HOVIS RUSH RACERS TO COMPETE FOR $130,000+ OF ADDITIONAL CASH & VALUABLE PRODUCTS VIA CONTIGENCY PROGRAMS IN 2026 AS CORPORATE MARKETING PARTNER SUPPORT CONTINUES TO INCREASE

By Mike Leone

April 2, 2026               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Pulaski, PA)…As the 2026 season is set to begin, drivers throughout the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants will not only be vying for what is considered to be the nation's richest Chevrolet Performance crate engine championship point funds, but also more than $130,000 of additional cash and valuable products throughout RUSH's various contingency programs.

The RUSH Late Models will see well over $70,000 of contingency value posted, while the RUSH Sprint Cars, RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, RUSH Pro Mods, and RUSH Stock Cars will have an additional $60,000+ posted in cash and useful valuable product!

"It's always been my goal to give back to as many RUSH racers as possible," stated RUSH Director Vicki Emig.  "We know that not every racer that competes throughout RUSH will finish in paying positions of our championship point funds, but I do think the majority of our racers have an opportunity at some time throughout the season to receive a great item that can be beneficial to their racing operation over and above their normal event payoffs."

"We currently have over 40 corporate marketing partners, many of which have been with us for numerous years," revealed Emig.  "We simply could not sustain RUSH without them and we're greatly appreciative for their unwavering support!  Our goal with RUSH has always been to 'keep people racing'!  Simply put, the more cars we can keep on the speedway the more opportunity they have to market their products and services.  We've had a phenomenal off-season as far as securing new corporate marketing partners, several of whom have been instrumental in helping us create numerous new and exciting programs in addition to our traditional ones."     

The centerpiece of all of the RUSH contingency programs has always been the renowned "Manufacturers Nights" presented by MSD Performance.  These events for each RUSH division  guarantees every racer competing at "Mfg. Night" a product certificate.  The RUSH Late Model certificates range in value from $400 to $2,000, while the other RUSH divisions vary from a minimum value of $300 to $1,000.  The certificates are determined by a random draw, and most importantly are redeemed for the actual value of the product, as racers do not have to spend additional funds to receive them.     

New for 2026 will be "Kenny's Cash", presented by RUSH Sprint Car racer Arnie Kent in memory of his father, Kenny.  This exciting program will potentially distribute over $5,000 to the Series' race teams.  One-hundred dollars will be awarded to a lucky driver by rotating positions at each 2026 RUSH Sprint Car event, then at the season ending event, a $1,000 drawing will be held for drivers that compete in 75% or more of the completed events. 

Beginning in 2024,with its foundation set by the Landrum Performance Springs $5,000 "Loyalty Bonus", an entire new program has been developed known as the "Loyalty Program" for the RUSH Late Model Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Hone Touring Series.  This has been instrumental in securing a large core group of racers who attend every event, which resulted in an average car count of 37 in 2025 with many races seeing well over 40 cars including an all-time record 62 at Lernerville Speedway's "Bill Emig Memorial" presented by Sunoco Race Fuels.   This program rewards committed Tour racers several thousand dollars of value over and above the $76,000 championship points fund and the event payoffs, which feature a minimum of $4,000 to-win.

In addition to the $5,000 Landrum Performance Springs "Loyalty Bonus", which was won by New York racers Austin Allen (2024) and Jason Knowles (2025), Touring drivers will also be eligible for the new Capital Contracting Service "Allegiance Rewards", Real Merchant Services DMV "Free Ride", and the Bazell Race Fuels "Fill'er up with Sunoco Bucks" which will push the overall value available to these racers to an estimated $15,000.   

After each completed four Tour events, Capital Contracting Service will distribute $600 to lucky RUSH Late Model teams.  Drivers/Owners must be a Touring Series member and compete in 75% or more of the completed events to be eligible for the three drawings of $300, $200, $100. 

Former RUSH Late Model racer, Donnie Tepper, has come on board with his Real Merchant Services DMV to award a free $100 entry fee to Touring Series member drivers after they complete six consecutive events.  Real Merchant Services DMV will also present the "Wheelman" Bonus Event Challenge Series.

Also new for 2026 will be the exciting "Hottest of the Hot" presented by Schneider Trucks that will award $50 to the fastest driver in hot laps, the $100 "Pedal Down" Hard Charger presented by Hoosier Tire Western Pennsylvania as well as the $100 "Tough Break of the Night" presented by Close Racing Supply.  With the addition of the Bazell Race Fuels "Fill'er up with Sunoco Bucks" fuel cards for non-Touring drivers, "Spoiler Alert" that distributes a $150 spoiler kit from Ontime Body & Graphic, $2,000 in Henry's Headers & Exhaust Systems certificates, and the BOGO Landrum Performance Springs certificates totaling $15,0000, a whopping $32,000+ in additional cash and products will be up for grabs at the Flynn's Tire/Gunter's Honey Touring Series events.

And not to forget the literal crown jewel of all prizes available to the RUSH Late Model racers is the $8,000 "Bill Emig Memorial" Championship diamond ring designed and created by D&V Jewelers; considered by to be one of the most coveted awards in all of Chevrolet Performance crate engine racing that goes with the $20,000 cash!  Mark Whitener (2022), Max Blair (2023), Dave Hess, Jr. (2024) and Mason Zeigler (2025) have been the only racers to capture this spectacular jewel; who will be the fifth?

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, Rustler Sales & Service, 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, Velocita-USA, Wieland Metal Services, Real Merchant Services DMV, IllusionCoats Powder Coating, Hoosier Tire Western Pennsylvania/Big Daddy's Speed Center, Close Racing Supply, Frankland Racing Supply, Seal-Tite Paving & Excavating, Schneider Trucks, Ontime Body & Graphic, Henry's Headers & Exhaust Systems, 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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