12/5/2020
RUSH Late Model Series
THE TRADITION CONTINUES AS RUSH READIES TO DISTRIBUTE MORE THAN $66,500 IN VALUABLE PRODUCTS TO ELIGIBLE MEMBER RACERS AS PART OF 2020 "MANUFACTURERS
THE TRADITION CONTINUES AS RUSH READIES TO DISTRIBUTE MORE THAN $66,500 IN VALUABLE PRODUCTS TO ELIGIBLE MEMBER RACERS AS PART OF 2020 "MANUFACTURERS NIGHTS" PRESENTED BY MSD
By Mike Leone
December 5, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...All be it in a slightly different manner than usual as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted "Manufacturers Nights" presented by MSD Performance that are presented throughout the regular season at RUSH-sanctioned speedways annually; more than $66,500 in products will still be distributed to eligible member racers through each division's Weekly Series Championship points thanks to the excellent support of the Pace Performance RUSH Racing Series' corporate marketing partners! Specific "Manufacturers Nights" for each division will return in 2021 to various RUSH-sanctioned speedways throughout the region.
The "Manufacturers Night" debuted in 2012 for the Late Model division and has since become a much anticipated staple and signature of the RUSH Racing Series. With each successive year, the amount of products and overall value distributed to RUSH racers have grown tremendously; what began with just $10,000 in products now typically sees well over $100,000 of products dispersed and includes events for the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, RUSH Pro Mods, and RUSH Sprint Cars.
In 2017, a "traveling" "Manufacturers Night" was added to accommodate RUSH Late Model racers on the northern and southernmost end of the RUSH region and allows these racers the ability to take home valuable products as well. In 2021, the "traveling" Manufacturers Night is set to take place at Genesee Speedway in conjunction with their "Topless Nationals" September 24-25, which will feature back to back $2,000 to-win RUSH Late Model Touring Series events. The traditional event's location and date will be announced in the near future. The new RUSH Stock Cars will also have their own "Manufacturers Night" in 2021 at Dog Hollow Speedway!
"I went at the idea on a wing and a prayer," explained Emig when looking back at creating a Manufacturers Night in 2012. "We announced we would distribute $10,000 in product, I honestly at that time had nothing! One of the best things my father ever taught me was 'don't ever be afraid to ask, all they can do is say no!' Well over the years I've done a lot of asking, got a lot of no's, but thankfully got many, many yeses! Since I've gotten the initial foundation in place it's definitely been a lot easier. I never imagined when I made my first phone call to a manufacturer that nine years later we'd be typically distributing well over $100,000 of product in the years to come, excluding 2020 due to the pandemic."
"We are blessed with numerous nationally recognized and regional corporate marketing partners who believe not only in the various concepts that have helped build RUSH," continued Emig. "Being able to award tens of thousands of dollars in actual product via these companies directly into the hands of our racers in the long run helps RUSH stay healthy and viable and provides a trickledown effect to all of our RUSH partners; racers, speedways, and of course our sponsors. By awarding a racer a product package that is valued at a minimum of $300 and as high as $1800 allows him to utilize those dollars in other ways to keep his team viable. We strive to make sure all the contributed products are utilized and needed by our teams."
"When COVID-19 began taking a foothold back in the spring we weren't sure if there was even going to be a season, let alone Manufacturers Nights," acknowledged Emig. "Asking companies for money and product was the last thing on our minds for several months. To still be able to pay out the point funds that we are and offer over $66,500 in product for these Manufacturers Nights after what everyone faced this year is truly a testament to our wonderful marketing partners. We ask as always that RUSH racers support these manufacturer that so greatly support them!"
Close Racing Supply owner Joel Smith has been a longtime supporter of not only RUSH, but racing all throughout the Northeast over the year. Smith is now one of the partners at McKean County Raceway in his new venture of race track promoting beginning in 2021. Smith had the following to say. "The RUSH Series does a great job at giving back to its racers with Manufacturers Nights. Every racer puts to good use these products that are donated by these top notch manufactures. I think every racer is grateful for the Series and all these manufacturers that put this deal on. RUSH continues to grow and does great things for not only the racers, but also the promoters and race tracks."
