7/28/2021
RUSH Late Model Series
TOP PACE RUSH LATE MODEL RACERS BEN POLICZ & JASON GENCO BREAK INTO VICTORY LANE FOR THE 1ST TIME IN 2021 WITH PITTSBURGH & ERIEZ WINS; STEVE DIXON'S
TOP PACE RUSH LATE MODEL RACERS BEN POLICZ & JASON GENCO BREAK INTO VICTORY LANE FOR THE 1ST TIME IN 2021 WITH PITTSBURGH & ERIEZ WINS; STEVE DIXON'S BRADFORD DOMINANCE CONTINUES WINNING BOTH RUSH PRO MODS & LM; CHAD RUHLMAN SWEEPS RUSH SPRINTS TO MOVE INTO POINTS LEAD
By Marcie Barlow
July 28, 2021 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...After several weeks of dodging thunderstorms and rain showers, the Pace Performance RUSH Racing Series together with Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC was able to enjoy an action packed three-day weekend amongst all of its divisions. RUSH Late Model standouts Ben Policz and Jason Genco were finally able to break into victory lane at their home tracks of Pittsburgh and Eriez respectively. Steve Dixon has been on a hot streak of late and that continued on Sunday night at Bradford as he swept both the RUSH Late Model and RUSH Pro Mod races. Kyle Hardy and Jeremy Wonderling continue to go toe-to-toe in the Late Model National Weekly Series as both drivers posted a pair of victories. Chad Ruhlman went to the top of the Sprint Car points after a sweep of the weekend.
Lernerville Speedway hosted the second annual "RUSH Summer Showcase" on Friday with the Pace Performance RUSH Late Models, Sprint Cars and Sportsman Modifieds all in action. Michael Duritsky, Jr. led the entire 20-lap distance of the Late Model main event to pick up his first career Lernerville win, worth $800. Will Thomas III was second in his season debut as Logan Zarin, Darryl Charlier and Joe Martin completed the top five.
The Pace Performance RUSH Sprint Cars competed in two nights of Equipment Rental Options Weekly Series action this past weekend. They began their weekend at Lernerville Speedway Friday evening. This event was also the division’s "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance as nearly $14,000 in products were distributed to the 22 race teams in attendance. The 20 lap main event, which was also caution free, saw Blaze Myers and Kevin Ruhlman lead the field to the green. Myers led the first 14 circuits, while fifth place starter Chad Ruhlman slowly worked his way to the front and drove by Myers in turn four to take over the top spot. He then led the final five circuits to score the victory and a $600 payday. Myers finished second with veteran John Mollick claiming the third spot. Gale Ruth, Jr, and Zach Morrow rounded out the top five.
The RUSH Sprint Car teams travelled to Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway to compete for the first time this season on Saturday night. Chad Ruhlman was able to sweep led the $1,200 weekend and take over the lead in the $5,000 to-win Equipment Rental Options Weekly Series standings. Chad's son Kevin was leading the feature when he got into the fence on lap seven and flipped. Keep Kevin in your thoughts and prayers as he recuperates at home from a broken back. Zach Morrow, who recently took over the Mahoney/Eckart #9J ride, turned in its best performance of the season in second. Gale Ruth, Jr. picked up his second top five finish of the weekend as he finished in the third position. Blaze Myers and Nolan Groves finished fourth and fifth respectively. A PPMS RUSH Sprint record 16 cars were on hand.
The Pace Performance RUSH Sportsman Modifieds were also in action on both Friday and Saturday. Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Weekly Series action at Lernerville Speedway on Friday saw Chas Wolbert score his milestone 40th career win in the division's first appearance of the season, worth $500 with 25 cars on hand. Wolbert led the entire distance of the 20-lap event with rookie Ben Easler claiming the runner-up spot. Justin Shea, Tony Tatgenhorst and Rob Kristyak completed the top five.
