5/19/2023
RUSH Late Model Series
DAVE DUBOIS, STEVE LEBARRON & DAVID PANGRAZIO WIN THEIR 1ST HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL VICTORIES OF 2023; RUSH MODS, SPRINTS, PRO MODS & STOCKS GET UNDERWA
DAVE DUBOIS, STEVE LEBARRON & DAVID PANGRAZIO WIN THEIR 1ST HOVIS RUSH LATE MODEL VICTORIES OF 2023; RUSH MODS, SPRINTS, PRO MODS & STOCKS GET UNDERWAY
By Marcie Barlow
May 19, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Pulaski, PA)...After several wet and dreary weekends, the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Racing Series presented by Born2Run Lubricants were graced with warmer temperatures and mainly dry weather as they competed at various facilities throughout the region in the Late Models, Sprint Cars, Sportsman Modifieds and Pro Mods, and Stock Cars.
The third time was the charm as Skyline Raceway was able to get their season opener in last Friday. Dave DuBois scored his first RUSH Late Model win at the Virgil, NY track over brothers Todd and Alan Chapman.
Winchester Speedway has managed to get all five of their RUSH Late Model shows in thus far in 2023 and Kyle Hardy has definitely been the man to beat. Hardy continued his winning ways last Saturday as he tallied victory number four at the speedway as he remained perfect in City Chevrolet Weekly Series action with his lone defeat a third in the Flynn's Tire Touring Series event on April 15. Hardy, who started on the pole of the main event, defeated Dale Hollidge, Mike Walls, Tyler Hoy, and last year's champion Travis Campbell.
RUSH Late Model City Chevrolet Weekly Series action at Woodhull Raceway saw Steve LeBarron and Noah Tolada lead the field to the green. LeBarron immediately took command and opened up a sizeable lead over Brian Knowles. Knowles was collected by a spinning Patrick Parker to bring out the event’s first caution. On the restart LeBarron was challenged by Jason Knowles and Austin Allen, but maintained the top spot. Two late race cautions would give Jason Knowles and Allen additional opportunities to take the top spot from LeBarron but they were unable to do so. LeBarron scored his first win of 2023 with Allen, Jason Knowles, Aaron Miller and John Haggerty finishing second through fifth.
David Pangrazio returned to Genesee Speedway’s victory lane for the first time in nearly five years as he fended off the challenges of Skyline's Friday night winner, Dave DuBois, to score his first win of 2023. Chad Homan, Doug Ricotta, and J.J. Mazur claimed third, fourth and fifth.
The RUSH Late Model Flynn's Tire Tour visited the Stateline Speedway on Saturday for their only appearance at the Busti, NY oval in 2023 as race #5 of 2023 season was the Bill Law Memorial. The event pays tribute to the late Law, who had the first Crate Late Model in the Northeast more than 16 years ago. Joe Martin led the first 10 circuits of the 30-lap main event before veteran Jeremy Wonderling took the top spot. Wonderling went on to score a 4.298 second victory in the non-stop event that was completed in 9:23 minutes. Martin held on to bring home a second place finish. Jason Genco, 13-year-old Brock Pinkerous and Ward Schell rounded out the top five. A great field of 42 cars were on hand, one short of the record 43 in 2021.
The Tour drivers travelled to the Eriez Speedway the next evening for a special Mother’s Day racing card. A strong field of 37 competitors were in action with Jeremy Wonderling once again capturing the victory as he led the event for the entire 30 lap distance. Only one caution flag would slow the event as sixth place starter Brock Pinkerous spun on the opening lap. Wonderling scored the win by 4.041 seconds over David Pangrazio, who tallied his career best Tour finish. Mike Wonderling claimed third for his second podium of the year with Jason Genco and Chub Frank finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
The Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Sportsman Modified Series were in action on both Friday and Saturday last week for their opening events of 2023. Friday at Raceway 7 was the kickoff to the "Route 7 Rumble" Series presented by Wedge Motorsports. Ayden Cipriano and Jacob Wolfe led the field to green, but a spin by Doug Rutana negated the start. The second attempt at a start was successful with Wolfe leading the pack followed by Kole Holden and Cipriano. Wolfe continued to lead the field while Cipriano worked his way back to the second spot by lap six. Cipriano took over the top spot on lap 15 and went on to score the win over Holden, Wolfe, defending track champion Ben Easler and JC Boyer.
On Saturday evening the Sportsman Modifieds were on the bill at Sharon Speedway as they opened their 94th season. Teenager Ben Easler, who started third, took over the top spot on the second lap and cruised to a 4.835 second victory. JC Boyer came home in second with Jacob Wolfe, Rob Kristyak and Doug Rutana completing the top five.
The lone RUSH Sprint Car event of the weekend was also at Sharon Speedway Saturday evening. A great field of 23 cars turned out for the Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series event. Veteran Chad Ruhlman continued his winning ways as he led the 20-lap main event from flag to flag to pick up his all-time leading 10th victory at the Hartford, Ohio oval. Blaze Myers came home in the runner-up position with John Mollick, Brandon Blackshear and Brian Hartzell rounding out the top five.
The RUSH Pro Mods were in action at Stateline Speedway on Saturday evening. Veteran Al Brewer drove flawlessly for the entire distance of the 20-lap main event to score his first win in nearly two years at the Busti, New York oval. Steve Dixon, Dennis Lunger, Tyler Oakes and Josh Wilcox completed the top five.
The RUSH Stock Cars opened their third season of action as a record field of seven cars were on hand at Eriez. Last year's Futures Cup Champion, Cody Rickard, picked up the season opening victory over newcomers to the divisions Lane Reinwald, Brian Dwyer, William Baker, Jr., and Alex Bush.
Racing action at Pittsburgh and Tyler County fell victim to the weather. In addition, the RUSH Late Models were not in action at Raceway 7, Potomac Speedway, Marion Center or the Delaware tracks this past weekend.
This week’s racing action features the Hovis Auto and Truck Supply City Chevrolet RUSH Late Models in a special event at Lernerville Speedway this Friday. The winner of the event will receive a guaranteed starting spot in the "Bill Emig Memorial" presented by Sunoco Race Fuels with support from TBM Brakes, which will be held at the speedway as part of the "Firecracker 100" June 22-24. Other Friday action includes Raceway 7, which will host both the RUSH Late Models and RUSH Sportsman Modifieds, and Skyline Raceway. Saturday evening RUSH action will take place at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Tyler County Speedway and Woodhull Raceway. Both Eriez and Bradford Speedways will host Sunday evening racing action.
The Hovis Auto and Truck Supply RUSH Sprints presented by Born2Run Lubricants will be in action on both Saturday and Sunday. They will compete at the Tyler County Speedway in an $800 to-win Sunbelt Rentals Weekly Series special event and then travel to Tri-City Raceway Park on Sunday.
The weather is starting to warm up so be sure and add some exciting RUSH racing action to your weekend.
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, Sunbelt Rentals, MSD Performance, Holley Performance Products, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld Headers, Jones Racing Products, TBM Brakes, Bilstein Shocks, Performance Bodies & Parts, Racing Electronics, Wieland Metal Services, Frankland Racing Supply, Landrum Performance Spring, Ontime Body & Graphic, Sherwood Wheels, Precise Racing Products, Velocita-USA, Wedge Motorsports, 3C Graphix, D&V Jewelers, CrateInsider.com, and Terry Bowser Excavating.
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 Late Model website is www.rushlatemodels.com. Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rushlatemodels and follow us on Twitter @RUSHLM.
Article Credit: Marcie Barlow
