1ST DOG HOLLOW VICTORY IN 9 YEARS FOR SNARE IN SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODELS; CAREER 1ST AT ERIEZ FOR BOSSARD WHILE FLINNER & HOLMES TAKE 1ST WINS OF 2019 ALSO IN LM; MOLLICK CAPTURES 1ST RUSH SPRINT VICTORY; HOLDEN ENDS WINLESS DROUGHT IN RUSH MODS
By Jim Zufall & Mike Leone
July 31, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...Finally, a fabulous weekend across the landscape of the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance family of speedways this past weekend as the sweltering heat of the previous week was gone, but the racing action remained hot. Several drivers scored their first wins of 2019 and in fact, ended long winless droughts.
Racing kicked off Friday night at Maryland’s Potomac Speedway where Dale Hollidge used his pole starting position to cover the field flag-to-flag in the 25 lap RUSH Late Model feature event. Hollidge, who scored his third victory of the season commented on the win in victory lane. "This is such a tough class and wins are hard to come by. We've been testing some stuff with this car and it ran pretty good tonight." Division point leader Darren Alvey pulled in second with Ben Bowie, Jeremy Pilkerton, and Megan Mann making up the top five. Racing continues this Friday at Potomac with a double points night for all divisions on tap.
Dave Airgood, Jr., used his front row starting spot to propel him to victory Friday night at Conneaut, Ohio’s Raceway 7. Airgood controlled the bulk of the event, enjoying a 0.694 second lead over runner up Matt Latta. By the time the checkered flag flew, Latta had closed the gap to half that, but simply couldn’t track down Airgood, who won for the second consecutive week. Following the pair across the line were Darrell Bossard, Breyton Santee and Chad Sines. More five division racing coming up this Friday at Raceway 7.
Saturday night at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, once again two RUSH divisions converged on “Dirt’s Monster Half Mile.” John Mollick was pulling double duty and he was the class of the field RUSH Sprint Car field. Mollick, of Toronto, Ohio is a regular and past champion in the weekly RUSH Late Models at PPMS, but this was his first time taking a checkered flag in a Sprint. Mollick was followed by Zach Morrow, Brian Woodhall, Jeremy Weaver and Brandon Hawkins.
In RUSH Late Model action, Super Late Model standout Colton Flinner, fresh off his podium finish at the Herb Scott Memorial RUSH Late Model Touring event one week earlier, pulled off his first RUSH win of the season. And like every other Late Model driver in attendance, his attention was on the upcoming record setting Jook George Steel City Classic for the RUSH Touring Series on August 10. Flinner was chased across the line by Tour Series regulars Michael Duritsky, Jr., Logan Zarin, Ryan Frazee and last week’s Tour winner Kyle Lukon. Both the RUSH Late Models and Sprints will be in action again this Saturday, but all eyes are on August 10 when the RUSH Touring Series returns for the record setting Jook George race paying a stunning $10,010 to the winner!
Saturday night at Winchester Speedway in Virginia, Logan Roberson picked up the win in the make-up feature event from the previous week. The victory was Roberson's fifth of the season at Winchester. Roberson was followed by Devin Brannon, Jakob Piper, Scott Sweeney, Jr. and Jennae Piper. In the scheduled feature for the RUSH Late Models, point leader Brannon and Roberson switched positions from the make-up race with Brannon coming across the line first for his season's second win followed by Roberson, Jakob Piper Mike Franklin and Jennae Piper again rounding out the top five. Another five-division show is on tap for this Saturday at Winchester.
After a week off for the severe heat in the East Coast/Chesapeake Bay area, Delaware International Speedway was back in action on Saturday night. In the RUSH Late Model event, cautions continued to breed cautions in the early going of the feature event, but pole sitter Matt Hill was able to stay ahead of it all only needing to hold off a challenge from runner up Sparky White. Hill led from the drop of the green followed by White, Derek Magee, Joe Warren and Tyler Reed. Racing continues at DIS on Saturday.
Batavia, New York’s Genesee Speedway was another of the RUSH family of tracks running double features for the RUSH division. In the make-up feature event from July 4, Brad Mesler led all 25 laps for his first Genesee win of the season, which was worth $1,000, and was followed by Tour points leader Jeremy Wonderling, Doug Ricotta, Greg Mrzywka and Scott Waters.
In the regularly scheduled 25 lapper, Bill Holmes took his first victory of 2019 with Kurt Stebbins, Austyn Fugle, J.J. Mazur and Beamer Guzzardi rounding out the top five. A full slate of racing is on tap at Genesee Speedway this Saturday as they present the Terry Pangrazio Memorial.