On Saturday, the RUSH Modified teams travelled to Sharon Speedway where a season high 27 cars were on hand. An invert 0 put Jacob Jordan and Wolbert on the front row of the 20 lap main event. Jordan, Wolbert and Justin Shea battled for the lead on the opening circuit until Jordan and Wolbert made contact. Wolbert dropped to fifth following this incident, which allowed Jordan Ehrenberg to move to second and Garrett Krummert to move into the third spot. The caution would wave for Jordan on lap four. When the action resumed Shea was in the lead with Krummert and Wolbert battling side-by-side for second. The caution flag would wave several times on laps 12, 13 and 14 setting up a six-lap shootout for the top spot. Krummert and Shea battled side by side on lap 16 with Krummert finally able to make the winning pass. He then held off both Shea and Wolbert to score a 0.512 second victory- his second of the year at Sharon. Shea crossed the finish line in second but was later disqualified for a technical infraction. Wolbert was credited with a second place finish with Tony Tatgenhorst, Brandon Ritchey and Rob Kristyak rounding out the top five.
Matt Latta picked up his second RUSH Late Model victory of the season at Raceway 7 Friday evening. Latta started on the pole and led the entire distance of the 20 lap event to score the win over Cory Sines, Darrell Bossard, Chad Sines and Joe Long.
It was Mid-Season Championship Night at The Hill Speedway on Friday. Joe Lane took the lead at the green flag in the Pace Performance RUSH Late Model A-main; however, an eight-car pileup found the red flag being displayed before lap one was in the books. When racing resumed, Darrin Horton set the pace for the first eight circuits before Brian Knowles took over the lead. Knowles went on to lead the remainder of the event and score his second win of the year at the 1/4-mile oval. Horton picked up the second spot followed by Chris Fleming in his first ever appearance, Steve LeBarron and Brad Smith. A Hill record 11 cars were on hand in the first year of RUSH sanctioning.
The RUSH Late Models made their fourth appearance of the season at Georgetown Speedway on Friday night, but first since May 14. It was reported to be the largest Friday night crowd in promoter Brett Deyo's six seasons at the helm! Pace National Weekly Series points leader Kyle Hardy started in sixth and took over from Nick Davis just past the halfway point and cruised to the $1,000 victory, his second of the season at the Delaware oval. Davis was second over Joey Warren, Donald Lingo, Jr., and Trevor Collins. The RUSH Late Models will appear next at Georgetown on September 10.
It was a big night at Winchester Speedway for Kyle Hardy on Saturday night. Not only did he win the $4,515 to-win Super Late Model feature, but also picked up the win in the RUSH Late Model feature adding another $1,015! It was Hardy's first race back in the RUSH Late Models at Winchester since winning the "Battle of the Bay" back on April 17. Hardy is now a perfect five-for-five at Winchester in RUSH competition after taking the lead from Levi Crowl on lap seven. Crowl came home second over Scott Sweeney, Jr., Devin Brannon, and Jacob Burdette. A great field of 24 cars were on hand.
Chad Homan claimed his fifth RUSH Late Model checkered flag at Fulton Speedway Saturday night. Bret Belden led the opening laps of the 30-lap main event before Homan took over the top spot. Homan would cruise to the victory with Chris Fleming, Belden, Kevan Cook and Harry Halliday completing the top five.
Weekly Pace Performance RUSH Late Model action at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway saw two time and defending divisional champion Ben Policz score his first victory of the season at the Imperial, Pa. oval. Policz and Mike Reft led the field to the green and battled for the top spot in the opening laps of the main event. By lap six Policz was clearly in command. Several cautions would slow the field however Policz was not to be denied and went on to score the win. Daryl Charlier was able to get by Reft on the 17th circuit to claim the second spot. At the checkered flag it was Policz followed by Charlier, Reft, Zach Gunn and Zach Morrow.
The RUSH Late Model main event at Genesee Speedway saw “Mr. Excitement” Jeremy Wonderling capture his third win of the season in five tries at the New York oval. Wonderling used the low groove and patience to work his way to the top spot on lap 11 when he passed Dave DuBois for the winning pass. DuBois and John Waters battled for the second spot with DuBois claiming it as the checkered flag waved. Waters finished in third with 17th place starter JJ Mazur in fourth and Jon Rivers fifth.
