ROBERSON DOUBLES UP IN "BATTLE OF BAY" TO TIE FOR SWEENEY LATE MODEL WEEKLY SERIES POINT LEAD; GRIGSBY ENDS 2-YR WINLESS DROUGHT; WYATT SCOTT WINS 1ST EVER AT BRADFORD & COUSIN RYAN EARNS CAREER 1ST PRO MOD VICTORY

By Jim Zufall & Mike Leone

August 16, 2017                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Pulaski, PA)...The race weekend of August 10-13 for the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance was a big one to be sure, and was highlighted by a huge Late Model Touring Series event in Pittsburgh.  Logan Roberson earned $2,100 for his "Battle of the Bay" wins at Potomac and Winchester Speedway as he tied Max Blair for the Sweeney Weekly Series point lead.  Paul Grigsby ended a two-year winless drought with his Humberstone win, while Mike Pegher, Jr. ended a 15-month Touring Series winless streak.  Wyatt Scott invaded Old Bradford Speedway and captured his first victory of the season and first ever at Bradford on Sunday, while his cousin Ryan picked up his first RUSH Pro Mod win the night before at Stateline.

Thursday night was the third and final race at Delaware International Speedway in the tri-track “Battle of the Bay” Series.  Mike Franklin took the lead in the RUSH Late Model 20-lap feature event on an early restart.  After several laps of fierce battles with Matt Hill, the Winchester, Virginia driver took his first ever Delaware victory, worth $1,000.  “When (Joey) Warren and (Matt) Hill got together I made contact with Hill with my right front,” said Franklin. “After that the car actually handled better!” Hill would hold off White to finish in second with Mike Wharton getting by Darren Alvey in the battle for fourth.  The RUSH Late Models will return to Delmar on September 2. 

Over to southern Maryland where "Battle of the Bay" continued on at Potomac Speedway where 2016 track champion, Logan Roberson, grabbed his fourth victory of the season, which tied him for first on the all-time win chart with Darin Henderson.  Roberson took control on lap eight and held on for the $1,000 win. “Sparky (White) was fast, but I had to try and get around him as quick as I could,” said Roberson. "The track was so racy tonight, but once we got in clean air, this car was just about perfect."  Ninth starting Jamie Sutphin was second with Darren Alvey, Chuck Bowie and Matt Glanden completing the top-five.  After a week off for a motocross event, Potomac Speedway returns to action on Friday, August 25. 

Friday night at Outlaw Speedway saw Kurt Stebbins win his second consecutive RUSH Late Model feature at the Dundee, NY oval.  Fulton Speedway regular, Chris Fleming, was second over Touring Series driver Brian Knowles and Brad Smith.  Racing continues this Friday at Outlaw for a regular Super 6 show that includes Boy Scout Night and a bicycle giveaway.

Rains again spoiled the evening’s racing card on Friday at Sarver, Pennsylvania’s Lernerville Speedway for the third straight week.  Just two weeks of point competition remain for the Lernerville RUSH Pro Stocks with the #C33 of Corey McPherson holding a convincing lead over Tyler Dietz.

On to Saturday, where the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series powered by Pace Performance sanctioned the 28th annual "Jook George Steel City Classic" at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.  Mike Pegher Jr., a hot shoe in both the Super Late Models and the RUSH Late Models, ended a 15-month winless streak on the Sweeney Tour with his victory in the 40-lap event.  While Pegher’s $4010 win was impressive, it was by no means a sure thing.  He inherited the lead when the top two cars of Jacob Hawkins and Russell King tangled with a lapped car, then had to outduel Touring Series point leader Bryce Davis.  Justin Lamb was third over John Waters and Jeremy Wonderling.  After a week off, the RUSH Late Models return to action on August 26 at Pittsburgh.  The Touring Series makes a second appearance on October 6-7 for the $2,500 to-win "Bill Hendren Memorial".

Saturday at Winchester Speedway in Virginia, defending track champion Logan Roberson scored his fourth win of the season in the 20-lap RUSH Late Model feature for his second win of the weekend worth $1,100.  Roberson snared the lead from Transton Stoner on the 10th lap and would control the final 10 circuits to collect his 10th overall win of the season. "This is the best race track we've ever had here." Roberson quipped.  "I tried everything to get by Transtan and we were finally able to get him and get our second win of the weekend." Sparky White, Darren Alvey and Tanner Kerr completed the top five. Racing returns to Winchester this Saturday, August 19 for the Mid-Atlantic "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance.

Saturday night at Stateline Speedway in Busti New York, Ryan Scott was able to pick up his first career win in the RUSH Pro Mods!   Scott made his way through a caution-filled race over the likes of Matt Harvey, Scott Gurdak, Dennis Lunger and Steve Dixon.  

In the RUSH Late Models, Jason Genco started and finished in the top spot, but not without a group of stiff competition behind him. With Genco up front, it left a series of battles that included Wyatt Scott, cousin Ryan Scott and Max Blair battling for position.  By the time a last lap green flag flew for a one-lap shootout, it was Genco out front with Blair battling the Scotts.  Genco went on for his first win of the season at the Busti, NY track with Blair, Wyatt Scott, Ryan Scott and Darrell Bossard making up the top five. Racing resumes at Stateline Speedway this Saturday.

