PACE RUSH LATE MODEL SERIES RELEASES RICHEST TOURING SERIES TO DATE; 23 EVENTS PART OF THE RECORD $43,000 POINT FUND PRESENTED BY FLYNN'S TIRE & BORN2RUN LUBRICANTS WITH $12,000 TO THE CHAMPION

By Mike Leone

March 23, 2021               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Pulaski, PA)...The Pace Performance RUSH Late Model Series together with Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC is proud to release its 2021 Touring Series schedule of events.  The richest season in Series history will include 23 events at 15 different speedways in six states boasting a record $43,000 point fund presented by new marketing partners Flynn's Tire and Born2Run Lubricants!  Jeremy Wonderling enters the season in search of his unprecedented fourth straight championship!

The 2021 Touring Series point fund has more than doubled from the pre-pandemic point fund to a whopping $43,000 in potential payoff for the top 20 point earners!  The 2021 champion will receive $12,000- the highest of any Chevrolet Performance Crate Engine Series in the country with $1,200 going to 10th place!  While the 10 positions are guaranteed, RUSH has also extended potential payoffs to an additional 10 racers.  RUSH will pay $1,000 to Tour members in positions 11-15 in points that compete in 75% of the total Tour events, and $500 to Tour members in positions 16-20 in points that compete in 75% of the total Tour events.

Highlighting the schedule is the prestigious $10,000 to-win "Bill Emig Memorial", which returns to Lernerville in conjunction with the renowned "Firecracker 100" weekend with the World of Outlaws Late Models for the third straight year.  Also featured in the schedule include the "Battle of the Bay" Speedweek, along with the "Jook George Steel City Classic" and "Bill Hendren Memorial" events at Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway, which have continued to grow in stature. 

"After coming off our richest Touring slate which resulted in our highest average car count in history in 2019 we were all geared up for 2020 when the pandemic hit," acknowledged Emig.  "In 2019, the schedule of events went to a different level and that translated into an average of more than 38 cars for our events, often exceeding 40 plus cars and over 50 on three different occasions.  Despite a reduced schedule of events in 2020, the average car count was still 38+." 

"With that said we felt it was time to substantially increase our point fund," continued Emig.  "We look forward to our 2021 champion earning a record $12,000 as we have to thank Flynn's Tire and Born2Run for coming on board to help increase the point fund to $43,000!  Our slate of substantial paying Tour events combined with our richest ever Tour point fund is definitely going to create an awesome situation for both RUSH fans and Crate Late Model racers throughout the region!"

The 2021 schedule will get underway with the third annual "Battle of the Bay" Mid-Atlantic Speedweek April 14-17, which saw drivers from eight states and Canada compete in 2019.  The Speedweek will kick-off once again at Delaware International Speedway in Delmar on Wednesday night for the second annual "Raelyn Huffman Memorial" paying a minimum $3,500 to-win followed up by events at Georgetown, Potomac, and Winchester Speedways that will each pay $3,000 to-win.

Besides the increase in to the standard Tour payoffs on the line each night, there will again be a $3,000 point fund for the top 10 RUSH members in points over the four nights with $1,000 going to the champion.  There will also be a $150 travel package for any Tour driver in the top 12 from 2020 that participates in at least the opening event.  Prior to COVID-19 wiping out last year's "Battle of the Bay", seven of the eight scheduled events have been completed all-time with a minimum of 40 cars at all events.  In 2019, the 53 cars at Delaware set a "Battle of the Bay" record.  Max Blair topped 2018 champion, Logan Roberson, to win the 2019 "Battle of the Bay" crown.
 

For the first time since 2018, the RUSH Late Model Tour will return to McKean County Raceway for their opener on Sunday, April 25.  McKean has been dark the past two years, but will return to life led by Joel Smith, owner of Close Racing Supply, and former promoter Ken Leet.  The RUSH Late Models and RUSH Pro Mods will be on each event throughout 2021 in addition to the RUSH Sprint Cars making an appearance on June 19.  There have been 13 RUSH Tour races run all-time with seven different winners led by Max Blair with five victories.

