BILL HOLMES & JIM JOHNSON CAPTURE CAREER 1ST RUSH LATE MODEL WINS AT FREEDOM & GENESEE IN SWEENEY WEEKLY SERIES ACTION; BRIAN SCHAFFER BECOMES 8TH DIFFERENT RUSH SPORTSMAN MOD WINNER IN 9 RACES AT SHARON

By Jim Zufall & Mike Leone

 

July 28, 2016             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Pulaski, PA)…The long, hot month of July continues as the racing action heats up in the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance family of racetrack across the five states and one Canadian province that make up the Series, as two Late Model drivers were able to capture their first career RUSH wins.

 

The action started on Friday night at Delevan, New York's Freedom Motorsports Park where Joe Chamberlain and Sherman Gage set the pace in the 20 lap main event for the RUSH Late Models. Chamberlain took the early lead only to lose it to Bill Holmes on lap two.  After an early race restart, Adam Sixt had moved into the top five and continued his charge to the front.  Sixt moved into the second spot with four to go, then a late caution erased any advantage Holmes had over Sixt.  On the late race restart, Holmes and Sixt pulled away from the field but Holmes was able to hold off Sixt to score his first career RUSH win.  Chamberlain, Nick Snayczak and JJ Mazur would complete the top five.  Freedom returns to action this Friday when it will be Autograph Night for all divisions.

 

Jason Knowles owned the evening on Friday at Outlaw Speedway stopping his brother Brian's three-race win streak.  In the RUSH Late Model feature, Knowles captured the heat race and followed up by leading every lap in the 20-lap feature event for his season's second victory.  Following Knowles was Adam Depuy, Bob Buono, Brian Knowles and Alan Chapman. This Friday at Outlaw, special guests David and Buzzie Reutimann will be in Modified competition.

 

John Imler took advantage of his outside front row starting spot to score his first Winchester Speedway feature win of the season in the 20-lap RUSH Late Model main.  Imler would pace all 20 circuits steering his BRC Lazer #63, but would have to fend off the repeated advances of eventual runner up Matt Tarbox to preserve his third overall win of 2016. "I'm shocked to be here." Imler stated post-race. "We threw some things at the car this week and we were here basically to test and to get a win is not what we expected, but I'll take it." Transton Stoner took third with Darin Henderson and Logan Roberson completing the top five.  The RUSH Late Models return to the Winchester, Virginia oval on Friday, August 19.

 

In Fulton, New York, it was the RUSH Late Models in the spotlight as they competed in the Late Model Topless 25 at Fulton Speedway.  Brandon Ford captured the top spot from the start.  Kevan Cook was able to track down Ford, but was unable to make the pass due to the lapped traffic between the two.  It was Ford's second win of the season.  Jason Parkhurst, Chris Fleming and AJ Kingsley finished third through fifth.  Racing returns to Fulton Speedway this Saturday (July 30).

 

At Busti, New York's Stateline Speedway on Saturday the RUSH Late Model feature was paced by Damian Bidwell, who was looking for his third win of the season.  Bidwell took the early lead to be slowed by a lap one caution bringing the field to a halt before the race even started.  It was smooth sailing for Bidwell after that, with a strong field of racers behind him. When he reached lapped traffic, Bidwell handled it masterfully holding off Darrell Bossard for the win.  Dave Lyon, Andy Boozel and Dave Hess Jr. followed for third through fifth.

 

Also in action at Stateline was the RUSH Pro Mod feature race.  A pair of 2016 winners in Kelley Frederes and Scott Gurdak got things going from the front row with Gurdak leading lap one and Frederes taking over on the second circuit.  A fierce battle for the lead continued throughout the race with Frederes holding off Gurdak at the checkers by just a tenth of a second.  Justin Carlson, Jeramy Williams, Jason Covey made up the top five.  A full racing program is on tap for this Saturday at Stateline, including a special 25-lap feature for the RUSH Pro Mods as part of the inaugural "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance where over $6,000 in prizes will be distributed.

 

With years of experience at Genesee Speedway, but very little seat time this season, Jim Johnson put on a dominating performance on Saturday night in just his third start at the Batavia, New York track.  Johnson, who led all 20 laps of the feature event, is also part of the ownership group at Genesee as he becomes the seventh winner in the newly RUSH-sanctioned Crate Late Model class.  “The race track was A-MAZ-ING tonight,” he stated.  “We had a little dust during the sportsman race and had to throw some water down but after that the surface was unbelievable.  It is the best surface I have ever raced on here in 29 years.”  JJ Mazur was not for behind Johnson throughout most of the race, but it was Johnson who came up big. Mazur would finish second with Dave DuBois, Brad Mesler and Nick Snayczuk rounding out the top five. Genesee returns to action on Saturday night with a full “Five Star” racing program.

