SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODEL TOUR PART OF NDRL’S “PITTSBURGHER” AT PPMS; $1500 TO-WIN FRIDAY & $3000 TO-WIN SATURDAY!

By Mike Leone

October 8, 2013             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Imperial, PA)…After a weekend off, the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series returns to action this weekend in a big way taking part in the traditional “Pittsburgher 100” with two complete shows at Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway.  Race #21 on Friday night (October 11) will pay $1,500 to-win, while Saturday night’s event will showcase the Series for $3,000 to-win in race #22 of the 24 event slate!

The Sweeney RUSH Tour will join the NDRL “Kings of Dirt” Super Late Models and the UEMS E-Mod Series in one of the biggest event’s of the season in western Pennsylvania.  NDRL will race for $10,000 to-win on Friday night and $25,000 on Saturday night!  On Saturday, fans can enjoy a concert by Cody McCarver at 2:30 p.m. before the driver autograph session that will be held from 3-4 p.m.

The “Monster Half-Mile” has been the site of two tremendous Sweeney Tour events already this season.  Track regulars Kyle Lukon and Tommy Schirnhofer, Jr. have shined to date.  Lukon won the “Cross the Borders” Speedweek show on July 13, while Schirnhofer won the August 31 “Manufacturers Night” event.  The wins were career firsts for both racers in Sweeney Tour competition and both came over stellar 40-car fields. 

With two complete shows on the line including a season high $3,000 to-win on Saturday night, dry and mild weather forecasted, and no other regional events this weekend, a strong field is expected.  There have been 11 different winners this season on the Sweeney Tour with 155 different drivers participating in the 20 events!

“I think everyone is really looking forward to this weekend,” expressed RUSH Co-Director Vicki Emig.  “We have to thank John Kennedy again for allowing us to be part of his NDRL events.  He’s been a big supporter at his weekly venture at McKean County Raceway, and allowing us to be showcased in major events is huge for our Series and racers.  The track is always racey at Pittsburgh so the racing should again be phenomenal.  It’s looking like perfect weather all weekend, which is a Godsend for events such as these in the fall.”

Mike Pegher, Jr. enters the weekend with just an 18-point lead over Ryan Montgomery in the Sweeney Tour championship with four events remaining.  After starting off the season winning three of the first six races, Pegher has just one win in the last 14 Tour events.  And in that span, Montgomery has beaten Pegher 10 times including two wins and five runner-up finishes to close the gap.  Montgomery has also been fast in the two PPMS races with two runner-ups.    

After a season best fifth place at the last Sweeney Tour at Roaring Knob, Butch Lambert has climbed to third in points.  Opening event Hagerstown Speedway winner and early point leader, Rick Singleton, has dropped to fourth after missing the last two shows due to an accident at McKean County Raceway.  Maryland racer Cody Dawson has moved up the ladder to fifth in points.

Completing the top 15 points paying positions in the driver standings are Chad Ruhlman, Joe Martin, Matt Glanden, Max Blair, Jorden Peters, Andrew Wylie, Michael Lake, W.L. Stile, Matt Latta, and Dennis Lunger, Jr. 

Each night will include Bobby Lake Motorsports “Shock the Clock” qualifying with $100 going to the fast qualifier.  Also each night, the Bobby Lake Motorsports heat races will pay $25 to win.  The K&N “Cold Air Induction” Dash will be run each night to determine the first four starting spots of the feature.  A $100 K&N certificate will be awarded for the win, $50 certificate for second with $25 cash to all other starters.  NOTE: Friday's program has NO bearing on Saturday's event.  There have been an amazing 17 different dash winners in 20 events to date this season!

Other programs taking place 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.

Friday’s Feature Payoff: 1. $1,500  2. $800  3. $550  4. $410  5. $375  6. $340  7. $325  8. $295  9. $285  10. $280  11. $255  12. $250  13. $230  14. $225  15. $200  16. $195  17. $190  18-24. $185.  Tow $75.

Saturday’s Feature Payoff: 1. $3,000  2. $1,500  3. $800  4. $600  5. $500  6. $475  7. $450  8. $425  9. $400  10. $350  11. $310  12. $300  13. $275  14. $260  15. $255  16. $250  17. $240  18-24. $230.  Tow $100.

Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC Touring Series DRIVER Points (must be Touring member to receive points): 1. Mike Pegher, Jr. 2013  2. Ryan Montgomery 1995  3. Butch Lambert 1650  4. Rick Singleton 1574  5. Cody Dawson 1371  6. Chad Ruhlman 1339  7. Joe Martin 1328  8. Matt Glanden 1182  9. Max Blair 1111  10. Jorden Peters 1026  11. Andrew Wylie 1022  12. Michael Lake 1008  13. W.L. Stile 894  14. Matt Latta 887  15. Dennis Lunger, Jr. 732  16. Nico Dabecco 722  17. Josh Double 721  18. John Over 665  19. Josh Holtgraver 644  20. Justin Tatlow 638  21. Glenn Elliott 617  22. Eric Wilson 616  23. Bryce Davis 597  24. Scott Tessman 524  25. Will Thomas III 505  26. Adam Sixt 488  27. Dan Angelicchio 448  28. Shane Weaver 379  29. Russell Baird, Jr. 368  30. Lauren Longbrake  31. D.J. Troutman 304  32. Andrew Satterlee 263  33. Paul McGinley 217  34. Mike Wharton 151  35. Luke Carleton 143  36. Jamie Brown, Mike Laughard & Junior Peters 140  39. John Imler 94   40. Nolan Dalton 88  41. Darren Peters 87  42. Troy Swindell 85  43. Steve Beatty 79  44. Randy Wible 70.

You do not have to be a RUSH member to compete in any RUSH-sanctioned event.  There will be a $75 entry fee on Friday night and a $100 entry fee on Saturday night.  RACEceivers are mandatory and transponders will be required.

There will be an open practice on Thursday night from 6:30-9:30 p.m.  On Friday, pits open at 2 p.m., a drivers meeting will be held at 5 with warm-ups at 5:15 followed by group qualifying and heat races at 7.  On Saturday, pits open at 11 a.m. with a drivers meeting to be held at 4:45 p.m. followed by warm-ups at 5 and racing at 7.

Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway is a ½-mile dirt track with a GPS address of 170 Kelso Rd, Imperial PA 15126, which is located just off the Noblestown exit on Routes 22/30.  For more information, check out their website at www.ppms.com or call 412-279-7223.  The track number on race day is 724-695-3363 or 724-695-0393.  As for their social media outlets, you can like their page on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/PittsburghsPennsylvaniaMotorSpeedway or follow them on Twitter @PAMotorSpeedway.

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, K1 RaceGear, Beyea Headers, FK Rod Ends, 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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