9/28/2019
RUSH LM Tour Bill Hendren Memorial $5K to-win/$600 Non-Winners at PPMS Oct 4-5
(Imperial, PA)... Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway will host this year's only "Bill Hendren Memorial" in the nation as the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Touring Series event will take place on Friday and Saturday, October 4-5 part of the "Pittsburgher 100" weekend that features the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and also for the first time the RUSH Sportsman Modified Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Touring Series "Betsy Kriegisch Memorial". Thanks to FK Rod Ends in conjunction with Pro Fabrication, the seventh annual Northeast version will pay a record $5,000 to-win, $325 to-start. In addition, Pace Performance will present the second annual "One to Remember" non-winners feature paying $600 to-win, $75 to-start on Friday night.
This marks the fourth straight year PPMS has hosted the event and second straight year that the event purse will see an increase. Last year's show jumped to $4,000 to-win, $300 to-start along with the addition of the $500 to-win, $50 to-start "One to Remember" race. For 2019, the feature, non-winners, and non-qualifier will all increase every position! This is due to the great efforts by Bill Hendren's son Steve and his family. FK Rod Ends in conjunction with Pro Fabrication have stepped up their involvement to grow the feature purse as has Pace Performance to present the "One to Remember". In addition, CrateInsider.com, Miley Motor Sports, RUSH, Ingram Engines, 955 Automotive, and Race 1 have helped to increase the "One to Remember" purse.
"My family and I are looking forward to returning to Pittsburgh for the ninth annual 'Bill Hendren Memorial'," stated Steve Hendren. "This year will mark the first time that my mother Bettie will be able to attend this event in Pittsburgh, and it will be the first time she's been able to attend a RUSH event as well. As a family, we decided to move all future memorial races to the RUSH Racing Series, and we hope to continue our bond with PPMS as well. The professionalism of RUSH, PPMS, and the racers in the RUSH series is second to none. We would like to thank all of our sponsors for this event."
In 2005, Bill Hendren, the patriarch of the Hendren family and founder of Hendren Racing Engines, had the foresight to began building his affiliation with crate racing. As many of his open engine customers looked to crate racing as an opportunity to continue racing, Bill began offering free advice via the well know 4M.net message board. As the concept grew throughout the country, his generosity and expertise was rewarded as many of those who had utilized his knowledge in the beginning utilized him as their engine rebuilder as their needs arose. Bill passed away on March 19, 2011, but his legacy and dedication to crate racing lives on through his sons, Steve and Mike, as the Hendrens are recognized throughout the entire country as a leader in this specialized form of racing as they continue to operate Hendren Racing Engines.
"I look back to several years ago to a surprise phone call I received from Steve Hendren expressing interest in having a memorial event for his late father Bill Hendren in conjunction with a RUSH Touring event," explained RUSH Director Vicki Emig. "Although I never knew Bill Hendren personally, I certainly was well aware of his pioneering spirit and great success in the world of GM Performance crate engine racing. And now to have the Hendren Family allow us to hold their patriarch's 'only' memorial event of the year under the RUSH banner is truly an honor!"
The weekend will get started on Friday (October 4) with $100 FK Rod Ends "Shock the Clock" Qualifying. Drivers will then compete in FK Rod Heats heat races paying $25 to-win. Following the conclusion of the night's regularly scheduled events, the "One to Remember" RUSH Late Model feature will be run paying $600 to-win, $75 to-start. The winner of this race will also receive a GoPro Hero 7 white kit valued at $400 thanks to CrateInsider.com, a large winner's check, a laser etched marble winner's plaque, and a $250 gift certificate from Crashes Custom Graphics through the efforts of Steve Hendren.
In order to be eligible for the "One to Remember" race, driver must compete in the regular "Bill Hendren Memorial" event and never have won a Crate Late Model, Steel-Block Late Model or any headlining division feature event or prior "One to Remember" race. The lineup will be determined off the "Bill Hendren Memorial" Tour qualifying times with a pill drawn for an invert (4, 6 or 8) depending on car count.
Following the dash and last chance B mains on Saturday, the stage will be set for the 40-lap $5,000 to-win, $325 to-start "Bill Hendren Memorial". The feature winner along with the second and third place finishers will also receive one of the sought-after laser etched marble plaques.
Also, the "Wheelman" Bonus Event for non-qualifiers at the end of the night will have an increased purse with $300 to-win, $150 to-start. Additional bonuses for non-qualifiers will also be announced soon. Along with being a financial support for the event, CrateInsider.com has also posted a second GoPro Hero 7 white kit ($400 value), which will be awarded to a lucky driver by a random draw at the drivers meeting! In addition to the night's regular $100 Precise Racing Products "Pedal Down" Hard Charger, that driver will also receive a $250 gift certificate from Crashes Custom Graphics.
"The Miley Motor Sports family is honored to host the Bill Hendren Memorial during the Pittsburgher 100 weekend again," expressed Matt Miley. "Bringing back the Pittsburgher was a dream of Red Miley's when he founded Miley Motor Sports. He always strived to make the Pittsburgher bigger and better. Here we sit, just days away from the 31st annual Pittsburgher, and we're again taking the event to another level, honoring another man who made a difference in our sport, Bill Hendren. I'm sure both are smiling down upon us."
"FK Rod Ends of course is one of our most longstanding corporate sponsors and throughout the years has supported the entire RUSH Racing Series in numerous ways," added Emig. "FK has contributed thousands upon thousands of dollars of packages to our Manufacturers Nights and of course presents our 'Shock the Clock' award and heat race winner's payout. Through their generous support once again plus the addition of the Pro Fabrication sponsorship through Steve Hendren, the 'Bill Hendren Memorial' event will be one of the richest events on our Touring schedule. As I've always said, the success of RUSH has always been a team effort of many different parties pulling in the same direction and this is a perfect example of such- the combination of the Hendren Family and FK Rod Ends is certainly going to be a win-win for all!"
"We also have to thank Pace Performance/Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC for their continued involvement throughout all of RUSH and various Series' related programs," continued Emig. "For them to present the 'One to Remember' race for the second straight year and up their involvement is a great gesture that we know these competing racers will certainly appreciate. You couldn't have had a more special moment than last year when Chuck Medved scored a popular win in the event at his home track."
Daryl Charlier has won the last two "Bill Hendren Memorial" races at PPMS, while John Mollick won the event in 2016. Charlier and Mollick will be two of the favorites trying to stop Kyle Lukon, who has won both of the PPMS Sweeney Tour races this year including "Manufacturers Night" presented by MSD Performance and the "Jook George Steel City Classic". Lukon's wins accounted for more than $13,600!
Additional information on the event will be released next week.
Article Credit: Rush Late Models