 

Saturday night at Hartford, Ohio's Sharon Speedway, it was another night and another winner in the RUSH Sportsman Modified ranks as Brian Schaffer became the eighth winner in the division in nine races.  Schaffer powered to the lead from his front row starting spot in the 15-lap event. Schaffer dominated the race over the likes of Josh Deems, Kyle Martell, Chas Wolbert and Brandon Ritchey, who finished second through fifth.  Schaffer's win firms up his status as leader of the $3,000 Bicknell Weekly Series standings. After a heartbreaking loss due to an error on his part the last time he was leading, Schaffer received some wise advise before the drop of the green. “I was schooled on the flags before the race by my wife,” joked the 29-year-old Boyers, Pa. driver, who thought the white flag was the checkered on June 25. “This class is a lot of fun and competitive- I hope it’s fun to watch. I have to thank my wife Ashley, my mom and dad- without them I couldn’t do this.”  Sharon returns to action this Saturday night with Fan Appreciation Night including free admission.

 

Sunday night at Eriez Speedway, 33 RUSH Late Models signed into the pit area for a Sweeney Touring Series event. The result of four heat races, two b-mains and a dash put Max Blair and Wayne Robertson on the front row for the 30-lap event. As with most touring events, the feature event was a 'Who's Who' of the RUSH ranks.  Max Blair took the top spot after a battle for the lead with Robertson.  Blair managed to stay out of the trouble that so much of the field got into behind him as he survived the issues behind him to cross under the checkered flag first for the $2,000 victory in his first Tour start of 2016.  Damian Bidwell , Jason Genco, Matt Latta fourth, and Bruce Hordusky, Jr. completed  the top five. Eriez will have racing for the RUSH Late Models on a Friday this week in a $1,000 to-win special conjunction with the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Cars and they are off on Sunday.

 

Sunday at Bradford Speedway, the RUSH Late Models took the green flag with Chad Silleman and Jeremy Wonderling showing the way.  Silleman came up with the lead after a six lap battle for the top spot with Wonderling.  Trouble up front as the leaders made contact resulting in a whole new leader in Andy Michael.  Silleman would work his way back to second in the end behind Michael, who recorded his second straight win.  Third through fifth were Matt Ford, Sherman Gage and Bill Mesler. Racing returns this Sunday to Old Bradford Speedway with an appearance by the ULMS Super Late Models.

 

McKean County Raceway hosts the "Ron Baker Memorial" Thursday (July 28) paying $1,074 to-win in the final tune-up before the $1,500 to-win Sweeney Tour race as part of the McKean County Fair on August 18.  The RUSH Late Models will be back at Maryland's Potomac Speedway this Friday for the first time since July 3, and will also resume competition at Path Valley Speedway Park.  After suffering a rainout by a rouge weather system on Saturday night, the RUSH Late Models return to Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway on Saturday night as a companion event to the All Star Sprints with $1,000 to-win.  Sunday, the RUSH Lates return to Humberstone as part of their "All Canadian" event.  After a week off for Buckeye Late Model Dirt Week, the RUSH  Late Models return to Wayne County Speedway this Saturday.

 

Current RUSH Late Model point leaders are Bryce Davis (Tour), Max Blair (Weekly), Brad McGinnis (Summer Chase), Kris Eaton (Bilstein Bandits), and Wyatt Scott (Futures Cup).

 

Current RUSH Sportsman Modified point leaders are Brian Schaffer (Weekly), Chas Wolbert (Tour), and Kyle Martell (Futures Cup).

 

Current RUSH Pro Mod point leaders are Kelly Frederes (Weekly) and Brian Mohawk (Futures Cup), while Corey McPherson leads the Sweeney RUSH Pro Stock Weekly Series points.

 

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.

 

RUSH Sportsman Modified marketing partners: Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Bicknell Racing Products, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, MSD Ignition, Maxima Racing Oil, Jones Racing Products, FK Rod Ends, Sherwood Racing Wheels, Velocita-USA, Precise Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, K&N Filters, TBM Brakes, Lincoln Electric, CrateInsider.com, Rocket Racing, and B.R.A.K.E.S. 

 

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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