BRADFORD MAKES 3-YEAR COMMITMENT TO RUSH SERIES; WEEKLY FRIDAY NIGHT CRATE LATE MODEL RACING TO BE FEATURED STARTING MARCH 29

By Mike Leone                       

 

December 8, 2012                  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Pulaski, PA)…The Sweeney Chevrolet RUSH Dirt Late Model Series is pleased to announce that the New Bradford Speedway has signed on as a weekly-sanctioned speedway for not only the upcoming 2013 season, but also the 2014 and 2015 racing seasons!  The ¼-mile dirt oval located just east of Bradford, Pa. near Rew will headline with the Sweeney Chevrolet RUSH Late Models on Friday nights!  Bradford will also feature for the first time weekly E-Mod racing along with Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Minis every Friday night beginning March 29

 

Bradford has a long history of stock car racing dating back to 1954.  In 1958, noted legend Junior Johnson won a NASCAR Grand National Series event at the speedway.  New owner Jeff Andrulonis brought the speedway back from the dead this past season opening up on June 22 to a packed house and continued with successful events through early September.  Andrulonis has put a five-year plan in place with a goal of making his facility one of the region’s most exciting venues for exciting grassroots racing and affordable family entertainment.  He has already been busy in the offseason making many improvements to the track, pits, and facility in general. 

 

“I had really been hoping that Bradford would join our program” stated RUSH co-director Vicki Emig.  Bradford is a natural fit and will be a great partner with McKean County giving racers in the northern part of Pennsylvania and southwestern New York the ability to easily participate in all of RUSH’s great programs.  Jeff’s belief in our series and his willingness to sign a three year sanctioning agreement along with McKean’s immediate alignment with RUSH will now give racers in this part of our region two great tracks in close proximity of each other to compete at and achieve valuable points towards the ‘Weekly Championship’.”   

 

Bradford’s weekly RUSH member racers will now be able to take part in all of the Sweeney Chevrolet RUSH Late Model programs.  Drivers will be able to accumulate their best 15 finishes throughout the season as part of the $25,000+ Sweeney Chevrolet “Weekly Series Championship” that will pay $5,000 to-win down 30 positions. 

 

Come July, the top 10 RUSH Weekly members in Bradford points will move on to the $10,000+ Sweeney Chevrolet “Summer Chase”.  Drivers can race as many times as they want during July and August at not only Bradford, but any RUSH-sanctioned event.  Drivers’ average points (minimum eight events) will determine the $3,000 champion that will pay down 10 positions. 

 

Any RUSH member under the age of 18 will be eligible for the $3,000 “Futures Cup” program.  Those 18 and 19 cannot have more than one full season of competition in Crate Late Models or any other higher division.  These racers can compete at Bradford and at any other RUSH-sanctioned event to accumulate points.  Drivers’ Sweeney Chevrolet “Weekly Series” points will be added to three stand-alone “Futures Cup” events that will be announced. 

 

RUSH and Bradford are in the process of working together to possibly schedule a  Sweeney Chevrolet Touring Series event if the correct date presents itself.  RUSH member drivers will also be able to count their events at Bradford toward eligibility in a large season ending event with details to be announced. 

 

“I’m really looking forward to my second season at Bradford and being able to have RUSH part of our program,” expressed Andrulonis.  “Last year was a good learning experience and gave me a taste, now I can’t wait for the 2013 season!  The ability to have RUSH sanction our Crate Late Models really brings a lot of credibility to not only the division, but to the facility itself.  Our drivers can now take part in all of the series’ exciting programs, and I’m really hoping we see some new faces try out Bradford now that we’re sanctioned.  Being in the promoting business for my TV and radio stations, I’m also looking forward to working with RUSH’s Vicki Emig and Mike Leone, and blending our ideas together to promote the RUSH at Bradford Speedway which should be beneficial to all concerned!”

 

Garrett Mott of Smethport, Pa. was the inaugural Crate Late Model Champion at Bradford.  The Smethport, Pa. racer also captured the first two wins of his career including the season finale on September 7 that clinched the title.  It was a wide open five-man battle for the title that saw Brad Mesler, Justin Tatlow, Ward Schell, and Bob Kish finish a close two through five in points.  Rounding out the top 10 of Bradford’s points were Dave Norton, Jr., Tim Schram, Chad Silleman, Matt Cobb, and Derek Frank.

 

“It’s always good news when a speedway reopens,” said Leone.  “Jeff, his wife Christy, and crew have already done a wonderful job in a very short period of time in bringing racing back to Bradford.  It’s great to see their enthusiasm for both racing and their facility.  We are looking forward to working with Jeff, as he brings a new and unique perspective to the speedway promoting business through his radio broadcasting and television background.” 

 

Bradford opens the 2013 campaign early on Friday, March 29 and has weekly Friday night shows scheduled through late August.  Bradford becomes the first Friday night track to sanction weekly racing for the RUSH Dirt Late Model Series joining McKean County Raceway (East Smethport, PA), Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex (Markleysburg, PA), Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH), and The Rock Allegany County Speedway (Cumberland, MD).  Negotiations are underway with numerous other speedways in the Northeast and a strong touring schedule has already begun to fall into place.   

 

The New Bradford Speedway is located at 330 Summit Road, Bradford, PA 16701.  For more information, check out their website at www.bradfordspeedway.com or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bradfordspeedway

 

E-mail can be sent to [email protected] and snail mail to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143.  Office phone is 724-964-9300.   A RUSH Racing Series website will soon be released at www.rushracingseries.com.  Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushlatemodels or follow us on Twitter @RUSHLM.


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