SWEENEY RUSH LM TOUR DOUBLEHEADER WEEKEND WITH MCKEAN COUNTY FAIR THURSDAY & “GARY KNOLLINGER MEMORIAL” SATURDAY AT SHARON
By Mike Leone

August 13, 2013                          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Pulaski, PA)…After nearly three weeks off, the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series will resume action in a big way this weekend with a doubleheader of action.  It’ll get underway Thursday night at the McKean County Raceway in East Smethport, Pa. for the annual fair event followed by the “Gary Knollinger Memorial” Saturday at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio.  The races will be #13 and 14 on the 25-event Tour.

Thursday event at McKean is a special one as the event is part of the 108^th annual McKean County Fair.  Thursday night’s $1,200 to-win feature will be the third show this season at McKean as earlier this season Bryce Davis won on May 23 and Max Blair won his first of the season on July 11 during Speedweek. 

“We really have to thank the McKean County Fairboard for giving us the opportunity to showcase our Series during the Fair,” stated RUSH Co-Director Vicki Emig.  “The Thursday night race has been a traditional part of the McKean County Fair and has always attracted a large crowd.  We look forward to our final appearance before the season ending Fall Classic next month at McKean.”  

After a day off, Sharon Speedway will host their fourth of five Sweeney Tour events of 2013.  Saturday will be the prestigious “Gary Knollinger Memorial” with $2,000 on the line plus the beautiful Memorial trophy.  The Bobby Lake Motorsports “Shock the Clock & Beat the Heat” Quick Cash Programs will be in effect.  The fast qualifier will receive $100, while the heat race winners will receive $25 cash.  Also, the Knollinger Family has also put up an extra $25 for the drivers that finish in positions three and eight in the 30-lap feature in memory of Gary’s #38K.

“It’s an honor to be able to hold a memorial for Gary,” expressed RUSH Co-Director Mike Leone.  “Gary was a standout Crate Late Model racer from Triadelphia, West Virginia.  We, and many of the racers, became very close to Gary and his family when he was a fierce competitor before his tragic passing on Christmas 2010.  Sharon was Gary’s favorite track as he had a lot of success there, and has been the site of the memorial the last two years with Max Blair and Joe Martin capturing the meaningful events in 2011 and 2012.”

After starting the year off winning three of the first six Sweeney Tour events, Mike Pegher, Jr. has been shutout of victory lane since June 22 and has seen his point lead shrink with Ryan Montgomery beating him in five of the last six events.  Pegher’s point lead stands at 24 heading into Thursday night.  Montgomery has two Tour wins on the season including the last show at Roaring Knob and always runs well at McKean.  Pegher not only leads the $5,000 to-win Sweeney Tour points, but also the $5,000 to-win Sweeney Weekly Series Championship and is currently fourth in the $3,000 to-win Pace Performance “Summer Chase”.

Joe Martin and Rick Singleton are currently third and fourth in points.  Martin has just a 10-point advantage on the early point leader.  Martin would be challenging for the point lead if not for several bouts of bad luck this season including a heartbreaker at McKean on May 23 when he had a big lead with a few laps to go ruined when he got high and struck the wall ending his night.

Fifth place is also hotly contested between Canadian Jorden Peters and Maryland racer Matt Glanden.  The “Futures Cup” stars are tied with 1065 points.  Completing the top 15 in points paying positions are Butch Lambert, Chad Ruhlman, Cody Dawson, Michael Lake, John Over, Max Blair, Andrew Wylie, Matt Latta, and Glenn Elliott.

The second ARbodies “Nosed Out” nose kit giveaway will be held for the first driver not making the feature Thursday night.  This is nearly a $250 value as well!  Russell Baird, Jr. won the prize earlier this year.

The K&N “Cold Air Induction” Dash will be run each night awarding $100 K&N certificate for the win, $50 certificate for second with $25 cash to all other starters.  Saturday’s K&N Dash will determine the beginning of the feature lineup.  There has yet to be a repeat winner in the 12 K&N Dashes run this season!  Glenn Elliott is the K&N point leader.

