CLOSE RACING SUPPLY TO PRESENT "TOUGH BREAK OF THE NIGHT" AWARD AT 2026 HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL FLYNN'S TIRE/GUNTER'S HONEY TOUR EVENTS; WILL CONTINUE AS THE DISTRIBUTION CENTER FOR RUSH SEALED, SPEC BILSTEIN SHOCKS

By Mike Leone

March 3, 2026               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Pulaski, PA)...The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants is pleased to Close Racing Supply has upper their involvement for the upcoming season.  The Eldred, Pa. based business will present the "Tough Break of the Night" award at all 2026 RUSH Late Model Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series events in addition to being a supporting sponsor across all five of RUSH's divisions.  One-year ago, CRS took over as the distribution center of the RUSH sealed, spec Bilstein Shocks that are mandated on the RUSH Sprint Cars, RUSH Pro Mods, and RUSH Stock Cars and the preferred choice of the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds.

At each of the Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series events, RUSH Officials will award the Close Racing Supply “Tough Brake of the Night” to a racer whose night just didn’t go as hoped.  That racer will receive a $100 Close Racing Supply gift card.

"We're excited to bring back the 'Tough Brake of the Night' contingency program through the support of CRS," acknowledged RUSH Director Vicki Emig.  "We've really worked hard during the offseason to enhance the contingency programs around the Late Model Touring Series.  No one wants to have a bad night, but receiving a $100 gift card from Close Racing Supply will at least alleviate some of the pain.  Joel Smith of Close Racing Supply has been a big proponent of RUSH and has supported the Series in many ways over the years and we're thankful for his increased involvement for the upcoming season."

Close Racing Supply, who is celebrating 30 years in business, will hold their annual open house on March 6-7.  The open house is free to the public and will include industry representatives from numerous companies.  The Race Tech Info Chassis Seminar will also take place in conjunction with the open house from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.  For more information on the seminar, visit www.racetechinfo.com/pa-ny-oh-school

"CRS has always been a longtime supporter of RUSH Series and it’s racers," stated CRS Owner Joel Smith.  "Vicki (Emig), Mike (Leone) and the entire crew do a great job with the Series.  It takes people like them that have that drive and passion to be able to run a successful series.   Not very many regional series across the country can match what RUSH does for their racers each year or bring the quantity and quality of racers to their events. I think some of us forget how good we got it in this part of the country"

The Close Racing Supply "Tough Brake of the Night" will join a new program in the Schneider Trucks "Hottest of the Hot" $50 for fastest in hot laps and the Capital Contracting Service "Allegiance Rewards" program that will offer $600 in drawings for Tour drivers after each four completed events.  Hoosier Tire Western Pennsylvania in conjunction with Big Daddy's Speed Center has taken over the "Pedal Down" Hard Charger with a $100 gift card.  Returning contingencies include the FK Rod Ends $100 "Shock the Clock" Qualifying award and "Beat the Heat" with $25 to each heat race winner, $100 Sunoco fuel card for the winner of the Sunoco Dash, $400 in Sunoco fuel cards for the Bazell Race Fuels "Fill'er up with Sunoco Bucks", Ontime Body & Graphic "Spoiler Alert", and the Holley Performance Products "Nosed Out".  Also, five lucky drivers at each event will receive a Landrum Performance Springs BOGO offer.

Close Racing Supply is located at 5449 PA-446, Eldred, PA 16731.  CRS has served the motorsports industry since 1996 supplying quality circle track components and competitive prices.  CRS has a large inventory of parts of Late Models, RUSH/UMP/IMCA Modifieds, and Stock clip cars.    

Close Racing Supply was originally started by local Late Model racer, Bob Close, to service a few local race tracks with tires, fuel, and parts.  In 2014, longtime CRS employee, Joel Smith, purchased the business from Close, and then in 2021 began construction of a larger facility to become the new home of CRS.  This new space allowed for an expanded inventory with larger warehousing, showroom ,and shop space.  CRS sells quality circle track parts from most major manufactures including their own CRS Race Components that can be found on cars across the country.  CRS and its employees take pride in building and selling high quality products to help the racer get to victory lane!

For more information, check out their website at www.closeracingsupply.com, follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CloseRacingSupply or call 814-225-3250.

The RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply together with Born2Run Lubricants along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, Colussy Chevrolet, Flynn's Tire, Gunter's Honey, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Capital Contracting Service, Joseph J. Oliva Attorney at Law, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Landrum Performance Springs, Russ King Racing, 3C Graphix, Dave Poske's Performance Parts, Velocita-USA, Wieland Metal Services, Real Merchant Services DMV, IllusionCoats Powder Coating, Hoosier Tire Western Pennsylvania in conjunction of Big Daddy's Speed Center, Close Racing Supply, Frankland Racing Supply, Seal-Tite Paving & Excavating, Schneider Trucks, Dusted Steak Seasoning, Ontime Body & Graphic, D&V Jewelers, AERO Race Wheels, Racing Electronics, Design Creations, and Competition Crate Parts.

E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at [email protected] and mail to 4368 Route 422, Pulaski, PA 16143. Office phone is 724-964-9300.  The RUSH Late Model website is www.rushlatemodels.com. Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushlatemodels and follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) @RUSHLM.

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