After three weeks off, the Touring Series returns to Stateline Speedway for the fourth year for the "Bill Law Memorial" on May 15.  The 2017 event was the first ever Tour event at the Busti, NY oval in the 10-year history of Crate Late Models in the Northeast as a big crowd watched a thriller as Jeremy Wonderling held off standout and track dominator Max Blair for the victory.  The 2018 event was just as good as Damian Bidwell made a late race pass of Scott Gurdak for his first Tour win in more than three years.  And in 2019, Wonderling again held off Blair and withstood a mid-race rain delay to top a record Stateline field of 33 cars. 

The Stateline event is annually held in memory of the late Bill Law, who pioneered the Crate Late Model concept in the Northeast as a car owner for several racers including his son Jon.  Law's grandson, Kyle Murray, carries on the family tradition as he currently competes in the RUSH Late Models.  Kyle finished 10th in points in 2019 in his first year on the Tour.

The following night (Sunday, May 16), Eriez Speedway will host a "Marquee" event giving racers back-to-back $2,000 to-win shows within just a 40-mile distance.  Located just outside of Erie, Pa., this will be year number three of ownership for Dave Alexander, who will again host weekly Sunday night RUSH Late Model racing.  There have been seven RUSH Tour events completed all-time at Eriez and the Blairs have won all seven with Max winning six and his father Rob one in a substitution role for Max. 

For the fourth straight year, Outlaw and Genesee Speedways in New York have teamed up to host back-to-back $2,000 to-win "Marquee" Events on Friday and Saturday, May 28-29 with Bradford Speedway right across the border in Pennsylvania joining in this year on Sunday night. 

Outlaw's show will again be dubbed as the "Gary Montgomery Memorial".  The last three Outlaw races have been tremendous as former BRP Can-Am racers Bryce Davis (2017) and Wonderling (2018-2019) winning in memory of BRP Series founder Montgomery.  Wonderling then ended Jason Genco's two straight Genesee Tour wins, which was part of his three-race win streak in 2019.  Tyler Siri has done a tremendous job at transforming Outlaw, while Genesee promoter Jim Johnson hosts a very successful Saturday night weekly program featuring the RUSH Late Models at the Genesee County Fairgrounds in Batavia.  Bradford meanwhile will host their first Tour show since 2017 when Bryce Davis was victorious.  Bradford is in year number two under Dennis Cummings hosting weekly Sunday night RUSH Late Model racing. 

The RUSH Late Model Tour is again honored to join up with the World of Outlaws Late Models for the "Firecracker 100" weekend June 24-26 at Lernerville Speedway.  This crown-jewel for Super Late Models will also showcase RUSH in the running of the "Bill Emig Memorial" presented by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply.  The Saturday night program will feature a 50-lap $10,000 to-win main event- the richest event on the 2021 slate.  Max Blair has won the event the last two years.

The Independence Day holiday weekend will feature a pair of events in western Pa.  For the first time ever, the RUSH Late Models will make a stop at Dog Hollow Speedway on Friday night (July 2) with $3,000 on the line.  The new promotional team of Mark McClellan and Kyle Smith, Sr. have taken over the Northern Cambria track and will run the RUSH Late Models on a weekly basis.  Then on Saturday night, the RUSH Late Models will make their first of four appearance at the "Monster Half-Mile" at Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway for the annual "Herb Scott Memorial".

The return to Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio on Saturday, July 17 has long been anticipated by drivers throughout the region.  The RUSH Late Model Tour last appeared at the 3/8-mile showplace in 2016.  That was prior to the new red clay surface that has produced tremendous racing in recent years.  The RUSH Late Models ran weekly at Sharon from 2011-2014.  Will Thomas III is the division's all-time winner with 13 victories, and will be returning to the RUSH ranks in 2021. 

The Sharon event will be the inaugural "Bill Forney Memorial" paying a minimum of $2,199 to-win, but is expected to grow with contributions.  Forney passed away in August of 2019, and was the Sharon track champion in 1964, but where he really excelled was at Canfield Speedway where he won the championship seven times (1959-1961, 1963, 1965-1966, and 1968).  With over 150 feature wins, Forney also won track championships at Painesville, Hickory, and Cloverleaf Speedways.  The event will also be the Sharon/Canfield Drivers Reunion (1949-1973).   