A long dry spell came to an end on Saturday night at Sharon Speedway on Saturday night when Kole Holden notched his first victory in the RUSH Sportsman Modified division since his championship season in 2017. It was no easy task however, as Holden would have to hold off some of the best in the business in the class. Holden took over from Tony Tatgenhorst and held off Chas Wolbert for his fifth career Sharon win. Rob Kristyak, Josh Deems and Jacob Wolfe finished out the top five. In the companion non-winners race, it was Amelia Clay getting her first win to continue to lead the points.
Sharon was to have hosted the Super DIRTcar Modifieds along with the RUSH Sprint cars on Tuesday, but afternoon and evening rains led to the cancelation of that event. The Hartford, Ohio oval gets back to action this Saturday when the RUSH Sportsman Modified Tour making its first of three appearances at the Hartford, Ohio oval.
It was $5 admission for "Fan Appreciation Night" at Busti, New York’s Stateline Speedway on Saturday night, where Jason Genco picked up his first win of the 2019 season in the RUSH Late Model feature. Following Genco across the line were Scott Gurdak, Max Blair, Darrell Bossard and Bruce Hordusky, Jr.
In RUSH Pro Mod action, Dennis Lunger, Jr. took his fourth win of 2019 with Adam Ashcroft, Scott Gurdak, Chad Carlson, and Jarrod Silvis making up the top five. All six divisions will be in action again this Saturday at Stateline.
It was a topless night for the RUSH Late Models on Saturday night at New York’s Fulton Speedway. "Futures Cup" racer, Max Hill, led at the start of the event while racing going on behind him included Chad Homan slowly moving forward. By mid-race, Homan was proving to be a man on a mission, charging to the lead and taking the victory by just over eight seconds for his fourth of the season! Hill was a career best second with Chris Fleming, Kyle Sopaz and Dale Caswell finishing third through fifth. Racing action continues this Saturday at Fulton with some fun that includes trailer races.
The RUSH Late Models also went “topless” on Sunday night at Ontario’s Humberstone Speedway where Sam Pennacchio would use the outside line to take the lead off the start in the feature event. Rob Pietz would be able to take the lead away on lap four from Pennacchio. With Pietz out front, Chad Homan would be able to pass Pennacchio at the halfway mark for second as David Pangrazio raced from fourth place. Homan would reel in Pietz and would challenge for the lead, but Pietz would hang on to score his second feature win of the season. This Sunday, Humberstone will host the “All Canadian Championship,” with qualifying beginning at 10 AM and action continuing all day and evening.
Dog Hollow Speedway has made the switch to Sunday nights with their six-division show, and the move seems to have paid off, at least for Tim Snare, Jr. Steve LeBarron and Snare brought the RUSH Late Models to the green flag with Snare taking the lead and setting the pace. His win was anything but easy as Joe Moyer pursued Snare first, but he suffered a flat and relinquished second to Jamey Swank. Swank pressured Snare for first, but Snare wanted to get back to victory lane, and he did just that for the first time in nine years at Dog Hollow! The official top five were Snare, Swank, Moyer, who came back to third, Colin Casale was fourth and Collin Burke was fifth. The Northern Cambria, Pa. oval will continue with its new Sunday night format this week with a $1,000-to-win race for the RUSH Late Models.
Finally, at Eriez Speedway near Erie Pennsylvania, Kyle Zimmerman and Darrell Bossard started on the front row of the RUSH Late Model feature event. Bossard would lead the distance, but not without some fierce battles behind him involving several drivers wanting to take a stab at the lead. Bossard would fend off a side-by-side battle with Max Blair on the backstretch with Jason Genco in tow. At the checkered flag, it was Bossard taking his first career Eriez win over Genco, Blair, Scott Gurdak, and Breyton Santee.
After a weekend of tractor pulls, New York’s Woodhull Raceway returns to racing action this Saturday.
Monster Trucks were on the card at Jennerstown Speedway on Saturday, but the three RUSH Asphalt Series divisions will return this Saturday night.
Old Bradford Speedway had a built-in week off last Sunday and will return to racing action this Sunday night as just three more nights of action remain for the 2019 season.
RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC & Pace Performance along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, FK Rod Ends, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, Dirt Defender, Wrisco Industries, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body & Graphic, Trailer-Alarms.com, Bonnell's Rod Shop, Zarin Truck & Automotive, Sherwood Wheels, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, CrateInsider.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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