Other programs taking place each night will be the Precise Racing Products “Pedal Down Hard Charger” as the driver that passes the most cars in the feature will receive $100 Precise certificate.  RUSH Officials will choose The Brake Man “Tough Brake of the Night” as this driver will receive three bottles of Xtreme6 Racing Brake Fluid valued at approximately $45 along with a certificate good for either $50 off of a purchase of $100 or more or 20% off any The Brake Man purchase.

The “Wheelman” Bonus Event Challenge Series will be held for drivers failing to qualify for the feature.  And like the K&N Dash, there also hasn’t been a repeat non-qualifier winner this season!  Jamie Wrightsman is the current point leader.

McKean Feature Payoff: 1. $1,200  2. $700  3. $500  4. $370  5. $350  6. $315  7. $300  8. $270  9. $260  10. $255  11. $230  12. $215  13. $205  14. $200  15. $175  16. $170  17. $165  18-24. $160.

McKean Non-Qualifier: 1. $125  2. $100  3. $90  4. $85  5. $80  6. $75  7. $70  8. $65  9. $60  10-24. $55.  Tow $50.

Sharon Feature payoff: 1. $2,000  2. $1,000  3. $650  4. $550  5. $470  6. $435  7. $410  8. $370  9. $340  10. $310  11. $280  12. $270  13. $260  14. $250  15. $240  16. $230  17. $220  18-24. $210. 

Non-Qualifier: 1. $175  2. $150  3. $140  4. $135  5. $130  6. $125  7. $120  8. $115  9. $110  10-24. $105. Tow $100.

Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Touring Series DRIVER Points (must be Touring member to receive points): 1. Mike Pegher, Jr. 1270  2. Ryan Montgomery 1246  3. Joe Martin 1175  4. Rick Singleton 1165  5. Jorden Peters & Matt Glanden 1026  7. Butch Lambert 964  8. Chad Ruhlman 921  9. Cody Dawson 761  10. Michael Lake 680  11. John Over 665  12. Max Blair 637  13. Andrew Wylie 634  14. Matt Latta 633  15. Glenn Elliott 617  16. W.L. Stile 580  17. Josh Holtgraver 562  18. Josh Double 561  19. Justin Tatlow 557  20. Nico Dabecco 477  21. Dennis Lunger, Jr. 472  22. Eric Wilson 453  23. Dan Angelicchio 350  24. Will Thomas III 311  25. D.J. Troutman 304  26. Scott Tessman 292  27. Bryce Davis 280  28. Andrew Satterlee 263  29. Lauren Longbrake 256  30. Shane Weaver 229  31. Paul McGinley 217  32. Russell Baird, Jr. 216  33. Adam Sixt 166  34. Mike Wharton 151  35. Luke Carleton 143  36. Jamie Brown 140  37. Darren Peters 87  38. Troy Swindell 85  39. Mike Laughard & Randy Wible 70.

You do not have to be a RUSH member to compete in any RUSH-sanctioned event.  There will be a $50 entry fee at McKean and a $100 entry fee at Sharon.  RACEceivers are mandatory. 

Race time is 7:30 p.m. on Thursday night and 7 p.m. on Saturday night.  Group time trials will be held at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Saturday night.  Pits open at 4 p.m. Saturday.

McKean County Raceway is a 1/3-mile dirt track located at the McKean County Fairgrounds in East Smethport, Pa. at the intersections of Route 6 and 46.  For more information on McKean County Raceway, check out their website at www.mckeancountyraceway.com or call Chris Zuver at 814-598-2601. The track number is 814-887-2600.

Sharon Speedway is a 3/8-mile dirt track with a GPS address of 3241 Custer-Orangeville Rd. NE, Burghill, OH 44404.  For more information, check out their website at www.sharonspeedway.com or call 330-772-5481.  As for their social media outlets, you can like their page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SharonSpeedway or follow them on Twitter @SharonSpdwy.

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, Beyea Headers, FK Rod Ends, K1 RaceGear, 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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