BRIAN KNOWLES, JUSTIN LAMB & TANNER KERR WIN 1ST SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODEL RACES OF 2018; ROCKY KUGEL WINS RICHEST RUSH SPORTSMAN MOD RACE IN $1300 "BETSY KRIEGISCH MEMORIAL" AT PITTSBURGH; ANGIE KIMBERLY & LAUREN BUTLER GIVES FEMALE RACERS 1-2 STOCK FINISH AT JENNERSTOWN

By Jim Zufall & Mike Leone

 

September 6, 2018                 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Pulaski, PA)...Crowning champions and late season specials were the order of the day as the calendar turned to September this past weekend for the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance family of speedways for the various divisions of cars.

 

Friday night at Raceway 7, Kyle Zimmerman survived several cautions throughout the 20-lap feature event to pick up his first win of the season at the Conneaut, Ohio oval.  Zimmerman used his front row starting spot to his advantage, holding off all challengers including 2018 champion Darrell Bossard along with Matt Latta, Breyton Santee and Khole Wanzer.  That ends the first season for the RUSH Late Models at Raceway 7.

 

Friday was a night for crowning division champs at Dundee, New York’s Outlaw Speedway as Brian Knowles and track champion Chad Homan spent the 20-lap RUSH Late Model feature in a one-on-one duel as Jamie Freeman ran behind them in third.  Brian's car seemed to handle better as the race went on, and he took his first win of the season over Homan and Freeman.  The RUSH Late Models return to Outlaw on September 21 and 22 for the "Outlaw Fall Nationals".

 

A RUSH double header was on tap Friday night at Lernerville Speedway.  While the weekly RUSH Pro Stocks had the night off, the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds and RUSH Sprints were in action at the Sarver, Pennsylvania oval.  First up were the Sportsman Modifieds in the first of two events of the weekend, where Garrett Krummert is enjoying his first season behind the wheel of a RUSH Modifieds.  Krummert ran down leader Tony Tatgenhorst on a lap seven restart and survived a second restart that put the red-hot Chas Wolbert in second for the restart.  Wolbert would throw a number of challenges for the lead, but Krummert remained steadfast and went on for the win- his first at Lernerville since 2014.  Wolbert held on for second with Tatgenhorst, Kyle Martell and Rocky Kugel making up the top five.

 

In RUSH Sprint Car action, Chad Ruhlman took advantage of an early caution in the 20-lap feature event and capitalized on it, taking the lead from Zack Morrow on lap six.  Over the remaining laps, Morrow would try desperately to regain the spot, but Ruhlman was simply too strong.  In the end, Ruhlman held on for his second Lernerville win in as many tries and 11th overall of the season.  Morrow, Gale Ruth Jr., Shawn Smith and Arnie Kent made up the top five.  The four RUSH divisions will be a part of several post season race events over the next several weeks at Lernerville.  The RUSH Sprints will be at Sharon on Friday night for the "Apple Festival Nationals" for their second and final appearance at the Hartford, Ohio oval in 2018.

 

Night number two for the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds and another RUSH doubleheader took place on Saturday night at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.  The Sportsman Modifieds got top billing for the $1,300-to-win "Betsy Kriegisch Memorial". The first race of its kind honoring the memory of the matriarch of the Kriegisch racing family was also the richest to date for the RUSH Sportsman Mods.

 

The 25-lap race saw a fierce battle between Garrett Krummert coming off his win the previous night, and Rocky Kugel.  The two battled hard throughout, with Kugel scoring his first win of the season at PPMS and the honor of winning the first ever Betsy Kriegisch Memorial.  Kugel was also victorious earlier this season at Lernerville. Krummert held on for second with Jeremy Weaver, Chas Wolbert and Brian Schaffer making up the top five. For Kugel, it was an impressive feat to be sure as he spent most of the week rebuilding the front end of the car. Then Friday night after his Lernerville race, he rushed his wife to the hospital for surgery.  The RUSH Mods will be back at PPMS beginning on September 15 through the remainder of the month.

 

In weekly RUSH Late Model action, 2017 champion Justin Lamb scored his first win of the season.  Lamb has been in the top three most of the season but had yet to reach the checkered flag first until Saturday night.  Lamb held off the likes of Tommy Schirnhofer, John Mollick, Christian Schneider and Colby Beighey.  Lamb holds a slight lead over rookie Logan Zarin as the final month of points has begun.  Pittsburgh will feature twin 20s on Saturday night for $700 to-win each.

 

Saturday night at Virginia’s Winchester Speedway, Tanner Kerr drove to his first win of the season in the 20-lap RUSH Late Model main after a two-hour rain delay.  With his win, Kerr became the sixth different winner in the class this season. Jonathan DeHaven, Steve Lowery, Darin Henderson and Scott Sweeney Jr. completed the top-five.  The RUSH Late Model division will wrap up the 2018 season this Saturday at the Winchester Nationals in an event paying $1,000 to win.

 

It was championship night at Fulton Speedway on Saturday night as Max Hill would jump out to the early lead in the 20-lap RUSH Late Model feature setting a quick early pace until lap seven when Jason Parkhurst would be scored the new leader.  Parkhurst drove away from the field and crossed under the checkered flag a full seven seconds ahead of Sean Beardsley for his third win of the season.  Parkhurst has yet to finish worse than eighth in any of the 16 events this season.  "Futures Cup" racer Max Hill was third over Dale Caswell and Bret Belden for the top five.  The win also secured the 2018 title for Parkhurst.  The final RUSH Late Model event of the season will take place on Friday, September 28.