It took Troy Shields until July 15 to win his season's first event, but the Acme, Pa. veteran is now on a roll as he won for the third time in the past four events at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex. Russell Baird, Jr., Bob Nelson, Mark Wells, and Michael Ott completed the top five.  It will be Legends Night this Saturday at the Markleysburg, Pa. facility led by the RUSH Late Models.

Jimmy Johnson notched his third RUSH Late Model win of the year at Genesee Speedway in Batavia, New York on Saturday night.  Johnson, of nearby Batavia, drove up from third to second by the second lap of the 20-lap feature, but found himself chasing the defending track champion Beamer Guzzardi to the first caution a quarter of the way through the event.  Johnson held off Guzzardi for the win with Zack Carley, JJ Mazur and Doug Ricotta making up the top five.  The win makes Johnson the second three-time winner, joining Carley.

Speaking of three-time winners, Rocky Kugel scored his third of the season at Sharon Speedway in the RUSH Sportsman Modified division on Saturday night.  Seems it was the misfortune of others that put Kugel in the winner’s circle proving that if you put yourself in position to win, you just might. Chas Wolbert led the first 10 laps before losing a driveshaft, handing he lead over to point leader Kole Holden. After Holden’s car struck one of the infield tires and spun out, Kugel inherited the top spot, leading just one lap; the one that counted.  Kyle Martell moved into the runner up position with Steve Slater, Anthony Gillespie and Chelsie Kriegisch finishing in the top five.  Racing resumes this Saturday at Sharon Speedway with just two weeks of racing for points left in the season.

To the asphalt in Somerset County, Pennsylvania where yet another driver notched his third victory of the season! Former champion Gary Wiltrout notched his third victory in the RUSH sanctioned asphalt Late Models. Wiltrout held off a strong field of the best in the late model division with Barry Awtey, Jeremiah Kuntz, Teddy Gibala and Todd Price making up the top five after Wiltrout. In the RUSH Asphalt Modifieds, Chris Brink held off Zane Ferrell, Jason Busch, Tom Golik and Jarred Barclay. The RUSH Asphalt Street Stock feature saw Lauren Butler pick up another win, with Josh Coughenour, Anthony Aiello, Aaron Van Fleet and Shawn Beam finish one through five. Racing resumes this Saturday at Jenerstown.

Heavy rains moved into the Fulton Speedway grounds on Saturday forcing management to cancel the Saturday racing action. However, the $20 Car Load and Fan Fest have been moved to this Saturday August 19.

Sunday night in Port Colborne Ontario, Paul Grigsby broke a nearly two-year winless streak by starting on the pole of the RUSH Late Model feature race at Humberstone Speedway. Grigsby shared the front row with Tim Gillespie and took the early lead while Gillespie and an impressive crew of Humberstone’s best. In fact after Jeff Dayman moved his way through the field, he took the lead from Grigsby for a time. But Paul Grigsby would have none of it, taking back the lead and fighting off all comers to take the long-awaited win. Chad Homan, Sam Pennacchio, Rob Pietz and Dayman finished out the top five. Humberstone gets back to racing this Sunday with a full card of regular racing along with Mod Lites and the “Minivans of Mayhem!”

Finally, Sunday was a special night at the Old Bradford Speedway in Bradford, Pa. as the RUSH Late Models competed in the "Jim Byerly Memorial".  Heat race winner Wyatt Scott lined up in the second row behind Andy Michael and Breyton Santee for the 20-lap event. A lap one spin by Jeremy Wonderling collected four others.  After the restart, Scott took to the outside and ultimately made his way to the front scoring his first ever Bradford win in a one-lap shootout after a late caution.  Brad Mesler, Scott Gurdak, Steve Dixon and Jeremy Wonderling rounded out the top five. Scott picked up the $800 winner’s check as well as the $250 bonus for leading lap 19, the number on Byerly’s cars.

A good field of 15 cars were on hand matching the season high despite Touring regulars, John Waters, and J.J. Mazur, having problems with their tow vehicles and were unable to make it.  The RUSH Late Models return to action at Bradford along with the RUSH Pro Mods, who had the night off, on Sunday, August 27 for the first of the last two nights of point racing at the speedway.

Eriez Speedway was closed last Sunday and will host the World of Outlaws Late Models this Sunday.  The RUSH Late Models will have the night off so they can support "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance at Tri-City Raceway Park in a $2,000 to-win Touring Series event.  The RUSH Late Models will return to Eriez on Sunday, August 27.

The McKean County Fair will host two nights of racing with the RUSH Pro Mods on Wednesday night for $800 to-win followed by the RUSH Late Model Touring Series on Thursday night for $1,500 to-win. 

Path Valley Speedway in Spring Run, Pa. welcomes back the RUSH Late Models this Friday night for a Sweeney Weekly Series event.

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, Holley Performance Products, Earl's Performance Plumbing, Quick Fuel Technology, FK Rod Ends, Maxima Racing Oil, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, ARbodies, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, Rocket Chassis, Landrum Performance Spring, CrateInsider.com, RockAuto.com, and Valley Fashions.

RUSH Sportsman Modified marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bicknell Racing Products, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, Earl's Performance Plumbing, Quick Fuel Technology, FK Rod Ends, Maxima Racing Oil, Sherwood Racing Wheels, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, CrateInsider.com, RockAuto.com, and Valley Fashions.

RUSH Pro Mod and Pro Stock marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, Earl's Performance Plumbing, Quick Fuel Technology, FK Rod Ends, Maxima Racing Oil, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Precise Racing Products, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, CrateInsider.com, 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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