For the fifth time, the "Jook George Steel City Classic" at PPMS will be a Tour event.  The "Jook George" will take place on Saturday, August 7 with the exact payoff of this prestigious event to be announced.  The 2018 event attracted a record 51 cars and saw Jacob Hawkins take home $5,010.  The 2019 event saw Kyle Lukon leave PPMS with a RUSH event record $11,610 payday thanks to the extraordinary efforts of Branden Lockwich.  And even with the pandemic setting back fundraising efforts, Lockwich was still able to award Michael Norris with a $7,200 payday last season.  Zarin Truck & Auto has been the presenting sponsor from 2019 to present. 

Eriez Speedway will host the annual "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance on Sunday, August 15 for their second Tour race of 2021.  The last time Eriez hosted "Manufacturers Night" was 2015 and attracted 47 cars, which is also the average car count for the event over the nine-year history since the MFG Night debuted in 2012.  Over $30,000 of valuable and useful products is typically distributed to competing racers on this night. 

For many years, the RUSH Late Model Tour was a staple at Sharon's "Apple Festival Nationals".  After a four-year absence, the RUSH Late Models returned to the show as a Weekly Series event in 2020.  Now Sharon will welcome back the Tour with one of the season's richest events.  The "Cider Jug 40" presented by Zarin Truck & Auto will pay $4,000 to-win with qualifying and heat races on Friday, September 10 and the remainder of the show on Saturday night.

For the first time in Series history, Genesee Speedway will play host to back-to-back Tour events on Friday and Saturday, September 24-25 with $2,000 to-win each night for the "Topless Nationals".  The Saturday show will be the "Traveling Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance with product giveaways for regional racers in the New York area.  The RUSH Sprint Cars will also run a complete show paying $1,000 to-win each night as part of their third annual "Empire State Classic".

For the sixth straight year, the Tour will be part of the "Pittsburgher 100" with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series on October 1-2.  The "Bill Hendren Memorial" has been increasing in stature every year as last season was the first time to offer complete shows each night with $3,000 on the line.  Not only has the feature purse increased, but so has the "One to Remember" Non-Winners race along with the Non-Qualifier.  Sponsors such as Pro Fabrication, FK Rod Ends, Pace Performance, CrateInsider.com, the Hendren Family, and others have stepped up to really make this into a major event.  In 2005, Bill Hendren, the patriarch of the Hendren family and founder of Hendren Racing Engines, had the foresight to begin building his affiliation with crate racing.

Another track hosting their first ever RUSH Tour event in 2021 is Latrobe Speedway.  The half-mile western Pennsylvania speed plant will welcome in RUSH on Friday, October 8 for night one of the "Fall Fest" bringing back a tradition from the defunct Challenger Raceway. 

And as what been an annual tradition since RUSH's inception, the "Steel City Stampede" will bring down the curtain on the Touring Series season on October 15-16.   This year’s “Steel City Stampede” will be the 13th edition of this huge event that includes most of the region’s racing divisions.  There has only been one driver to win multiple RUSH Late Model events; Max Blair won in 2012 and has now won back-to-back events in 2019-2020. Other past winners include Josh Holtgraver (2009), Bryan Force (2010), Butch Lambert (2011), Dennis Lunger, Jr. (2013), Chad Ruhlman (2014), Jacob Hawkins (2015), John Mollick (2016), John Waters (2017), and Colton Flinner (2018).

All Tour events in 2021 will pay a minimum of $2,000 to-win, $225 to-start with a $200 to-win non-qualifier (30 cars or more), and guaranteed $125 tow money, while 11 events will pay more than the standard payoff.  All events will utilize the group qualifying format featuring $100 FK Rod Ends “Shock the Clock Qualifying” and $25 to-win FK Rod End heat races.  Other nightly contingencies will be announced. 

The championship points will be based off the cumulative Marquee Events.  Member drivers/owners will be able to use Platinum Events replace their worst Marquee Event point scores.  Drivers can also use Platinum Events (designated in the schedule below) to replace up to two missed Marquee Events, an increase from one due the expanded schedule.

Touring membership is available for $125 or drivers can join both Weekly and Touring for $225.  The membership is available at the following link: https://rushlatemodels.com/memberships.html

2021 Touring Series Point Fund presented by Flynn's Tire & Born2Run Lubricants ($43,000): 1. $12,000  2. $6,000  3. $4,000  4. $3,000  5. $2,500  6. $2,000  7. $1,800  8. $1,600  9. $1,400  10. $1,200  11-15. $1,000*  16-20. $500*.  *Drivers/Owners in positions 11-20 in points MUST compete in 75% of the total Tour events to receive point fund monies.

