7/1/2021
RUSH Late Model Series
CAREER 1ST WIN FOR JACOB WOLFE IN PACE RUSH SPORTSMAN MODS; PAUL GRIGSBY, DARRELL BOSSARD & MARK WHITENER AMONG NEW RUSH LATE MODEL WINNERS
CAREER 1ST WIN FOR JACOB WOLFE IN PACE RUSH SPORTSMAN MODS; PAUL GRIGSBY, DARRELL BOSSARD & MARK WHITENER AMONG NEW RUSH LATE MODEL WINNERS
By Marcie Barlow
July 1, 2021 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...There was plenty of Pace Performance RUSH Racing Series together with Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC action throughout the weekend as the Late Model, Sportsman Modified, Pro Mod, and Stock Car divisions were all in action in addition to the RUSH Karting Series. Florida driver Mark Whitener claimed the win in Flynn’s Tire/Born2Run Lubricants Touring Series action at Lernerville Speedway, while Jacob Wolfe (Sharon), Paul Grigsby (Genesee), and Darrell Bossard (Stateline) also scored their first victories of the year. Veterans like Dennis Lunger, Jr. (Stateline), Jeremy Wonderling (Eriez Speedway), brothers Brian and Jason Knowles (The Hill & Woodhull) and Chad Ruhlman (Sharon) were victorious.
Weekly Pace Performance RUSH Late Model action at Potomac Speedway saw Jeremy Pilkerton tally his fifth victory of the season. Pilkerton started on the pole and led the entire distance of the main event for the win. Ed Pope, Jr., Megan Mann, Mike Raleigh and Timmy Booth completed the top five.
Mike Epler and Darin Horton led the RUSH Late Model competitors to the green flag at The Hill Speedway Friday evening. Epler led the first lap with Horton leading lap two. Steve LeBarron took over the top spot on lap three with Brian Knowles on his bumper. The duo of LeBarron and Knowles swapped the lead several times before Knowles took the lead for good on lap 15. Knowles' win came in his first 2021 appearance at The Hill. Last week's winner, LeBarron, finished in the runner-up position with Epler, Horton and Joe Lane rounding out the top five.
Of course the major focal point of the weekend for the Pace Performance RUSH Series was the "Bill Emig Memorial" presented by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply that took place at Lernerville Speedway. It was the third straight year, the Flynn's Tire/Born2Run Lubricants Touring Series was part of the "Firecracker 100" weekend with the World of Outlaws Late Models. A season high and event record 54 RUSH Late Models from 11 different states competed. In the end, it was Florida's Mark Whitener driving local car owner Dirk Neal's #1 to the $10,000 victory. Series points leader Kyle Hardy was second. Joe Martin turned in his best Tour performance of the season in third. Georgia's Cody Overton was fourth in his first career RUSH Tour start, while New York standout David Pangrazio completed the top five.
The RUSH Late Models competed at Woodhull Speedway Saturday evening as part of the annual "Jim Williams Memorial". Jim Buck led the first eight circuits in search of his career first win before Jason “The Jet” Knowles claimed the top spot. Knowles had stretched his lead to a full straightaway when the caution flew on lap 16 and gave second place running Brian Knowles once last chance to take the lead from his brother. Jason held off his brother Brian to score his first win of the season at the New York oval, and second overall of the season in RUSH competition. Buck held off the challenges of Steve LeBarron to finish in third. Darin Horton came home in the fifth position.
Paul Grigsby’s persistence finally paid off at Genesee Speedway Saturday evening as the Springville, NY driver scored the victory. Grigsby led the main event for the entire 25-lap distance to pick up his first win since winning on August 22, 2020 at Genesee. In addition, Grigsby was the sixth different winner in Pace Performance RUSH Late Model action this season at the 1/3-mile oval. Bill Holmes, Dave DuBois, Austyn Fugle and Beamer Guzzardi completed the top five.
In Pace Performance RUSH Late Model action at Stateline Speedway, Khole Wanzer led the first lap before Darrell Bossard took over. Bossard weathered several cautions, but held on to score his first victory of the season in RUSH competition. Steve Dixon, Scott Gurdak, David Parker and Wanzer followed Bossard to the checkered flag.
