5/23/2024
RUSH Late Model Series
CAREER 1ST HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL WIN FOR RYAN HARE AT TYLER COUNTY; GALE RUTH JR & KADEN MICHAEL OPEN RUSH SPRINT & STOCK CAR SEASONS VICTORIOUS
By Marcie Barlow
May 23, 2024
(Pulaski, PA)...The Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Late Models, RUSH Sprint Cars, and RUSH Stock Cars were all in action this past weekend as rainy weather finally gave way to warmer temperatures and sunshine. In RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet Weekly Series action, 19-year-old Ryan Hare scored his career first victory at Tyler County Speedway, while the Michael Family celebrated as father, Andy, claimed the Late Model win while son, Kaden, picked up the Stock Car checkered flag at Eriez Speedway.
Saturday evening at Tyler County Speedway former Mini Wedge track champion Ryan Hare withstood the challenges of veterans Kyle Thomas and AJ Spagnuolo to score his career first RUSH Late Model victory! The third year RUSH racer from Elkins, WV posted consistent lap speeds for the entire distance of the 20-lap main event and held off Thomas by 1.369 seconds at the finish line. Spagnuolo, Lane Brock, and Michael Moreland rounded out the top five.
Doug Ricotta and Dave Dubois led the field to the green Saturday evening at Genesee Speedway. The duo swapped the top spot back and forth for the first five laps before Ricotta was able to pull away. A lap six caution slowed the field; however, Ricotta stayed out front when the action resumed. Ricotta caught lapped traffic in the closing stages of the event which allowed Jeremy Wonderling to close the gap. With three laps to go, Ricotta hit a rut in turn one, which shot his car out of the racing groove and allowed Wonderling to get by. Wonderling went on to lead the remainder of the event and score his second consecutive victory at the track. Ricotta held on for second with Austin Hauser, Paul Grigsby and Bill Holmes completing the top five.
Braeden Dillinger invaded Zanesville, Ohio Saturday evening and used his second place starting position to take command of the 20-lap RUSH Late Model main event at Muskingum County Speedway. Dillinger, who was making his MCS debut, led the entire distance to score a 3.190 second win worth $1,000 for his second overall City Chevrolet Weekly Series win of 2024. Logan Reed, who won the opener, was second to lead the City Chevrolet Track Pack points. 3C Graphix Futures Cup racer Lincoln Smith was a career best second over Ryan Robey and Larry Holbrook.
Brian Knowles and John Waters led the RUSH Late Model field to the green at Woodhull Raceway with Waters immediately taking command. The Whitesville, NY driver led the entire distance of the 20-lap event to score a convincing full straightaway victory for his first win of 2024. Knowles came home in second with opening night winner Steve LeBarron finishing third. Jacob Tubbs and Rickie Loucks rounded out the top five.
The third time was the charm at Eriez Speedway as they were finally able to get their season opener in this past Sunday. The field of 22 RUSH Late Models was led to the green by Braeden Dillinger and Andy Michael. Michael immediately grabbed the top spot and went on to score his first ever RUSH win at Eriez. Jason Genco, Breyton Santee, David Parker, and Khole Wanzer completed the top five.
The Michael Family of Olean, NY continued their victory lane celebration as Andy’s son, Kaden, scored the win in RUSH Stock Car action. Like his father, the younger Michael also started on the outside of the front row and went on to capture the 2024 season opener for the RUSH Stocks. 3C Graphix Futures Cup racer Alex Bush was a career best second over Cameron Kramer, William Baker, Jr., and Gavin Eddy.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sprint Car Series ventured to Tyler County Speedway for the 2024 season opener in Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series action. Veteran Gale Ruth Jr. picked up the $800 victory- the 24th of his career in the RUSH Sprint Cars. Blaze Myers, John Mollick, Trent Marshall, and rookie Curt Emings completed the top five in the seventh appearance by the RUSH Sprint Cars at "The Bullring".
Weather claimed the events at McKean County Raceway, Dog Hollow Speedway, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, and Stateline Speedway. Raceway 7 was off on Friday after a having a very successful World of Outlaws Late Model event on Thursday night.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Dirt Late Model Flynn’s Tire/Gunter’s Honey Touring Series returns to action this Friday at the Outlaw Speedway for the "Gary Montgomery Memorial". The Series will then travel to Genesee Speedway on Saturday and conclude the weekend at Tri-City Raceway Park on Sunday in the first visit to the Franklin, Pa. half-mile in nearly six years. All three events pay $3,000 to win.
RUSH Late Model weekly racing action is scheduled at Raceway 7, Dog Hollow Speedway, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Stateline Speedway, Tyler County Speedway (Sunday), Winchester Speedway and Woodhull Raceway.
Late Model competitors at McKean County Raceway, Bradford Speedway, Glen Ridge, and Eriez Speedway will have the week off.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Sportsman Modified Division will see action Friday at Raceway 7 for the second round of Wedge Motorsports "Route 7 Rumble" Series action. Rob Kristyak won the May 3 opener at Raceway 7. The RUSH Sprint Cars will be in action at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway Saturday after being rained out there on April 6. RUSH Pro Mod action is scheduled at Freedom Motorsports Park on Friday and Bradford Speedway on Sunday. In addition, RUSH Stock Car action will also be at Freedom and Eriez.
The first long weekend of the summer is here is so be sure and enjoy some great RUSH racing action at a track near you.
The RUSH Racing Series is brought to you by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply together with Born2Run Lubricants along with the support of Hoosier Tire, Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, Insinger Performance, Flynn's Tire, Gunter's Honey, Sunbelt Rentals, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, Landrum Performance Springs, 3C Graphix, Dave Poske's Performance Parts, Velocita-USA, Wieland Metal Services, Frankland Racing Supply, Dusted Steak Seasoning, Ontime Body & Graphic, Sherwood Wheels, D&V Jewelers, Dusted, Heritage Wine Cellars, Precise Racing Products, Wedge Motorsports, and Racing Electronics.
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. Check out www.rushracingseries.com for more information or each individual RUSH Series Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter) account.
Article Credit: Marcie Barlow