2021 RUSH Late Model Touring Series presented by Flynn's Tire & Born2Run Lubricants Schedule*

·         Wed, April 14  Delaware International Speedway (Delmar, DE) - "Battle of the Bay" Speedweek ("Raelyn Huffman Memorial")- Minimum $3,500 to-win (Marquee)

·         Thr, April 15  Georgetown Speedway (Georgetown, DE) - "Battle of the Bay" Speedweek - $3,000 to-win (Marquee)

·         Fri, April 16  Potomac Speedway (Mechanicsville, MD) - "Battle of the Bay" Speedweek - $3,000 to-win (Marquee)

·         Sat, April 17  Winchester Speedway (Winchester, VA) - "Battle of the Bay" Speedweek - $3,000 to-win (Marquee)

·         Sun, April 25  McKean County Raceway (East Smethport, PA) - $2,000 to-win (Marquee)

·         Saturday, May 15  Stateline Speedway (Busti, NY) - "Bill Law Memorial" - $2,000 to-win (Marquee)

·         Sunday, May 16  Eriez Speedway (Erie, PA) - $2,000 to-win (Marquee)

·         Friday, May 28  Outlaw Speedway (Dundee, NY) - "Gary Montgomery Memorial" - $2,000 to-win  (Marquee)

·         Saturday, May 29  Genesee Speedway (Batavia, NY) - $2,000 to-win (Marquee)

·         Sunday, May 30  Bradford Speedway (Bradford, PA) - $2,000 to-win (Platinum)

·         Thr-Sat, June 24-26  Lernerville Speedway (Sarver, PA) - "Bill Emig Memorial” at the "Firecracker 100" presented by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply - $10,000 to-win (Marquee) - rain date June 27

·         Friday, July 2  Dog Hollow Speedway (Northern Cambria, PA) - $3,000 to-win

·         Saturday, July 3  Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway (Imperial, PA) - "Herb Scott Memorial” - $2,000 to-win (Marquee)

·         Saturday, July 17  Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH) - "Bill Forney Memorial" - Minimum $2,199 to-win (Marquee)

·         Saturday, August 7  Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway (Imperial, PA) - “Jook George Steel City Classic” presented by Zarin Truck & Auto - Payoff TBA (Marquee) - rain date August 8

·         Sunday, August 15  Eriez Speedway (Erie, PA) - "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance with over $30,000 in product giveaways - $2,000 to-win (Marquee)

·         Fri & Sat, September 10-11  Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH) - "Cider Jug 40" presented by Zarin Truck & Auto as part of the "Apple Festival Nationals" - $4,000 to-win (Marquee)

·         Friday, September 24  Genesee Speedway (Batavia, NY) - "Topless Nationals" - $2,000 to-win (Platinum)

·         Saturday, September 25  Genesee Speedway (Batavia, NY) - "Traveling Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance as part of the "Topless Nationals" - $2,000 to-win (Marquee) - rain date September 26

·         Friday, October 1  Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway (Imperial, PA) - “Bill Hendren Memorial” - $3,000 to-win (Marquee) plus "One to Remember" Non-Winners Race ($1,000)

·         Saturday, October 2  Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway (Imperial, PA) - “Bill Hendren Memorial” - $3,000 to-win (Marquee) part of the "Pittsburgher 100"  - rain date October 3

·         Friday, October 8  Latrobe Speedway (Latrobe, PA) - $2,000 to-win (Platinum)

·         Fri & Sat, October 15-16  Lernerville Speedway (Sarver, PA) - "Steel City Stampede" - $2,000 to-win (Marquee) - rain date October 17

*Schedule is subject to change. Additional date(s) may be added.

RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Pace Performance together with Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, Born2Run Lubricants, Flynn's Tire & Auto Service, FK Rod Ends, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, Dirt Defender, Wrisco Industries, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body & Graphic, Zarin Truck & Automotive, Sherwood Wheels, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, Stop-Fyre, Lincoln Electric, Velocita-USA, Waterstone Mortgage Hermitage, CrateInsider.com, Vahlco Wheels, and Wedge Motorsports.

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. 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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