ROBERSON & BLAIR KEEP ON WINNING IN BATTLE FOR $5000 SWEENEY RUSH LM NATIONAL WEEKLY SERIES TITLE; 1ST EVER RUSH LM WIN FOR PETTYJOHN; CHAD CARLSON MAKES 2ND BRADFORD START A WINNING ONE FOR CAREER 1ST EVER RUSH PRO MOD WIN
By Jim Zufall & Mike Leone
September 13, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...The race season may be winding down and the temperatures may be cooling down, but the action remains hot in the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series powered by Pace Performance. Across the spectrum of RUSH sanctioned tracks, points are wrapping up and postseason specials are underway; meanwhile, the race for RUSH's championships are quickly coming down to the wire with hotly contested battles.
The action began at Sharon Speedway on Friday night, which was night one of their annual "Apple Festival Nationals" weekend. In the spotlight were the RUSH Sportsman Modified division in a Bicknell Racing Products Touring Series event at the Hartford, Ohio track, which the divisional calls home. The RUSH Sportsman Modifieds took part in the first day of the two-day format completing heat racing action to set the field for the Saturday night race action. Chelsie Kriegisch, Chas Wolbert, and Kyle Martell scored the heat wins for Saturday’s racing.
Day two of the "Apple Festival Nationals" saw Justin Shea move into the lead from his fifth-place starting position on lap 15 by passing Chelsie Kriegisch to take the win in the 25-lap event much in the same way he had his first Bicknell Tour win stolen by Steve Slater two weeks prior. Kriegisch held on for a season best second with Chas Wolbert third. Sharon Champion and current Bicknell Weekly Series point leader, Kole Holden, fourth ahead of Josh Deems. The event ended the 88th anniversary season for Sharon Speedway.
Saturday night at Delaware International Speedway, the RUSH Late Models were back in action for the first time in one-month race saw a first-time winner in David Pettyjohn. Making his first start in a new car, Pettyjohn drove from 10th to third on the first lap, and using the high side of the track, found himself in first by lap two. The race would go caution-free from lap one on and Pettyjohn would win his first career RUSH race by a huge margin over Trevor Collins. Scott Tessman drove a smooth race to finish in third with Matt Glanden fourth and Matt Hill fifth. The RUSH Late Models return to action at Delaware on Saturday, September 23 to wrap up the point championship. Georgetown, Delaware’s Joe Warren holds a 36-point lead over Sparky White going into the final points race of the season.
Saturday night at Winchester Speedway, Logan Roberson continued his late season win tear as he took his sixth win of the season at the Winchester, Virginia oval in the 20-lap RUSH Late Model main. Roberson burst into the race lead on the first circuit and would dominate the 21-car event in a flag-to-flag effort behind the wheel of his Rocket XR-1 no.17R. "I can't say enough about this team and our race car." Roberson stated after scoring his 14th overall feature win of the season. "The track was in great shape tonight and we got lucky with the pill draw, I hope we can keep rolling until the season is over." Levi Crowl was solid in second. Joey McClung was third in just his second visit of the season and first since the March 25 opener. Kyle Lee and Mike Franklin completed the top-five.
At Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex on Saturday night, Michael Duritsky, Jr. came out on top of the "Small Car Nationals" special event topping a season high 18-car field. Despite making his first start since July 15, it was Duritsky's seventh win of the season at the Markleysburg, Pa. oval. After winning in his Late Model debut on August 26, Brett Trimble had a solid runner-up finish. Cody Hardesty was third in just his second start of the season as well. With Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway not in competition, Daryl Charlier made his first visit of the year and was fourth over Clinton Hersh in his first start since June 3. Roaring Knob has complete programs both Friday and Saturday for the RUSH Late Models as part of the "Big Kahuna" weekend for Super Late Models.
Genesee Speedway wrapped up their championship points on September 2 with J.J. Mazur coming out on top for the championship. Following Mazur in the standings were Zack Carley, Jimmy Johnson, Bill Holmes and Jon Rivers. The Batavia, New York track will conclude their second full season under the RUSH-sanction with the inaugural "Topless Crate Nationals" this Saturday and Sunday. The RUSH Late Models will race for $1,500 to-win on Saturday night followed by the richest Crate Late Model race in the track's history on Sunday with $3,000 on the line.
Saturday night’s RUSH Asphalt division action at Jennerstown Speedway in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania was the last of the season for the divisions that run under the RUSH banner. In what some described as the race of the year, the Late Model division race saw some very intense action as the newly crowned 2017 champion Jeremiah Kuntz took an early lead from his sixth starting position and looked to be running away with the final victory of the year, when Barry Awtey began to reel him in with Gary Wiltrout in tow. In the end, both Awtey and Wiltrout caught and passed Kuntz and gave Awtey the win from his ninth starting spot. Wiltrout held on for second and Kuntz settled for third. Joe Maruca, and recent first time winner Teddy Gibala rounded out the top five.