In Stateline RUSH Pro Mod action, it was veteran Dennis Lunger, Jr. picking up the fourth victory at the track. C.J. Irons and Greg Johnson led the event in its opening stages before Lunger took over the top spot on lap six. Lunger’s pace was slowed by several cautions but each time green flag racing resumed the Albion, Pa. driver fought off Johnson’s challenges. At the stripe it was Lunger, who picked up his fifth overall RUSH win of 2021. Johnson, Adam Ashcroft, Mike Eschrich and Al Brewer completed the top five.
Sunday evening at Eriez Speedway the Pace Performance RUSH Late Models and Stock Cars were in action. Mikael Beaver chalked up his fourth victory in the Stock division at Eriez. Meanwhile, Jeremy Wonderling stopped off at Eriez on his way home to New York from Lernerville and picked up his first victory of the season at the Erie, Pa. oval. Jason Genco, Darrell Bossard, Breyton Santee and Kurt Stebbins rounded out the top five.
The Pace Performance RUSH Pro-Mods were also in action Sunday at Bradford Speedway. Steve Dixon was the victor over Al Brewer, Mike Eschrich, Critter Hemphill and Duane Powers.
Both the Pace Performance RUSH Sprint Car and the RUSH Sportsman Modified divisions were scheduled for a two-race weekend; however, Mother Nature cancelled Friday’s action at Raceway 7. The RUSH Sprint Car Series saw 19 competitors in action Saturday night at Sharon Speedway with the 2018 and 2019 Equipment Rental Options Weekly Series Champion, Chad Ruhlman, scoring his first victory of 2021 at the Hartford, Ohio speed plant. Nolan Groves and Arnie Kent led the field to the green for the 20-lap main event. Groves led the first five circuits in search of his third straight Sharon win until a mechanical failure sidelined him for the evening. Ruhlman inherited the lead when the racing action resumed and scored an impressive 5.029 second victory over Blaze Myers, Kent, Amelia Clay (who had her best career finish to date) and Rod George.
Jacob Wolfe joined the list of fist time winners in RUSH Sportsman Modified action on Saturday evening at Sharon Speedway. The 24-year-old competitor led all 20 laps of the feature to defeat current divisional points leader Justin Shea by 0.578 seconds. Chas Wolbert held off veterans Garrett Krummert and Rob Kristyak to come home third.
Winners in Pace Performance/Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Karting action at the Stateline Speedway this week: RUSH Amateur: Emmie Bush; RUSH #1: Ryan Chase; Rush #2: Cody Rickard; RUSH Adult: Coty Schauers.
Racing action at Delaware International Speedway was cancelled this past weekend. In addition, Dog Hollow Speedway, Fulton Speedway, Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway and Winchester Speedway were not in action. The Pace Performance RUSH Late Models also had the weekend off at Bradford Speedway and Raceway 7.
The Pace RUSH Late Model Flynn's Tire/Born2Run Lubricants Tour will visit Dog Hollow Speedway for the first time ever this Friday night for a $3,000 to-win show and then visit Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway for the running of the "Herb Scott Memorial" on Saturday. The RUSH Sprint Cars will join the Late Models at Dog Hollow Speedway on Friday, while the RUSH Sportsman Modifieds will compete on Saturday night at PPMS. Looking ahead, the RUSH Sprints will join the FloRacing All Star Circuit of Champions for “Justin Snyder’s Salute to the Troops” event at Sharon Speedway on Sunday, July 11.
Weekly RUSH Late Model action is scheduled this Friday at Raceway 7 and The Hill Speedway. The RUSH Late Models have the week off at Potomac Speedway. Saturday night Pace Performance RUSH Late Model action is on the card at Delaware International Speedway, Genesee Speedway and Stateline Speedway. The RUSH Late Models have Saturday night off at Fulton Speedway. Sunday night RUSH racing action is slated at both Eriez Speedway and Bradford Speedway.
McKean County Raceway was to be in action Thursday night (July 1) with RUSH Late Models and RUSH Pro Mods, but that event was rained out. Their next event is Saturday, July 10 as Stateline will be closed. Coming up on Friday, July 9 will be a Pace Performance RUSH Late Model Weekly Series special at Ransomville (NY) Speedway; "The Ones That Left Us Too Early 30” was put together in efforts spearheaded by racer T.J. Downs to honor his mother Violet, who passed away in December 2020. The show will pay $1,250 to-win, $150 to-start.
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, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, 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, and Wedge Motorsports.
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. The RUSH Racing Series website is www.rushracingseries.com. Like our various Facebook page and Twitter accounts by searching for the appropriate divisions.
Article Credit: Marcie Barlow
