SWEENEY RUSH LATE MODEL SERIES ANNOUNCES NEW TOURING SERIES FORMAT FOR 2016 FEATURING 12 MARQUEE EVENTS ALONG WITH PLATINUM SHOWS & OTHER LOYALTY INCENTIVES

By Mike Leone

 

October 16, 2015               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Pulaski, PA)...As the 2015 racing season comes to a close, Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Racing Series Directors Vicki Emig and Mike Leone continue to focus on adjusting the RUSH Late Model programs to better serve the needs of their sanctioned speedways and member drivers moving forward.  A recent example was the new "Track Pack Bonus Program" for 2016, which will award increased monies to weekly competitors at their individual tracks.  Continuing in that mindset, adjustments have also been made to the Touring Series, all of which are believed will be well received by RUSH Touring member drivers.

 

The 2016 Touring Series will feature 12 premier Marquee Events paying a minimum of $2,000 to-win that are primarily centrally located within the region on weekends utilizing a group qualifying format featuring $100 Bobby Lake Motorsports “Shock the Clock Qualifying” and $25 to-win heat races.  In addition, another six "optional" Platinum Events will be scheduled paying a minimum of $1,500 to-win.  Additional incentive packages for supporting Touring member racers will also be part of the Touring program.    

             

Drivers will be able to use a maximum of one of the Platinum Events as a substitution race for a missed Marquee Event.  Drivers will also be able to use up to a maximum of three Platinum Events to replace their worst Marquee Event finishes.  If a driver uses one of the Platinum Events as a substitution for a Marquee Event, he or she will then only be able to use up to two additional Platinum Events to replace their worst Marquee Event finishes.

 

While the top 12 drivers in 2016 Touring Series points will earn point fund monies, RUSH will guarantee a minimum of $250 in point fund monies to an additional eight drivers with perfect attendance (12 Marquee Events or 11 Marquee Events and 1 Platinum Event).  This means possibly 20 drivers could earn Touring Series point fund monies!

 

A Loyalty Program will also be included.  For every four consecutive Marquee Events attended, Touring member drivers will receive a free $100 entry fee at their next event.  This will be an additional $300 to those drivers that have perfect attendance.  Touring drivers that have perfect attendance for the season (12 Marquee Events or 11 Marquee Events and 1 Platinum Event) will also be guaranteed to win a valuable contingency prize(s) at the season ending awards banquet.  Special contingency product drawings will also be held for drivers during the season for drivers that are part of the Loyalty Program.

 

"This program is basically the culmination of nine years of suggestions by our Touring drivers," explained Emig.  "It's a different era than it was when we started in 2007.  And while we still averaged 30 or so cars at our Tour events, drivers aren't traveling like they used to and we've lost many of our core top traveling teams.  Over the years we've heard racers ask for less mandated travel and midweek shows, higher paying races, qualifying, the option of skipping or throwing out a race(s), and more incentive and bonuses for touring racers.  We thought by going to the twin tier system like we did in 2015 it would give more racers incentive to participate in shows in their region, but other than a few it didn't accomplish what we had hoped due to some of the prior stated suggestions.   We did speak to a few racers as we were tweaking the program and we received a great deal of positive feedback on this format.  I think we might be seeing a good number of our veteran touring participants return with us on a consistent basis in 2016, which will be really exciting not only for us, but our fans and sanctioned speedways.”

 

The 2015 Touring Series will conclude at Lernerville Speedway on October 22-24 with a Bazell/Sunoco Race Fuels Southern event.  Thursday night will be practice with heat races on Friday followed by last chance B mains and the $2,000 to-win “Gary Knollinger Memorial” on Saturday evening. 

 

Stay tuned throughout the offseason for more exciting updates.  

 

RUSH Late Model marketing partners include Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC, Pace Performance, Hoosier Tire, Bilstein Shocks, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, MSD Performance, Maxima Racing Oil, Jones Racing Products, Alternative Power Sources, Precise Racing Products, ARbodies, TBM Brakes, K&N Filters, Lincoln Electric, Beyea Headers, FK Rod Ends, Bobby Lake Motorsports, Velocita-USA, High Gear Speed Shop, CrateInsider.com, B.R.A.K.E.S., 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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