In the RUSH Modified division, it was Tom Golik scoring the 35 lap race, book-ending the season with a win on both opening and closing nights at Jennerstown. Chris Brink, Pete Rech, Jason Busch and Matt Smith made up the top five. In the Street Stocks, Adam Kostelnik made a late race pass to get around Anthony Aiello for the win. Rick Meehlieb, Lauren Butler and Zac Todero rounded out the top five.
Sunday night track Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne, Ontario wrapped up the championship hunt on September 3 with Chad Homan securing the 2017 title over Sam Pennacchio. Pennacchio raced all season on the $135 sealed, spec Bilstein Bandits Shock package where he currently trails Justin Lamb by just one-point for the $5,000 to-win title.
Mike Knight wrapped up the championship title at Eriez Speedway. The final event of the season at Erie, Pa. oval will be the "September Sweep" on Friday and Saturday September 22 and 23.
Stateline Speedway in Busti, NY wrapped up their season last weekend with heat races on Saturday and feature events on Sunday after rain postponed the entire event by one day. The RUSH Late Models were in action racing for $2,000 matching their richest payday of the season. It was no surprise Max Blair was standing in victory lane for his sixth win of the season as he's in a hotly contested battle for the Sweeney National Weekly Series title race with Logan Roberson. Blair topped the 22-car field over Jeremy Wonderling in his first appearance since the May 20 Sweeney Tour race, Scott Gurdak, Jason Genco, and Kyle Zimmerman.
The RUSH Pro Mods were battling for $600 to-win as Dennis Lunger, Jr. ended the season the same way he started it- in victory lane. The Albion, Pa. driver, who won Stateline's track championship by virtue of 12 wins in 15 starts, has also clinched the $3,500 Sweeney RUSH Pro Mod Weekly Series Championship. Ryan Scott was second. Scott Gurdak was third duplicating his RUSH Late Model performance. Matt Harvey and Jason Covey were fourth and fifth.
Sixty miles east, Old Bradford Speedway wrapped up another season of ownership by Norm Asel. Unfortunately due to a rain out the prior week at Bradford and Stateline having to post their "Shootout" weekend a day, the two tracks conflicted with several of the same divisions including the RUSH Late Models and Pro Mods. In Late Model action, Andy Michael won his third in nine tries at the Bradford, Pa. quarter-mile. Brad Mesler finished second, which clinched the championship. Steve LeBarron was a season best third over C.J. Irons and Randy Ralyea, who made his first start since last year's season finale.
After finishing second at the last event on August 27 for his first Bradford start, Chad Carlson return to Bradford on Sunday and scored the RUSH Pro Mod win. Nate Hartzell was a season best second. Adam Peterson matched his best finish of the season in third. Critter Hemphill was second over second time visitor Brian Mohawk. Five-time winner, Rich Michael, Jr., was the inaugural Bradford Pro Mod track champion.
The RUSH Pro Mods will now be off until their final two events of the season on Thursday and Friday, September 28-29 at McKean County Raceway. Both nights will be complete shows paying $400 to-win as part of the "Fall Classic". Speaking of McKean, the "Fall Classic" will be a big one for the RUSH Late Models as they will race for $1,000 to-win on Thursday night in a Sweeney Weekly Series event followed by the $2,500 to-win Sweeney Tour two-day program on Friday the 29th and Saturday the 30th.
Finally, the RUSH Sportsman Modified Series was on hand to wrap up the season for Tri-City Raceway Park in Franklin Pa. Much like the weekend event at Sharon Speedway, Tri City brings down the curtain on the season with an event titled “Applefest.” Chas Wolbert, with three victories on the resume already this season, pulled off a wire-to-wire victory in "Applefest" action. Picking up his first Tri-City win, Wolbert held off an impressive group led by Justin Shea, who finished runner up to Wolbert after winning the night before at Sharon. Following Shea were Kyle Martell, Nick Ritchey and Josh Deems.
The RUSH Modifieds will be racing this Saturday at Lernerville Speedway in a Bicknell Weekly Series event as part of the track's "Autumn-Motive Fest". The RUSH Pro Stocks will be running for $1,200 to-win and they'll also be eligible to race with the Penn-Ohio Series in the "open" rules portion of the event.
After being rained out on September 2 and off last Saturday night for a Monster Truck show, Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway returns to action this Saturday night with a $1,000 to-win "Sizzler" event. Pittsburgh will continue with weekly action on September 23 and 30 for the RUSH Late Models and will also be joined both of the nights by the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds in Bicknell Weekly Series programs.
Outlaw Speedway in Dundee, NY is off again this weekend, but will return to action with the "Outlaw Fall Nationals". The two-day event September 22-23 will feature a $1,500 to-win show for the RUSH Late Models on Saturday the 23rd.
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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