Wylie was able to barely maintain the lead on lap four, but Pegher got by just
past the start-finish line using the bottom of the speedway. Pegher’s good
friend Satterlee continued following him to the front as he raced under and past
Wylie in turns one and two on lap six. By now Pegher stretched his lead to a
half-straightaway.
A good battle was on for fourth as Ohio racer Double had his hands full trying
to fend off Glenn Elliott and Joe Martin on lap eight. Elliott nosed ahead for
the position on lap nine. Back up front, Pegher was encountering lapped traffic
on lap 12 before Chad Ruhlman slowed to bring out the caution with 11 laps
recorded. Double’s strong run ended on the ensuing restart as he spun by
himself in turns one and two and collected Travis Wilson.
That would be the last stoppage of the event as the final 19 laps went
green-to-checkered. Back under green, Elliott and Martin were swapping fourth
and fifth with Elliott gaining control for good on lap 13 and then later that
lap got past Wylie for third. Twelfth starting Ryan Montgomery was on the
move. Montgomery passed Martin for fifth then raced side-by-side with Wylie on
laps 15 and 16 before making the pass for fourth stick on the 16th
circuit. Martin got back into the top five on lap 19 when he passed Wylie down
the backstretch.
Back up front, Pegher was on cruise control. The leader had about a half-straightaway advantage when he caught lapped traffic on lap 21. Throughout the final nine laps, Pegher did a great job maintaining his lead through traffic as Satterlee was only able to close slightly in the final laps. Pegher’s victory came in the Lynn Geisler-owned, #1 Cochran/Alternative Power Sources/Pegher Painting/Triple-S Auto Outlet/Zero Wraps-sponsored #1c.
Satterlee, who made his first Sweeney Tour start since finishing seventh at the
Hagerstown opener, crossed the line in second. “This is a great track- it’s fun
and fast,” stated the Rochester Mills, Pa. racer, who matched the finish of his
cousin Gregg Satterlee from the Super Late Model feature. “The 1C had it all
sealed up tonight. I have to thank my guys, who put a lot of work into this.”
Elliott came out on top over Montgomery and Martin in a solid battle for third
over the final seven laps. It was Elliott’s third third place finish of the
season to go along with a second on opening night at Hagerstown as he sits third
in points. Ellliott’s only blemish of the season was his 12th place
last Friday night at McKean County Raceway. Montgomery’s fourth place and
Martin’s fifth give both racers four top 10 finishes in five races.
Wylie dropped to sixth. After struggling all night getting the Clint
Enyeart-owned #99* to run, Singleton charged from the 25th place
starting spot to seventh to earn the $100 Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down”
Hard Charger certificate. Chad McClellan and Over were eighth and ninth.
Peters finished 10th for the second straight event.
Satterlee fast time of 20.902 earned him $100 for being the Bobby Lake Motorsports “Shock the Clock” fast qualifier. Elliott, Martin, and Pegher received $25 for winning the Bobby Lake Motorsports heat races.
Troutman became the fifth different K&N “Cold Air Induction” Dash winner in as many races and received the $100 K&N certificate. Wylie finished second to earn the $50 K&N certificate, while the third and fourth place finishers of Peters and Over received $25 cash.
Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series Race #5 presented by RainEater Wiper Blades (30 laps, $2,000 to-win): 1. MIKE PEGHER, JR. (Geisler 1c) 2. Andrew Satterlee (2) 3. Glenn Elliott (5E) 4. Ryan Montgomery (12) 5. Joe Martin (55) 6. Andrew Wylie (84) 7. Rick Singleton (99*) 8. Chad McClellan (119) 9. John Over (K2) 10. Jorden Peters (11P) 11. Troy Swindell (21*) 12. John Imler (63) 13. Michael Lake (27) 14. Scott Tessman (19s) 15. Mike Wharton (100) 16. Josh Double (38) 17. Chad Ruhlman (Suppa 4s) 18. Matt Glanden (01) 19. Cody Dawson (36) 20. Travis Wilson (8H) 21. Dave Brown (Powell 100) 22. Kelly Putz (59) 23. W.L. Stile (1W) 24. Paul McGinley (97) 25. D.J. Troutman (7).
Feature lap Leaders: Troutman (1), Wylie (2-4), Pegher (5-30).
Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down Hard Charger”: Rick Singleton (+18)
The Brake Man “Tough Brake of the Night: D.J Troutman
Bobby Lake Motorsports “Shock the Clock” Qualifying ($100): 1. Andrew Satterlee 20.902 2. Chad Ruhlman 21.080 3. Mike Pegher. Jr. 21.153 4. Glenn Elliott 21.161 5. Joe Martin 21.194 6. Ryan Montgomery 21.208 7. John Over 21.212 8. Josh Double 21.227 9. D.J. Troutman 21.238 10. John Imler 21.283 11. Andrew Wylie 21.366 12. Jorden Peters 21.420 13. Rick Singleton 21.527 14. Scott Tessman 21.539 15. Troy Swindell 21.562 16. Chad McClellan 21.567 17. Travis Wilson 21.594 18. Michael Lake 21.738 19. Kelly Putz 21.763 20. Mike Wharton 21.812 21. Cody Dawson 21.937 22. Matt Glanden 22.104 23. W.L. Stile 22.113 24. Dave Brown 22.336 25. Paul McGinley NT.
Bobby Lake Motorsports Heat 1 (8 laps, $25 to-win): 1. Elliott 2. Satterlee 3. Over 4. McClellan 5. Imler 6. Putz 7. Glanden 8. McGinley 9. Singleton-DNS.
Bobby Lake Motorsports Heat 2 (8 laps, $25 to-win): 1. Martin 2. Double 3. Wylie 4. Ruhlman 5. Tessman 6. Wharton 7. Wilson 8. Stile.
Bobby Lake Motorsports Heat 3 (8 laps, $25 to-win): 1. Pegher 2. Troutman 3. Peters 4. Montgomery 5. Lake 6. Swindell 7. Brown 8. Dawson.
K&N “Cold Air Induction” Dash (4 laps/$100 K&N certificate to-win): 1. D.J. Troutman 2. Andrew Wylie 3. Jorden Peters 4. John Over.
The next events for the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Touring Series will Saturday (June 22) at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex (Markleysburg, PA) and The Rock – Allegany County Speedway (Cumberland, MD) on Sunday both hosting $2,000 to-win events.
2013 RUSH marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace
Performance, RainEater Wiper Blades, Hoosier Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell
Race Fuels, Precise Racing Products, ARbodies, The Brake Man, K&N Filters,
Lincoln Electric, TurboStart, K1 RaceGear, Beyea Headers, FK Rod Ends, Bobby
Lake Motorsports, Wrisco Industries, High Gear Speed Shop, Utsinger’s Towing,
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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