 

A 25-lap feature event was on tap Saturday night for the RUSH Late Models at Genesee Speedway.  Jon Rivers was out front the entire duration of the race as he was only challenged by JJ Mazur after the field was bunched up by a single caution mid-race. Mazur would make a race out of it near the end, but Rivers held off for his second win in the past three races.  Mazur’s second place finish was good enough to secure his second straight Genesee Track Championship.  David Pangrazio was third, just in front of Bill Holmes and Doug Ricotta, who completed the top five.  Genesee will host the two-day "Topless Nationals" on September 15-16 with a $1,500 to-win event on Saturday and a $3,000 to-win event on Sunday.  The RUSH Sprints will also be racing both days for $800 to-win and a $300 bonus for the top point driver over the two nights.

 

Champions were also crowned at New York’s Stateline Speedway on Saturday night.  Scott Gurdak would lead for most of the event and survived a number of restarts until the closing laps when he got together with Jason Genco, who had been challenging for the lead.  Both cars would spin out, which gave the lead to Dennis Lunger Jr.  Lunger would hold on and take his first of the season.  Damian Bidwell settled for second with Khole Wanzer, Dave Lyon and Darrell Bossard completing the top five.  Bossard would be crowned the 2018 RUSH Late Model champ.  That ends the season for Stateline.

 

The RUSH Pro Mod division would take to the track with Zach Johnson and Scott Gurdak on the front row. Johnson used his outside position to take the early lead.  An early caution saw Lunger, who was fresh off his Late Model and E-Mod victories, move to the front and hold on for the win- his history-making third of the evening!  Chad Carlson wound up second with Nate Hartzell, Gurdak, and Zach Johnson filling out the top five. Lunger was also the points champion of the season for the class for the second straight year.

 

Both racers and track officials fought through two rain delays on Saturday night on the asphalt at Jennerstown Speedway.  It was also the second annual "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance as RUSH distributed $19,000 of product to competing GM crate engine racers.  When the night was over, Barry Awtey was again standing in victory lane for the RUSH Asphalt Late Models. He was followed by Mike Hemminger, Gary Wiltrout, Bryan Shipp and Zane Ferrell.  

 

In the RUSH Asphalt Modifieds, Anthony Aiello is clearly heading for the Modified championship in his rookie season, scoring his tenth win on Saturday! The former Street Stock champ held off Jason Busch, Jarred Barclay, Tom Golik and Chris Brink.

 

It was a one-two finish by the ladies in the Jennerstown RUSH Asphalt Street Stock division as Angie Kimberly picked up her first ever Jennerstown win over defending champion Lauren Butler!  Following the pair across the stripe were Aaron VanFleet, Jeremy Shaffer and Rick Meehleib. Late season racing returns to Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands oval this Saturday as the speedway presents “Free CDL Night.” All Commercial Driver’s License holders and one guest are admitted free.

 

After a month without racing, the RUSH Late Models concluded their regular season at Eriez Speedway on Sunday evening with 20 cars on hand.  After spinning while battling for the lead one night prior at Stateline, Jason Genco passed David Pangrazio on lap 13 and went on for his second win of the season.  The victory clinched Genco's champion for the J.P. Craig/Jason Badgley-owned team.  Pangrazio made his first start since the May 27 opener and recorded a career best second at Eriez.  Andy Boozel, Bruce Hordusky, Jr., and Damian Bidwell finished third through fifth all in just their third start of the year. 

 

Old Bradford Speedway fell to an afternoon thunderstorm and will be looking at makeup dates for Champions Night.

 

The RUSH Late Models did not compete at Dog Hollow Speedway last weekend, but will return to the Northern Cambria dirt oval this Saturday night.

 

The RUSH Late Models had a night off at Ontario’s Humberstone Speedway and will return this Sunday.

 

Potomac Speedway's RUSH Late Models will return to action on October 6th for the Potomac Small Car Nationals.

 

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, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Racing Electronics, Dirt Defender, Dynamic Drivelines, Wrisco Industries, Frankland Racing Supply, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Lincoln Electric, Pancho's Racing Products Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA,  Landrum Performance Spring, Schwartzmiller Ground Maintenance, Close Racing Supply, CrateInsider.com, RockAuto.com, Valley Fashions, Dirt Late Model Magazine, and Three Rivers Karting.

 

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, Sherwood Racing Wheels, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Racing Electronics, Dirt Defender, Dynamic Drivelines, Wrisco Industries, Frankland Racing Supply, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, Schwartzmiller Ground Maintenance, CrateInsider.com, RockAuto.com, Valley Fashions, Dirt Late Model Magazine, and Three Rivers Karting.

 

RUSH Sprint Car marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bonnell's Rod Shop, Bilstein Shocks, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, Racing Electronics, Dirt Defender, Frankland Racing Supply, Earl's Performance Plumbing, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Precise Racing Products, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, Landrum Performance Spring, Pancho's Racing Products, 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, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Racing Electronics, Dirt Defender, Dynamic Drivelines, Wrisco Industries, Frankland Racing Supply, Wrisco. Precise Racing Products, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Classic Ink USA, 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.

 

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