RKR owner Russ King has substantially contributed to "Manufacturers Nights" throughout the years and had the following to say. "I support all RUSH divisions and contribute to both the RUSH Late Model and RUSH Sportsman Modified divisions' Manufacturers Nights. I believe that if it wasn't for RUSH and Chevrolet Performance crate engine racing a lot of people couldn't race. The cost of open engine racing is so expensive that it makes it hard for a guy to get in our sports; RUSH offers a great option!"
Steve Dixon has been one of the top RUSH Late Model racers for many years and has also competed in the RUSH Pro Mods in recent years. "I've been a supporter of RUSH Series since its inception," stated the Smethport, Pa. racer. "The low cost crate engines have allowed me to race more within my budget. Recently I've been fortunate to drive for a couple car owners allowing me to race in both the RUSH Late Model and Pro Mod divisions, also because of the cost of these cars and RUSH'S cost-saving rules. Myself and my car owners look forward to getting rewarded each year at Manufacturers Night- it's a great thing the RUSH Series does for its competitors."
Parameters of eligibility for this year's "Manufacturers Nights" vary slightly per divisions; however, order of the draw for all divisions will be Weekly Series Champion car owner first followed by second place, third place, etc. Championship tiebreaker will be used to break ties in all positions order of drawings. Owners/Drivers will be contacted very soon to make their initial selection.
For the Late Models, the top 50 in National Weekly Series points will receive a prize valued at a minimum of $400 and will share approximately $29,000 of products. The top prize is four F3 Tornado Brake Calipers and brake fluid from TBM Brakes valued at $1,845. The Late Model list is available at the following link: http://www.rushlatemodels.com/Manufacturers%20Night%20Prize%20List%202020.pdf
For the Sportsman Modifieds, the 14 members that did not compete in a non-RUSH sanctioned 602 event against a contested RUSH show will share nearly $16,000 in 32 prizes as each driver will receive at least two prizes valued at a minimum of $300! The top prize is two F1 Tornado Calipers and two F3 Tornado Calipers along with brake fluid from TBM Brakes valued at $1,420. The Sportsman Modified list is available at the following link: http://www.rushsportsmanmods.com/Manufacturers%20Night%20Mods%20Prize%20List%202020.pdf
For the Sprint Cars, all 23 members that competed will receive a prize valued at a minimum of $300 and will share over $12,000 in products. The top prize is a full custom drivers suit from Velocita-USA valued at $1,000! The Sprint Car list is available at the following link: http://www.rushsprintcars.com/Manufacturers%20Night%202020%20Sprint%20Car%20Prize%20List.pdf
For the Pro Mods, the eight members will share approximately $10,000 in 20 prizes as each driver will receive at least two prizes valued at a minimum of $300! The top prize is four GM Metric Brake Calipers and brake fluid from TBM Brakes valued at $1,115. The Pro Mod list is available at the following link: http://www.rushpromods.com/Manufacturers%20Night%20Pro%20Mods%20Prize%20List%202020.pdf
A random draw will be conducted for the remaining Sportsman Mod and Pro Mod prizes after drivers select their first two prizes. That means four Sportsman Modified and four Pro Mod drivers will be guaranteed to take home more than $1,000 in products each!
The following companies have made the 2020 "Manufacturers Nights" possible: Allegheny Tool & Supply, Applebee Motorsports, Bazell Race Fuels, Benic Enterprises, Bicknell Racing Products, Big Daddy's Speed Center, Bilstein Shocks, Close Racing Supply, Crate Insider, Dirt Defender, FK Rod Ends, Frankland Racing Supply, Holley Performance Parts, Hoosier Tire Distributors, Insinger Performance, Jones Racing Products, Landrum Performance Springs, Lincoln Electric, MSD Performance, Ontime Body & Graphic, Performance Bodies & Parts, Precise Racing Products, Race 1, Racers New & Used Parts Warehouse, Racing Electronics, Russ King Racing, Schoenfeld Headers, Sherwood Wheels, Sunoco Race Fuels, TBM Brakes, Triple X Components, Vahlco Wheels, Velocita-USA, Wedge Motorsports, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, and Wrisco Industries.
E-mail can be sent to the RUSH Racing Series at info@rushracingseries.com 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.
Article Credit: Mike Leone