Stateline Speedway also returned to action Saturday evening. Veterans Darrell Bossard (RUSH Late Models) and Dennis Lunger (RUSH Pro Mods) both scored their second victories of the season at the New York oval. Bossard led the entire distance of the 20-lap main event to defeat Jason Genco, Scott Gurdak, Matthew Sipes and Ward Schell. In Pace Performance Pro Mod action, Lunger, who started in the fifth position, scored the win over Mike Eschrich, Greg Johnson, Al Brewer and Jarrod Silvis.
Sunday evening racing action at Bradford Speedway saw Jeremy Wonderling score his second win of the weekend as he claimed the RUSH Late Model main event that had been postponed from June 20. Wonderling grabbed the lead from Bill Holmes on lap two and went on to win by 2.658 second. Holmes held on to the second spot with Kurt Stebbins, Steve Dixon and Andy Michael completing the top five.
Stebbins and Michaels led the Pace Performance RUSH Late Model field to the green in the regularly scheduled main event. Stebbins led the first 13 circuits while fourth place starter Dixon settled into the second position. Dixon took command on lap 14 and went on to score his first RUSH Late Model victory of 2021 at the speedway. Wonderling worked his way from the ninth position to finish second. Stebbins scored his second third place finish of the evening with Michaels and Austin Hauser finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
Dixon then jumped behind the wheel of his RUSH Pro Mod to compete in his third feature event of the night. Al Brewer and Adam Peterson led the 20-lap event to the green. Peterson led the initial lap with Dixon taking over the top spot on lap two and cruising to his second victory of the night and fourth straight in the Pro Mods at Bradford. Brewer, who fell to the fifth spot in the early stages of the event, recovered to claim the runner-up spot. CJ Irons, Mike Eschrich and Critter Hemphill rounded out the top five.
Logan Jaquay and Breyton Santee led the 18-car RUSH Late Model field to the green at Eriez Speedway Sunday evening. Fifth place starter Jason Genco battled to the lead and would go on to score his first victory of 2021 in the 20-lap main event. Mike Knight, David Parker, Scott Gurdak and Jaquay finished in positions two through five.
Pace Performance RUSH Stock Car winners this past weekend were Jeremy Zufall (Dog Hollow Speedway) and Mikael Beaver (Stateline Speedway).
Winners in RUSH Karting Series action at Stateline Speedway were: Bexley Smith (Amateur), Alexa Reed (JR-1), Julian Hultin (JR-2), and Jill Rickard (Adult).
The Pace Performance RUSH Late Models had Friday evening off at both Dog Hollow Speedway and Potomac Speedway. In addition, Delaware International Speedway and Woodhull Raceway were not in action Saturday night.
This weekend’s RUSH Sportsman Modified racing action includes a pair of "Route 7 Rumble" Series events presented by Wedge Motorsports with Friday night at Raceway 7 and Saturday night at Sharon. Saturday's show at Sharon will pay $600 to win for the Hovis Touring Series. In addition at Sharon, it's also the division’s annual "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance with more than $21,500 in giveaways will be distributed to eligible teams in attendance. The RUSH Sprint Cars are also on the card at Sharon.
The Pace Performance RUSH Late Models and RUSH Pro Mods will see action at the McKean County Raceway Thursday evening.
Weekly Pace Performance RUSH Late Model action is scheduled for Raceway 7, Dog Hollow Speedway and Potomac Speedway this Friday night. Competitors at the Hill Saturday have the evening off for the Troy County Fair. Saturday night weekly action continues at Delaware International Raceway, Fulton Speedway, Genesee Speedway, Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Stateline Speedway, and Woodhull Raceway. The RUSH Late Models will have this Saturday night off at Winchester Speedway. Bradford Speedway will be in action Sunday evening and will host both the RUSH Late Models and the RUSH Pro Mods. The Pace Performance RUSH Late Models will have the night off at Eriez Speedway.
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
